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How Ricky Rudd’s Tide NASCAR Hauler Ended Up Working the Tobacco Fields

Get The Drive’s daily newsletter The latest car news, reviews, and features. All dogs go to heaven, but not all retired workhorses see green pastures. I’ve stumbled on far too many semi-trucks parked for good and left to rot, even though they looked to be in great shape when the driver hung up the keys. […]

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All dogs go to heaven, but not all retired workhorses see green pastures. I’ve stumbled on far too many semi-trucks parked for good and left to rot, even though they looked to be in great shape when the driver hung up the keys. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened with 1997 Brickyard 400 winner Ricky Rudd’s iconic Tide-liveried NASCAR hauler. It’s been in the care of Earl Brooks for more than two decades, and after locating it on Google Maps following years of searching, I got the chance to sit down and talk with Mr. Brooks. As you’re about to see, he has some great memories with this old Ford.

“This story of how I acquired the Tide truck starts with my mentor in the trucking industry, Mr. G.C. Fleig, president of Fleig Leasing, Inc,” Brooks told me. “Mr. Fleig was a longtime supporter of NASCAR, and one of the original supporters of Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon. He was also close friends with Bill Davis Racing.

“Mr. Fleig introduced me to Buddy Stafford, owner of Piedmont Ford Trucks of Greensboro, North Carolina. Mr. Stafford was known to have flown many people to the races on his private plane. It was in knowing these two exceptional businessmen that my opportunity arose to buy the NASCAR transport trucks after they were turned in by the teams to get new ones.”

Billy Marsh

Already, you can tell that Brooks had quite the arrangement. He explained that he was visiting the Piedmont Ford service shop when he was approached by “a professional-looking gentleman” who turned out to be the truck’s former driver. When he learned that Brooks had purchased the rig, affectionately dubbed the “Tide Ride,” he instructed him to have the truck fully checked out.

When Brooks asked what the problem was, the man replied with something along the lines of, “No problem, but the cruise control was set at 120 mph because we’d all race each other to the next track.” He followed that up with a tale about being pulled over by an Arkansas state trooper, who clocked him at 103 mph after he’d slowed down some. When Brooks asked what that cost him, he responded: “Every souvenir I had in the truck.” Good ol’ boys, indeed.

The Tide Ride lives in Roxboro, North Carolina, and has for quite some time. Brooks owned a small trucking business and farmed tobacco when he purchased the Blue Oval, so it was used alongside his others to transport harvested crop to the market in Danville, Virginia. He told me that these race trucks helped his drivers take pride in their work, and because of that, they were more satisfied at the end of every long haul.

The truck itself is a 1993 Ford Aeromax with an N14 Cummins engine, a 13-speed transmission, and 706,733 miles on the clock. A company named Spevco out of Pfafftown, North Carolina, applied the paint—seven layers, not counting the clear coat—and it’s still holding up magnificently after years of sunlight, rain, and everything in between. Brooks notes that only a small portion of the clear coat shows any wear, adding that it was finished “before there was such a thing as wraps.”

If all this has you excited, Brooks asked me to mention that he’d potentially sell the Tide Ride—but only if you’re going to treat it well. He already turned down one offer from a fellow trucker who planned to use it for hauling logs. “I could not stand to sell it for that,” Brooks lamented. “If there is someone who wants to preserve NASCAR history, I would entertain an offer for the truck.”

Too bad I already have a classic Ford to keep me busy. Otherwise, this thing might be headed to the Ozarks to live with me.

Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@thedrive.com. Or, if you’d like to make an offer on the Tide Ride, please reach out to Mr. Earl Brooks: piedmonthemp@gmail.com

From running point on new car launch coverage to editing long-form features and reviews, Caleb does some of everything at The Drive. And he really, really loves trucks.



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Van Gisbergen on pole again after blazing lap at Sonoma

The NASCAR Cup Series field will begin its annual race at Sonoma Raceway as it ended last week in Chicago – with Shane van Gisbergen leading the way. Van Gisbergen threw down a quick lap of 96.040mph (74.833s) to claim the pole for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. The result is the Kiwi’s third pole of […]

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The NASCAR Cup Series field will begin its annual race at Sonoma Raceway as it ended last week in Chicago – with Shane van Gisbergen leading the way.

