Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, JR Motorsports, is pulling out all the stops in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, announcing a stacked driver lineup for the upcoming PitBoss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway.

Following Shane van Gisbergen’s win for JR Motorsports at The Loop 110 in Chicago on Saturday – which contained plenty of off-track drama between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain – the preliminary entry list for the upcoming race was announced, with the NASCAR Hall of Famer sending four of this season’s winners all stepping up.

Looking to build upon his remarkable weekend in Illinois, which saw him win from pole in both the Xfinity and Cup Series, Van Gisbergen is set to return in the No. 9 Chevrolet, alongside Series leader Justin Allgaier in the No. 7, Sammy Smith in the No. 8, and Cup up and comer Connor Zilisch in the No. 88.

Initially, Dale Jr. was listed as Zilisch’s crew chief for the upcoming race, stirring huge excitement among fans given the racing legend recently helped guide the youngster to a win at Pocono in his first-ever race in the role. However, this was quickly amended by NASCAR, with Mardy Lindley having recently returned from his one-race suspension.

This didn’t stop Dale Jr. and Zilisch from making light of the mistake, with the former sharing the incorrect entry list on social media along with a GIF of actor Jason Sudeikis on Saturday Night Live dressed as the devil, captioned, “That’s me.” The 18-year-old swiftly replied with another GIF, stating, “In your dreams.” 

Intriguingly, Dale Jr’s subsequent GIF teased, “I just might,” perhaps suggesting his career as a crew chief is not over just yet. 

JR Motorsports’ impressive lineup for Saturday left fans excited for the possibilities at Sonoma, with one commenting, “SVG runaway win on Saturday.” Another replied to a post commemorating van Gisbergen’s Chicago win, the 97th in team history, with, “You’ll get 98th this weekend….” While a third simply noted, “Never really noticed just how heavy loaded Chevy is represented in the Xfinity series!”

Van Gisbergen’s win in Chicago was not only the 97th in JR Motorsports’ history, but in taking the checkered flag, he became the team’s sixth driver to win an Xfinity race this season – a new record in the Series’ history, as per NASCAR Insights.

Following the race, the Supercars Championship legend posted on social media, “Epic day! Lucky to drive a couple of rockets in both series. @JRMotorsports #9 was unreal had some really cool battles! Awesome to get a win for @WeatherTech in their home city too!”

After adding a second Cup Series win of the season to his resume the next day, it seems van Gisbergen made the most of the opportunity to celebrate, posting in the early hours of Monday morning, “I won’t be available in the morning please try me in the afternoon. Thanks.”

Van Gisbergen later revealed on NASCAR’s Day After podcast, “I don’t remember sending that tweet, so there you go. It was a great night. Most of the team guys came around to my place, and we just celebrated.” The New Zealander has now won four of the six races NASCAR has held on the streets of Chicago since 2023.

Get ready, Rio Linda! NASCAR is rolling into Sonoma Raceway for a weekend of high-octane action, July 11-13. This year’s event is packed with milestones, challenges, and plenty of local flavor.

The Toyota/Save Mart 350: A Sonoma Tradition Continues

This year marks the 35th running of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race. That’s a serious legacy! It makes this race one of the longest continuous entitlement sponsorships in NASCAR, right up there with classics like the Coca-Cola 600. Thirty-five years means a lot of thrilling races and memorable moments right here in our backyard.

Xfinity Series Roars onto the California Coast

For the third time ever, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be hitting the Sonoma Raceway road course. For years, the Xfinity Series mostly stuck to tracks east of the Mississippi, so adding Sonoma in 2023 was a big deal. It’s brought the series to a whole new fanbase on the California Coast and given rising stars a chance to show off their skills on the same challenging track where NASCAR’s top drivers compete.

Conquering Sonoma’s “Blind Turn”

Sonoma Raceway is a road course, meaning drivers face a whole different beast compared to traditional oval tracks. Many drivers, including Christopher Bell, will tell you that Turn 3A at Sonoma is the most blind turn in the entire NASCAR circuit! Drivers have to battle elevation changes before making a right turn right into the chute, all while trusting their instincts and experience. It’s a true test of skill!

A Mid-Summer Showdown

Get ready for some summer NASCAR! This year’s NASCAR weekend, scheduled for July 11-13, marks the latest in the season NASCAR has ever come to Sonoma. It’s more than a month later than the 2024 race, so prepare for some potentially hotter, more intense racing conditions!

