Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano claimed a $1 million bonus for ranking first among Cup drivers in NASCAR’s new Driver Ambassador Program.

Sports Business Journal first reported the award.

Kyle Busch has finished in the top 10 in all five races at Atlanta with Richard Childress Racing.

The program rewards drivers for promoting the sport in multiple ways. Drivers are awarded points based on how much they promote the sport, such as in interviews and appearances. The quality of the appearances is a factor along with a driver’s standing in the sport. Former champions earn extra points.

The year is divided into two terms. The first term concluded last weekend at Pocono.

The second term goes beyond the end of the season. The top driver each term is paid $1 million. The driver in last in each term receives about $7,500, according to Sports Business Journal.

T.J. Puchyr, a former owner in Spire Motorsports, has entered an agreement to purchase the NASCAR team owned by Rick Ware.

NASCAR confirmed the top three drivers for the just-completed term was Logano, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney.

Sports Business Journal reported that the rest of the top 10 was Ross Chastain (fourth), Daniel Suarez (fifth), Chase Elliott (sixth), William Byron (seventh), Kyle Busch (eighth), Austin Dillon (ninth) and Chase Briscoe (10th).

The money for the drivers comes from the new media rights deal, Sports Business Journal reported.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has introduced the new GR Yaris Aero Performance grade which features aerodynamic dedicated updates derived directly through motorsports participation.

The GR Yaris is a high-performance hatchback genuinely born in motorsports, having been inspired by the winning combination of power, poise and precise control of the GR YARIS Rally1 competition car which competes in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Fittingly, the new GR Yaris Aero Performance grade makes its European public debut via a display at the Acropolis Rally in Greece, round seven of the 2025 WRC season on 26-29 June. It will also be present at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 10-13 July, participating in the hill climb competition.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s commitment to making ever-better cars through motorsports, by analysing driving data, reviewing direct feedback from drivers and examining damaged parts in detail, has driven a constant enhancement of the GR Yaris since its 2020 launch.

The new Aero Performance grade is a result of that philosophy, and it features six performance aerodynamic parts that were developed through an uncompromising approach to achieving targeted performance by addressing every issue. Through competition driving, improvement areas were identified and fine-tuned with the contribution of professional drivers.

A new large cooling duct and grille on the aluminium bonnet shares its contoured shape with the carbon-fibre bonnet of the GRMN Yaris. During high-speed driving it improves cooling by discharging heat from the engine compartment. It was developed and proven in the Japanese Rally Championship.

Racing in Super Taikyu helped to achieve a higher level of aerodynamic balance using a front lip spoiler, which suppresses front lift to improve the vehicle’s overall lift balance and enhance grip. The spoiler was added to the GR Yaris Aero Performance after being developed with professional racer Kazuya Oshima, a race-winning driver who competes with Rookie Racing in Japan’s Super Formula, Super GT and Super Taikyu championships.  

A large, variable rear spoiler contributes to high-speed handling as well as braking stability. Its angle can be manually adjusted to suit different circumstances, for example prior to circuit driving, for an even more enjoyable experience.

A new floor undercover draws inspiration from the flat bottom of the fuel tank used in Super Taikyu to optimise underbody airflow and further improve aerodynamic performance.

New fender ducts, located between the front wheel and the door, release rearward air that accumulates in the front wheelhouse. This improves the steering feel under heavy braking and enhances handling stability at corner entry.

Ducts on each side of the rear bumper decrease the drag coefficient by allowing smoother airflow under the car. They were developed via the uniquely harsh environment of motorsports in response to a scenario encountered by a GR Yaris in Super Taikyu, when a rear bumper was detached by aerodynamic loads.

The GR Yaris Aero Performance grade is available to order in Europe in autumn 2025

NORWALK — Always a highlight of the season for every driver in the NHRA’s premier series, this weekend’s 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park represents a great opportunity for Top Fuel’s Josh Hart.

The standout has made solid improvements in his 12,000-horsepower R+L Carriers dragster and Hart would love nothing more than to pick up his first win of the season as the NHRA season hits the halfway point.

He’s had success in Norwalk, advancing to the final round in 2022, and with a massive R+L Carriers location directly across the street from Summit Motorsports Park, a win would mark a special moment for Hart and his team.