Van Gisbergen threw down a quick lap of 96.040mph (74.833s) to claim the pole for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. The result is the Kiwi’s third pole of 2025 and fourth overall. The prior two – in Mexico City and Chicago – both led to wins. It followed another pole run for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

“I’m shaking. That was pretty full-on,” van Gisbergen said of his run. “I’m stoked to have Red Bull on the car. Thank you to Trackhouse and Chevy. Amazing car.

“We weren’t very good in practice, but new tires fixed it. Hopefully we can be good in the race.”

The fast lap from van Gisbergen was the only one in the 96mph range. Chase Briscoe followed in second, leading Joe Gibbs Racing with a speed of 95.719mph. The top two both came from the second group in the session, which proved dominant overall.

William Byron was quickest in the opening group, laying down a blazing 75.025s lap at 95.488mph to slot over 0.3s clear of the other group qualifiers, but that only stood for third at session’s end. The next-fastest driver from the opening group, Michael McDowell, was slotted back in 15th, with only Daniel Suarez (19th) joining him in the top 20.

Ross Chastain (95.409mph) came home fourth, with AJ Allmendinger (95.367mph) rounding out the top five after topping the charts in practice. Ty Gibbs (95.357mph), Ryan Blaney (95.35mph), Tyler Reddick (95.296mph), Alex Bowman (95.224mph) and Christopher Bell (95.212mph) capped off the top 10. Bowman’s effort was overshadowed by a potential power steering issue that forced him to pit road mid-session.

There were no cautions during qualifying, but Blaney went for a spin in the closing moments of the second group session. Ty Dillon nearly suffered the same fate during his run but made the save after running wide.

Live Fast Motorsports’ Katherine Legge was the lone driver not to set a time during the session, opting not to run with concern over brake issues.

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 will go live Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. TNT and PRN will handle coverage, with in-car cameras available on the recently-rebranded HBO Max.

RESULTS



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Connor Zilisch wins NASCAR Xfinity Sonoma in epic battle with SVG

Shane van Gisbergen gave it everything he had, but Connor Zilisch was able to hang onto the lead and take the win in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Sonoma Raceway. Despite winning pole position for both races this weekend, van Gisbergen will not claim another weekend sweep at Sonoma. It was a […]

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Shane van Gisbergen gave it everything he had, but Connor Zilisch was able to hang onto the lead and take the win in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Sonoma Raceway.

Despite winning pole position for both races this weekend, van Gisbergen will not claim another weekend sweep at Sonoma. It was a race-long battle between the JR Motorsports teammates, who finished 1-2 just one week ago at the Chicago Street Course. SVG started from pole, but he and Zilisch traded the lead multiple times throughout the race. 

During the final run both frontrunners had to worry about saving fuel, while also battling each other — with the pair lapping at a gap of less than 1 second. As the laps ticked away, van Gisbergen got progressively more aggressive, putting the bumper to Zilisch with less than two laps to go. There were some more bumps throughout the final lap as SVG tried to get alongside.

As they raced down into the final hairpin, SVG threw it to the outside, and they went side-by-side, but Zilisch was able to clear him at the exit of the final corner. The pair finished more than 13 seconds clear of 3rd.

Respect between rivals

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

“First, hats off to Shane,” said Zilisch, who now has four career wins. “That was awesome. All race long, I felt like we were racing each other with respect. I wheel-hopped into (Turn) 7 that one time and got into him. Other than that, it was awesome to get to race against him finally and battle him the whole race long.”

He also talked about the balance between fuel-saving and fending off one of the best road racers in NASCAR, adding: “It’s always the hardest, trying to save fuel while someone is breathing down your neck. There was a chance. He could have gotten by me when he hit me, and he let me have it and raced me clean. I respect the hell out of him for that, and I’m looking forward to racing against him more.”

Watch: SVG on runner-up finish: ‘What a race … I had a blast’

SVG was all smiles despite the loss, praising Zilisch for an incredible race.

“Congrats to those guys,” said van Gisbergen. “What an awesome race. I hope everyone enjoyed that. I gave him a bump into (Turn) 7 and probably could have taken it, but I just waited. I didn’t want to do it like that and then we raced down the hill. What an awesome race … I had a blast all day. Really, really fun.”