The Coveted Champion’s Goblet & Local Flavor

The winner of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 won’t just get a trophy – they’ll hoist the iconic Champion’s Goblet. This unique award, crafted by a local glassblower, is one of a kind on the NASCAR circuit. And speaking of local, the red wine chosen for the celebration is from Senses Wines.

Senses Wines was founded in 2011 by Sonoma County natives and has quickly become a standout project from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. With grapes sourced from renowned vineyards and crafted by legendary winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, these wines are known for their complexity and beautiful balance. You can learn more about them at www.senseswines.com.

Kyle Larson Eyes a Third Sonoma Victory

Our very own hometown hero, Kyle Larson, is back at Sonoma as the defending champ and he’s got his sights set on his third win here. If he pulls it off, he’ll become the third-most winning driver all-time at Sonoma, behind NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon (5 wins) and Martin Truex Jr. (4 wins). Let’s cheer him on!

Three Road Courses in One Month!

Oval tracks have always been NASCAR’s bread and butter, but this year is shaking things up with three road courses in one month, and Sonoma is one of them! Cup Series drivers have already tackled the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City and are facing back-to-back road course races at the Chicago Street Race and now Sonoma Raceway. This increased variety of tracks so close together is sure to bring more excitement and even better racing!

Sonoma Plays Key Role in New In-Season Tournament

This year, Sonoma Raceway will be a crucial battleground in the new In-Season Challenge! The historic Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, July 13, will be the third race of the tournament’s bracket stage, making it a critical turning point in the elimination format. Drivers will be navigating Sonoma’s unique challenges – elevation changes, tight turns, and strategic pit stops – all while fighting for their tournament survival. Get ready for some high stakes!

NASCAR Returns to TNT!

After a decade of being FOX’s season finale, this year marks the return of NASCAR’s Cup Series at Sonoma to TNT for the first time since 2014! Tune in to catch all the action.

Get Your Tickets Now!

Don’t miss out on this thrilling weekend! Tickets for the July 11-13 Sonoma Raceway NASCAR weekend are on sale now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE (7223). Three-day weekend packages for adults start at just $130, and kids 12 and under are only $10 – a fantastic deal for the whole family! You can also snag tickets for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the lowest available price at local Save Mart, Lucky California, or FoodMaxx stores. For more details, head to the Sonoma Raceway website.

Will you be heading to Sonoma Raceway this July to catch the action? Let us know in the comments!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was on the call as Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman got into it near the end of the capped NASCAR Cup Series’ trip to Chicago once again. The 23XI Racing wheelman was spun by the Hendrick Motorsports driver after a battle for position late in the race in the Windy City.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer tried to make sense of what was going through the mind of both drivers during the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download. Evidently, Bowman’s reaction surprised Earnhardt Jr. in the moment, but he didn’t have a problem with the way the No. 48 Chevrolet wheelman handled his business.

“Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman got into it. This was an interesting one,” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “The battle was physical. Pretty crazy. “I was like, ‘Oh shit man.’ Bowman’s like, ‘No, man.’ Bubba took a couple of swipes, in the race car, Bubba was pretty aggressive. They banged off each other. Bubba pushed him through 12. I was like, ‘Oh man, I don’t know how Bowman’s going to respond to this. Is Bowman going to bow up?’

“Like, if Bowman gets knocked out of shape in a corner — every driver, you have an idea in your mind how they’ll react in that scenario. I saw a little more out of Bowman than I expected, in terms of reacting. … I thought it was good, hard, hard, hard racing. As physical as you could get without going over the line of being ridiculous or foolish. … Alex just decided, ‘My nose is in there, I’m going to leave it at this point.’”

Alas, Wallace and Bowman found themselves racing for position in the top 10 during the closing laps of Sunday’s race. The duo was beating and banging, looking as if either one could send the other spinning. It was Bowman who got the upper hand in the end, sending Wallace around in Turn 2 on Lap 70. Bowman finished eighth, Wallace P28. 

It’s also not the first time Wallace and Bowman have tangled. They always seem to get into each other’s business, especially at Chicago, where the 23XI Racing wheelman voiced his displeasure with the Hendrick driver last season, as well.

Regardless, Bubba Wallace might’ve woken up with a bit of regret, as he went from a potential top ten to a P28 finish, while in the middle of a tough points battle for the playoffs. A win could make all his troubles go away, but he hasn’t been able to find Victory Lane yet in 2025.

During the Chicago Street Race, Cody Ware slammed into a tire barrier at 93mph and as smoke poured out of his wrecked car, he radioed two chilling words: “Need help.”
But for nearly 35 seconds, nothing happened.