It’s also a busy weekend for the two-time Top Fuel event winner, as he’ll be racing in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category. But Hart has embraced the double-duty and is ready for the Top Fuel team to make another big move this weekend in Norwalk.

“I would like to get back to the feeling we had in 2022 (in Norwalk) when we were on a roll and then a storm came through and flipped the track conditions,” Hart said. “That was a strong weekend for this team, and I think we can get back to that kind of performance. This sport is humbling but I also think it rewards hard work. This R+L Carriers team has been really working hard, and I am looking forward to seeing positive results in Norwalk.

“We have been coming off the trailer and making good runs on Friday, which is critical. If you can get ahead of the track on Friday it sets you up for success. This past weekend (in Richmond), the track chewed us up and spit us out on Saturday and Sunday. We are not going to hang our heads. We are getting back to work even though this is back-to-back races.”

In 2024, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at a race that will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1 in 2025, including eliminations coverage beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday on FOX.

It is the 10th of 20 races during the NHRA season and the race in Norwalk is annually one of the premier stops on the NHRA tour. The packed weekend includes two rounds of qualifying at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, including a must-see night session and fireworks, two rounds of qualifying — and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge — on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

This year’s event promises even more excitement, as the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals plays host to the Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout for the first time. This specialty event will feature eight Pro Stock drivers battling for top honors.

The Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout field features reigning six-time champion Greg Anderson, who will have the first pick of the eight-car field made up of Dallas Glenn, Matt Hartford, standout Aaron Stanfield, multi-time champions Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin, Eric Latino and Troy Coughlin Jr.

For Hart, the double-duty keeps him focused and he’s ready to thrive in Norwalk. He’s picked up round wins in Top Fuel at five of the past seven races, but advancing to the semifinals and beyond is the next goal. It’s never easy in the loaded Top Fuel ranks, a group that includes points leader and racing legend Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, reigning world champ Antron Brown, Brittany Force and Clay Millican.

But Hart is ready for that challenge, as well as the busy responsibility of driving in two separate classes in one weekend.

“When I have both cars on the track it makes for a busy and fun weekend,” said Hart, who is ninth in Top Fuel points. “I am blessed to be able to have this opportunity, and I want to thank everyone at R+L Carriers and Burnyzz Speed Shop for the support they provide both my teams. David Davies and his DHDR team keep us on track in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown so that is a big plus. These are the races that really make me feel fortunate.”

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — One of the founders of Spire Motorsports has entered an agreement to purchase the NASCAR team owned by Rick Ware and is jumping back into the stock car series because he believes the current charters are grossly undervalued.

T.J. Puchyr, who in 2018 alongside Jeff Dickerson launched the Spire team to take over the charter that Furniture Row Racing could not unload, told The Associated Press on Thursday he and Rick Ware Racing have a deal for him to take over Ware’s organization next season.

When Puchyr and Dickerson bought the Furniture Row charter, the market for NASCAR’s version of franchise models was essentially dead. Their agency had been hired by Furniture Row owner Barney Visser to sell the charter and when they couldn’t find a buyer, the two decided to purchase it themselves for $6 million and launch their own team.

That decision jump-started the charter market and the most recent charters sold — when Stewart-Haas Racing went out of business at the end of last season — went for approximately $30 million. Puchyr and Dickerson are largely credited with pumping life and value into an otherwise dormant charter system.

Puchyr last year sold his shares of Spire to Dan Towriss, the CEO of TWG Motorsports and head of the new Cadillac F1 team. Puchyr has spent 2025 consulting with various teams, including RWR and Legacy Motor Club. He’s watched the market closely and has attended several of the recent court hearings involving NASCAR against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who have filed an antitrust lawsuit over the charter agreement those two teams refused to sign last September.

There are only 36 Cup Series charters, which guarantee a team entry into every NASCAR race and a steady revenue stream. Puchyr believes they are greatly undervalued and in one of his final deals with Spire, he helped acquire a charter from Live Fast Motorsports for $40 million.