The Xfinity race at Sonoma was surprisingly clean, with zero cautions for on-track incidents. There were some spins and various forms of contact, but nothing that required a full-course yellow.

 
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2022 Aston Martin AMB 001 Listed on Sotheby’s Motorsport

When you think of motorcycles, Aston Martin is unlikely to be one of the brands that pops up in your mind, and yet here it is: a $120,000 motorcycle (when new) without a headlight, wearing the famous wings, built not as an afterthought, but as a statement. The AMB 001 is Aston Martin’s first motorcycle. […]

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When you think of motorcycles, Aston Martin is unlikely to be one of the brands that pops up in your mind, and yet here it is: a $120,000 motorcycle (when new) without a headlight, wearing the famous wings, built not as an afterthought, but as a statement.

The AMB 001 is Aston Martin’s first motorcycle. Built in collaboration with Brough Superior,  the legendary British marque once dubbed the “Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles,” production of this track-only bike is limited to just 100 examples worldwide. 

While Aston Martin cut its teeth in the pre-war Grand Prix scene in the early part of the 20th century, George Brough’s motorcycles were shattering 100mph at the high-speed Brooklands course. Now revived in France, Brough Superior built each AMB 001 by hand and this particular example, chassis No. 073, is currently up for auction through Sotheby’s Motorsport (SOMO), with bidding open until July 16 at 5:15 PM EDT.

Being offered by Strada Motorsports in Schaumburg, Illinois, this bike is made from lightweight carbon fiber and billet aluminum. The 001 tips the scales at just 396 pounds dry (180 kg). For some context, typical liter-class motorcycles weigh between 400 and 500 pounds. As for performance, at the AMB 001’s core is a turbocharged 997cc V-twin engine that produces 180 horsepower, with E98 race fuel feeding the motor.

If you’re into ratios, that’s one horsepower per kilogram, which sounds vaguely terrifying. A 1:1 power-to-weight is extremely rare, even in the performance world, and can be found on cars like the Koenigsegg One:1 and the Czinger 21C.  

Now, there’s neither a speedometer nor a rev counter. Just three lights: oil, fuel, neutral, and a smartphone mount where the dash should be. You can pair your phone via Bluetooth to look at your speed and revs. Everything else is stripped away in the name of purity. The saddle is a minimal leather strap. The front end features Fior-type forks, which are more aircraft than motorcycle. The braking system and chassis are hand-finished by Brough Superior. Michelin Power Slick 2 tires provide grip.

Now, to be fair, the AMB 001 isn’t the first time car and motorcycle cultures have collided. Dodge once bolted a Viper V10 into the Tomahawk, a $550,000 concept bike with four wheels. Allen Millyard built a fully functional motorcycle powered by a Dodge Viper V10 in his shed, and in terms of some truly radical engineering, Bimota’s Tesi 3D reimagined steering geometry with hub-centered front suspension. 

More recently, even Lamborghini partnered with Italian sportsbike maker Ducati, under the same corporate VW Group umbrella, to produce $68,000 limited-run motorcycle like the Streetfighter V4. But unlike those, the Aston Martin AMB 001 is a bespoke collector-grade machine with real racing pedigree behind it. 

For those who already own the car, the yacht, the helicopter, this could very well be the next indulgence. A collector-grade machine built in collaboration with one of Britain’s most revered motorcycle marques, this exquisite example finished in exposed gloss carbon with gold accents in showroom condition, and extensive service records, presents the opportunity to acquire and invest in something truly special. 