NASCAR didn’t throw the caution until Shane van Gisbergen took the white flag and the final lap was underway, effectively ending the race under yellow and avoiding an overtime restart. That’s now causing backlash from all over the racing world with many calling it unacceptable and dangerous.

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Cody Ware’s crash was on the last lap of the Chicago Street Race. A blown brake rotor left him unable to slow down into Turn 6 and he hit the barrier hard. Hard enough that drivers, analysts and fans all thought for sure a yellow would come. But it didn’t.

Also Read:: NASCAR points leaders today: Cup Series points leaders after Chicago

35 Seconds of Silence as Cody Called for Help

In-car audio captured Cody Ware’s voice asking for help. His window net was still up so he was still inside and potentially injured. Yet the race continued at full speed as he sat motionless in the runoff.
“It took NASCAR 35 seconds to throw a caution,” wrote reporter Seth Eggert. “Unreal. Unacceptable.”
Joseph Srigley, editor-in-chief at TobyChristie.com, was just as stunned: “That’s a brutal impact… I can’t believe that wasn’t an immediate caution.”But the delay has raised questions about safety protocols, and what could have happened if Ware couldn’t have walked away.

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Thankfully, Ware was able to walk away from the crash without serious injury. The Rick Ware Racing driver himself was surprised by the slow response. “Obviously, I’m not going anywhere, there’s not much I can do at that point,” Ware said after the race. “At that point I’m just focused on getting out of the car and getting to a safe spot.”

Several reports indicate that NASCAR officials did not know how serious the crash was and whether Cody Ware would manage to come out alone. Kind of like what happened to Kyle Larson at this same race last year
But this time it was different and the delay was much more costly in terms of public trust.

Now that the Chicago race is behind us, the fallout continues. NASCAR’s response time is being questioned again and we’re asking: why did it take a driver’s radioed plea, and 35 seconds, to realize something was seriously wrong?
The driver walked away this time. But next time it could cost more.

Also Read:: NASCAR results Chicago: NASCAR Cup Series stage results, Chicago Street Race winner

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• Hyundai aims to extend its commanding lead in the 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, following a strong podium finish at Watkins Glen

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 9, 2025 – Hyundai Motor America is heading north to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) for the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 race, ready to build on the automaker’s remarkably successful 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season. With a commanding lead in the IMPC Manufacturers’ Championship and a string of impressive finishes, Hyundai is set to tackle the demanding Canadian circuit.

Hyundai’s pursuit of a sixth-consecutive Manufacturers’ Championship has been exceptionally successful so far this year. This season has been marked by victories at Daytona and Sebring, a historic 1-2-3 finish at Laguna Seca, and a dominant 1-2 finish at Mid-Ohio. The most recent outing at Watkins Glen International saw Victor Gonzalez Racing’s No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR, piloted by Eric Powell and Tyler Gonzalez, secure a hard-fought second-place podium finish. This strong result was reinforced by the third-place finish of the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) Elantra N TCR piloted by Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker, underscoring Hyundai’s resilience in challenging conditions. Hyundai remains firmly in first position in the IMPC Manufacturers’ Championship.

CTMP (formerly Mosport) hosts a 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course located near Toronto known for its high-speed sections and significant elevation changes. The circuit provides a unique test for both drivers and cars. Hyundai has a strong history at CTMP, having previously secured victories and podiums at this iconic North American venue. The Elantra N TCR has consistently demonstrated its durability and speed, making it well-suited for the rigorous demands of this track.

Hyundai’s strong contingent of Elantra N TCR cars will be on track, including the championship-leading BHA entries and the podium-contending Victor Gonzalez Racing cars. Drivers are eager to leverage the platform’s proven performance along with their collective experience to continue Hyundai’s championship momentum.

The Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, with the green flag set to wave at 1:25 PM ET. Live race coverage will be available on Peacock.

The No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR of drivers Eric Powell and Tyler Gonzalez is photographed during the LP Building Solutions 120 in Watkins Glen, NY, June 21, 2025. (Photo/Bryan Herta Autosport/Richard Prince Photography)

 Hyundai Championship Standings

No. 99 Hyundai Elantra N TCR drivers Tyler Gonzalez and Eric Powell are photographed on the podium after the LP Building Solutions 120 in Watkins Glen, NY, June 21, 2025. (Photo/Bryan Herta Autosport/Richard Prince Photography)

IMSA TCR Manufacturer Standings

Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai’s 850 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a published economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

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