“I am bullish on wanting to build a three-car team. I believe in the France family and the direction of the sport and I want the rest of the shareholders and industry to know that I believe the charters are worth $75 million or more,” he told AP.

What about Ware’s second charter?

In his deal with Ware, Puchyr will keep Ware on board as a partner, also keep Ware’s son, Cody, in the No. 51 Ford, and retain all of the current RWR employees. Ware’s current second charter is leased to RFK Racing, but Legacy Motor Club made a legal claim that it had entered an agreement to buy that charter next season.

A judge did not agree with Legacy, and said Ware has a lease deal with RFK for 2026 on a second charter. Puchyr believes none of the parties can perform to the Legacy-RWR contract — which he said was written by Legacy — and there is no charter available from Ware for Legacy for either lease or purchase in 2026. Ware has filed a countersuit against Legacy.

Legacy, a two-car Cup team, is currently owned by seven-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson. He has recently taken on partnership from private equity firm Knighthead Capital Management, which alongside Johnson is exploring expansion into several other motorsports series.

“If anybody deserves a pass it is Jimmie and if he wants to sit down and talk about it like men, I’d entertain the conversation,” said Puchyr, who was offended that Legacy sued Ware.

“I don’t think Jimmie has all the facts, doesn’t understand the deal we had, and they tried to humiliate Rick publicly. We don’t do business that way.”

Now, Puchyr and Ware are confident the second charter currently leased to RFK will be returned to their team in 2027, allowing Puchyr to expand the organization. He wants to buy a third charter that makes the organization a three-car Cup team by 2027.

Can Puchyr build a winning team?

Ware has done the second-most charter transactions in the industry only to Spire and at one point held four. Now he’s trying to rebuild his organization and win races with his son as the driver, something Puchyr wants to help him achieve.

“I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level and I think we can compete with these guys,” Puchyr said. “I think we can build it brick-by-brick and it’s going to take people, money and time. It’s not lost on me that (RWR) is the 36th-place car in the garage, we all see it. But I believe we can make this a competitive organization, even a winner.

“And I believe we can get these charters valued at their true worth.”

Ware fields winning organizations in other motorsports series, including NHRA with Clay Millican. A Ware-owned team won the 2024 American Flat Track championship, the 2022 FIM World Supercross Championship and the 2019-2020 Asian Le Mans Series prototype title.

Puchyr did not reveal to the AP how much he’s paying for Ware’s organization, which technically only holds the charter for Cody Ware’s car this season and runs Corey Lajoie in a second “open” car in select races. Once it gets its leased charter back from RFK in 2027, the team will have at least two cars with the focus on purchasing a third.

Purchasing charters is not easy at this time as multiple teams have interest but lack the monetary funds to buy them at the ever-increasing rates. Among them is Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has not been able to get his hands on charters to take his Xfinity Series team to NASCAR’s top Cup Series level.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is still more than a week away, but Mother Nature is already burning up the track.

The heat dome that descended on Chicago last weekend with unrelenting 100-degree temperatures caused buckling pavement on a stretch of the pop-up race course, forcing the city to close some streets ahead of schedule to repair the damage.

On Wednesday evening, the city shut down Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue, which was originally scheduled to close Friday. It also closed Columbus from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road — five days ahead of schedule — to allow work crews to repair the pavement buckle.

The rest of the course is “holding up fine” and the street closings ahead of the July Fourth weekend race event will remain on schedule, a NASCAR spokesperson said Thursday.

Chicago is not alone in navigating this summer’s new road hazard. The oppressive heat and humidity, which have brought triple-digit temperatures across the Midwest and East Coast in recent weeks, have caused the pavement to buckle on roads in a number of states. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, for example, reported 50 pavement buckles on highways across the state last weekend.

Likewise, the Illinois Department of Transportation posted an online warning Monday to “be on the lookout for pavement failures” on roads through the state because of the prolonged high temperatures.

Meanwhile, a video of a car going airborne in an Evel Knievel-style jump over a heat-induced pavement buckle in Missouri went viral this week. That is certainly something NASCAR wants to avoid when its 200-mph race cars hit Chicago streets next week.

Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue.

This year, NASCAR has streamlined the buildout and reduced major street closings to 18 days, starting with the shutdown last week of Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14.