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Tyler Kicera Claims First CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Win Since 2022 at Watkins Glen International

July 12, 2025 Roberto Sabato Scores First-Career Pro/Am Challenge Win WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 12, 2025) – In a surprising turn of events following the checkered flag in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli event at Watkins Glen International, Tyler Kicera was declared the winner in Round 8 of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 […]

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July 12, 2025

Tyler Kicera Claims First CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Win Since 2022 at Watkins Glen International

Roberto Sabato Scores First-Career Pro/Am Challenge Win

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 12, 2025) – In a surprising turn of events following the checkered flag in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli event at Watkins Glen International, Tyler Kicera was declared the winner in Round 8 of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series following the disqualification of provisional race winner and points leader Tristan McKee. The fifth-place starting Nitro Motorsports driver coach in the No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry made his way to the runner-up position by making a lap-three pass on Sam Corry (No. 70 Stilo Helmets/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry), and then overtaking third when championship contender Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Gazoo Racing/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) faced a terminal engine issue. From there, Kicera hunted down second-place Nathan Herne (No. 15 Owosso Speedway/Blue Gold Industries Toyota Camry), taking the spot and crossing the finish line in second, behind points leader McKee. Following podium celebrations and post-race technical inspection, the first-place finisher was disqualified and Kicera was declared the winner, earning his third-career victory and first since 2022.

Third-place finisher Carson Brown and fifth-place Julian DaCosta were also issued post-race infractions disqualifying them from the event, meaning Adrian Wlostowski (No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services/AMT Motorsports Ford Mustang) was promoted to second place, while Gian Buffomante (No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) rounded out the adjusted overall podium in third, marking the first-career podiums for both competitors. Seamus McKendree (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Sam Corry (No. 70 Stilo Helmets/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) were also elevated to top-five finishes.

Notes of Interest:

  • Tyler Kicera earned his first CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series win since his victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in 2022, which was his last full-time season in TA2. He has since been serving as a driver coach at Nitro Motorsports.

  • Kicera has made 33-career starts and has a total of three victories.

  • In his 57th race in the TA2 Series, Adrian Wlostowski scored his first-career podium. It was also the first podium finish for Gian Buffomante, who has eight Pro starts in TA2.

  • Seamus McKendree, who typically competes in the Western Championship, earned a top-five finish in his first National start.

  • Sixth-place starter Sam Corry was forced to recover from an early flat tire, which sent him to the back of the pack, and then received late-race contact from a Pro/Am Challenge competitor while running fourth. Despite that, he still recovered to finish fifth following the post-race changes.

  • Championship contender Thomas Annunziata fell out of the race after only eight laps due to a motor issue, relegating him to a 12th-place finish. Following the changes in results, he improved to ninth in class and leaves the weekend as the new points leader.

“Wow, what a weekend,” said Kicera after the race. “I didn’t even know I was driving this car until Thursday night. This win is the ultimate redemption, for so many different reasons. Brian Keselowski and the whole Nitro Motorsports crew gave me such a fast car. I can’t thank Nick Tucker enough – he’s the one who made this happen for me. This whole Nitro team is just incredible.”

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series National Championship Top 10:
1. Tyler Kicera, No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry
2. Adrian Wlostowski, No. 3 CMI/Spot-On Services/AMT Motorsports Ford Mustang
3. Gian Buffomante, No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry
4. Seamus McKendree, No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang
5. Sam Corry, No. 70 Stilo Helmets/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry
6. Eric Cayton, No. 71 Ray Skillman Auto Group Ford Mustang
7. Will Robinson, No. 51 Mike Cope Race Cars LLC Ford Mustang
8. Nathan Herne, No. 15 Owosso Speedway/Blue Gold Industries Toyota Camry
9. Thomas Annunziata, No. 90 Gazoo Racing/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry
10. Boris Said Sr., No. 60 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry

Omologato Watches Fastest Lap of the Race:
Tyler Kicera, No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry

Bassett Hard Charger:
Seamus McKendree, No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang

In the Pro/Am Challenge, Barry Boes initially crossed the line first in class and an impressive fifth overall. However, Boes was disqualified post race, promoting Roberto Sabato (No. 61 6th Gear Garage Ford Mustang) to his first-career Pro/Am victory, followed by Keith Prociuk (No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang) in second and Doug Winston (No. 98 D&M Electric/TradeMentor.org Ford Mustang) in third.

“It’s a good day,” said Sabato on the podium. “You know, I have to thank my team; they did an incredible job. A very awesome job. And thank you to Trans Am and CUBE 3. It’s been a long time coming. I really love it.”

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge Podium:
1. Roberto Sabato, No. 61 6th Gear Garage Ford Mustang
2. Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang
3. Doug Winston, No. 98 D&M Electric/TradeMentor.org Ford Mustang

Full race results can be found here.

An encore presentation of today’s race will air tomorrow on SPEED SPORT 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series takes a brief hiatus before returning to action at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, August 28-31. Tickets can be purchased here.



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Shane van Gisbergen completes second straight NASCAR pole sweep – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions

SONOMA, Calif.- For the second straight weekend, Shane van Gisbergen dominated NASCAR time trials – and predictably so. On his second lap Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, the New Zealander became the only driver to top 96 mph on the 1.99-mile, 12-turn road course. Touring the circuit in 74.594 seconds (96.040 mph), van Gisbergen secured the […]

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SONOMA, Calif.- For the second straight weekend, Shane van Gisbergen dominated NASCAR time trials – and predictably so.

On his second lap Saturday at Sonoma Raceway, the New Zealander became the only driver to top 96 mph on the 1.99-mile, 12-turn road course.

Touring the circuit in 74.594 seconds (96.040 mph), van Gisbergen secured the pole position for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race (3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Van Gisbergen beat second-place qualifier Chase Briscoe (95.719 mph) by 0.25 seconds to claim his first Busch Light Pole Award at Sonoma, his third of the season and the fourth of his career.

His pole-winning run followed Friday’s top qualifying effort for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma. Last weekend on the Chicago Street Course, van Gisbergen swept the poles and races in both series.

Qualifying in Group B, SVG picked up speed substantially from his first lap to his second, from 74.833 seconds to 74.594.

“I thought it could be faster,” said van Gisbergen, who won last season’s Xfinity race at Sonoma but will be making his first start here in a Cup car. “And then in the first group, we saw big gains from people in their second runs. I think the 24 (third-place qualifier William Byron) made a huge jump, which is pretty abnormal, I think, on these tires, especially this new soft tire.

“My first lap was just a banker almost. The second lap was really good.”

Byron navigated the course at 95.488 mph to claim the third spot on the grid. Ross Chastain was fourth at 95.409 mph, followed by AJ Allmendinger (95.367 mph) and Ty Gibbs (95.357 mph).

Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell claimed the sixth through 10th starting spots, respectively.

Drivers facing off in the third round of the In-Season Challenge qualified as follows: Gibbs, sixth vs. Zane Smith, 12th; Bowman, ninth vs. Ty Dillon, 26th; John Hunter Nemechek, 18th vs. LEGACY Motor Club teammate Erik Jones, 31st; and Reddick, eighth vs. Ryan Preece, 20th.

Preece, two points below the current elimination line for a berth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, may be more concerned with the position of 30th-place starter Bubba Wallace, who is two points above the cut line with seven races left in the regular season.

Katherine Legge, who finished 19th last Sunday on the Chicago Street Course, did not make a qualifying attempt and will start 37th.

NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Toyota/Save Mart 350
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California
Saturday, July 12, 2025

1. (88) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 96.040 mph.
2. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 95.719 mph.
3. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 95.488 mph.
4. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 95.409 mph.
5. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 95.367 mph.
6. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 95.357 mph.
7. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 95.350 mph.
8. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 95.296 mph.
9. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 95.224 mph.
10. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 95.212 mph.
11. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 95.198 mph.
12. (38) Zane Smith, Ford, 95.167 mph.
13. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 95.161 mph.
14. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 95.047 mph.
15. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 95.003 mph.
16. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 94.967 mph.
17. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 94.919 mph.
18. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 94.866 mph.
19. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 94.808 mph.
20. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 94.776 mph.
21. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 94.732 mph.
22. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 94.726 mph.
23. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 94.679 mph.
24. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 94.594 mph.
25. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 94.467 mph.
26. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 94.222 mph.
27. (41) Cole Custer, Ford, 94.112 mph.
28. (35) Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 93.949 mph.
29. (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 93.929 mph.
30. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 93.923 mph.
31. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 93.896 mph.
32. (4) Noah Gragson, Ford, 93.894 mph.
33. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 93.695 mph.
34. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 93.497 mph.
35. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 93.364 mph.
36. (51) Cody Ware, Ford, 92.465 mph.
37. (78) Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 0.000 mph.

— By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.



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Where to watch NASCAR Xfinity Series Sonoma Race today: Time, channel, free live stream

NASCAR is headed to Sonoma, California this weekend, where the Xfinity Series will race in the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. Saturday’s competition begins at 4:30 p.m. ET in Sonoma Raceway. The NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 2025 Sonoma Race will air on The CW, and streams live on DirecTV (free trial). What: The Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, […]

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NASCAR is headed to Sonoma, California this weekend, where the Xfinity Series will race in the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. Saturday’s competition begins at 4:30 p.m. ET in Sonoma Raceway.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 2025 Sonoma Race will air on The CW, and streams live on DirecTV (free trial).

What: The Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, a NASCAR Xfinity Series race

When: Saturday, July 12, 2025

Where: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

TV: The CW

Streaming Service Free Trial Promo Monthly Price
DirecTV Yes $30 off first month $86.99
fuboTV* Yes $20 off first month $84.99

*It’s important to note that The CW has less reliable coverage on fubo, and new subscribers should check local channel availability.

Here’s a recent NASCAR story via The AP:

CHICAGO (AP) — Shane van Gisbergen burned out his tires in celebration, sending white smoke into the air. He signed a rugby ball and punted it into the stands in downtown Chicago.

It was a familiar scene.

Van Gisbergen completed a Windy City sweep Sunday, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky street course in downtown Chicago.

“Epic weekend for us. I’m a lucky guy,” van Gisbergen said.

A talented one, too.

The 36-year-old New Zealand native became the second driver to sweep the Xfinity and Cup races in a single weekend from the pole, joining Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016. With his third career Cup win, he also became the winningest foreign-born driver on NASCAR’s top series.

It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season after the Trackhouse Racing driver also won last month on a Mexico City road course.

“He’s the best road course stock car racer that I’ve ever seen,” Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said. “I think when he’s done with us all and walks away from the sport, I think he’s going to walk away as the best road course racer that this sport has ever seen.”

Marks brought van Gisbergen over from Australia’s Supercars for the first edition of NASCAR’s Chicago experiment in 2023, and he became the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

He also won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.

“This joint, it’s changed my life,” van Gisbergen said. “I didn’t have any plans to do more NASCAR races when I first came over here, and I never thought I’d be in NASCAR full time.”

In what might be the last NASCAR race on the downtown Chicago circuit, Ty Gibbs was second and Tyler Reddick finished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.

“My team called a great strategy and got me in position to get me up front to compete for the win,” Gibbs said. “It worked out for us today, so I’m glad to have a good finish, but we wish we could have gone for the win.”

Michael McDowell joined van Gisbergen on the front row and quickly moved in front. He won Stage 1 and led for 31 laps before he was derailed by a throttle cable issue.

Van Gisbergen regained the lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog and rain moved into downtown Chicago, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way.

AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece finished seventh. Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.

“I thought overall it was a pretty decent day. It was nice to win that stage,” Blaney said.

William Byron’s day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver leads the point standings by 13 points over Chase Elliott.

After McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between Turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.

“I didn’t see it until the last second,” Keselowski said. “I slowed down and I actually felt I was going to get stopped and then I just kind of got ran over from behind. It’s just a narrow street course and sometimes there’s nowhere to go.”

Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to finish the race. Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset top-seeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta.

Gibbs, Preece, Alex Bowman, John H. Nemechek, Zane Smith and Erik Jones also advanced. The winner of the five-race, bracket-style tournament takes home a $1 million prize.

Bowman, the 2024 champion on the downtown street course, won his head-to-head matchup with Bubba Wallace. Bowman and Wallace made contact as they battled for position late in the race after they also tangled in Chicago last year.

“I wasn’t expecting that to happen or to get raced like that, but we did,” Bowman said. “We just have to move on from it and keep digging. I don’t really know what I could have done much different.”

Top-20 finish

Katherine Legge finished 19th for her best career Cup result. She became the first woman to finish in the top 20 in a Cup race since Danica Patrick at Texas in November 2017.

Legge was the first woman to qualify for the Cup race in downtown Chicago.

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The Cup Series is at Sonoma Raceway in California on Sunday, July 13.

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