NASHVILLE — Michael Waltrip, a former NASCAR driver whose career included two Daytona 500 victories, has joined the ownership group of the Nashville Kats, a founding franchise of the Arena Football 1 league.

The Kats announced the 62-year-old Waltrip joining the group Friday along with his craft beer company, Michael Waltrip Brewing. The ownership group already includes former NFL coaches Jon Gruden, 61, and Jeff Fisher, 67, with the latter the majority owner and team president, as well as the AF1 commissioner.

Gruden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002-08 and the Oakland Raiders from 2018-21, while Fisher coached the Houston Oilers from 1994-96, the Tennessee Oilers from 1997-98, the Tennessee Titans from 1999-2010, the St. Louis Rams from 2012-15 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.

Gruden’s first season in Tampa Bay culminated with the Bucs winning Super Bowl XXXVII in their first appearance in the NFL’s title matchup. Fisher led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV to cap the 1999 season, and it remains the franchise’s lone appearance in the big game.

Waltrip drove in NASCAR’s top-tier Cup Series on a full-time basis from 1985 to 2009 and continued to race occasionally through 2017. He won the Daytona 500 — the prestigious season opener often referred to as “NASCAR’s Super Bowl” — in 2001 and 2003.

“We now have three living legends attached to the Nashville Kats — Jeff Fisher, Jon Gruden, and Michael Waltrip — all with the ultimate goal to win championships and raise the AF1 to its ultimate potential along with any team associated with the AF1,” Bobby DeVoursney, the CEO and managing partner of the Kats, said in a team release announcing the move.

Waltrip’s brewery now is the team’s official craft beer. The team also plans a “Waltrip Winner’s Circle” fan zone for the upcoming season.

The Kats, who played in the Arena Football League last season, will face the Southwest Kansas Storm in the AF1 semifinals Sunday at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.

Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announces today that Kaz Grala will pilot the No. 24 Overplay GR Supra at a series of upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) road course races starting at the Loop 110 in Chicago.

Overplay, the no-code gaming platform recently featured on Shark Tank, is pleased to add Grala to its schedule of sponsored racers in the 2025 Season.

Grala was SHR’s first ever full-time driver. He currently supports LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s NASCAR Cup Series efforts as a Simulation Testing and Reserve Driver. In his first season with Sam Hunt Racing in 2023, Grala showcased exceptional ability to perform at road courses. Driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra, Grala secured three top 10 finishes on road circuits, including a season-best fifth place at the Charlotte ROVAL, and strong performances at Road America (7th), Indianapolis Road Course (9th), and the Chicago Street Course (10th). These results not only highlighted his versatility and skill but also contributed significantly to Sam Hunt Racing’s most successful season to date, with Grala achieving two top 5 and nine top 10 finishes overall.

Kaz Grala embarked on a pivotal role this year with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, serving as the team’s Simulator Testing and Reserve Driver. This position leverages his extensive racing experience across NASCAR’s premier series to enhance the team’s performance through advanced simulation work and preparedness to step in as needed. Grala’s efforts have assisted LEGACY MC’s improvement in performance this season by playing a key part in the team’s simulation program.

“I can’t wait to finally suit back up, especially with my friends at Sam Hunt Racing. We had a lot of success together in 2023, and with the growth they’ve had since then, I have confidence that we’ll be able to contend up front each time we hit the track” said Grala. Of his experience making video games on Overplay’s platform Grala states, “My role at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB as their simulation driver has kept me sharp behind the wheel this year, and ties in perfectly with the driving games we’ve created with Overplay. For the first time, fans are playing racing games that I made. Overplay has been an incredible sponsor to work with so far, as they’ve fully immersed themselves in the NASCAR world this year. I’m looking forward to what we are all able to accomplish together, and I can’t think of a better place to get started than the streets of Chicago.”

Grala brings with him a wealth of experience at NASCAR’s highest level, having made 31 Cup Series starts since his debut in 2020. In his very first outing, he turned heads with a seventh-place finish at the Daytona Road Course. Most recently, he delivered a strong 14th-place result at Atlanta in 2024 with Rick Ware Racing, continuing to showcase his adaptability and competitive edge across a range of teams and track types.

Making his return to Sam Hunt Racing, Grala brings an advantage with his old and new experiences, the No. 24 team. His time at the Cup level has only sharpened his race craft, and success at the NXS level with SHR is an asset that will be invaluable as the team looks to build on its road course success and contend for stronger finishes across the Xfinity Series schedule.

“It’s always nice to have a familiar face walk into SHR. Kaz has been working in the LEGACY MC simulator all year, so I know he’s more than eager to be back on track and get real-world reps,” said Hunt. “He knows our process as well as anyone and has had a lot of success with us in the past, especially on these road courses. I think we have all continued to improve since 2023, and I’m thankful and proud to have Overplay partner with us to support the effort. It’s going to be a fun couple of races for sure.”

Brian Gainey will continue to lead the effort as crew chief for the No. 24 team. Gainey has seen much success at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) where he previously worked as the Car Chief of the No. 20 in the NXS.

“I would like to welcome back Kaz to SHR. It’s great to have someone to compete in the 24 car that has over 150 starts in NASCAR’s top 3 divisions. With that being said we are taking Kaz to (3) road courses this year,” said Gainey. “It’s no surprise that road courses fit Kaz’s strengths and SHR’s. I’m excited to hit the ground running with Kaz and try to get the best result each race, and I believe he will be a contender at all three tracks.”

Tune in to The Loop 110 at The Chicago Street Course on July 5th at 4:30 PM ET. All NASCAR Xfinity Series races will be broadcast on the CW Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty rejected road courses after the race weekend in Mexico, saying they don’t qualify as real NASCAR races. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has defended the street circuits, pointing out that they weren’t important in Petty’s era but stated how different the sport is today.

Petty’s remarks arrived after Shane van Gisbergen won the Cup Series race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City. Despite being 30th in the standings, van Gisbergen secured a place in the playoffs as a result of his victory. Petty called out this policy of ‘if you win, you’re in’ and admitted that road courses are not NASCAR. Newsweek Sports reported his comments last week. He said:

“The way they got this thing fixed, where if you win, you’re in. That can’t be right. You got somebody that’s 30th in points that’s going to make the playoffs. Hey man, what happened to the guy that 15th, or 16th, or 18th [that’s] been running good [and] finished good everywhere?

“You’re making a championship situation by winning a road course, which is not really NASCAR to begin with. From that standpoint, I think they’re going to have to jockey around and change some of this kind of stuff.”

Dale Jr. has responded to Petty’s comments by stating that road courses hold more importance today than they did during Petty’s era in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Back in those days, drivers focused primarily on oval tracks, but today, they are expected to master all kinds of race tracks. He said on the Dale Jr. Download podcast:

“I agree with Richard. Road course racing isn’t NASCAR…..There’s been road course racing in NASCAR since the ’50s.”

He added:

“Being a road course racer wasn’t important.

“If you wanted to get to NASCAR, you raced a short track somewhere locally. You ran stock cars, you ran late model stock, you ran the Busch Series or the Sportsman cars back in the ’80s. You raced full-bodied cars around ovals. That was the route.

“That was yesterday’s NASCAR, and that’s what Richard Petty is talking about. But we’re in a different time. Today’s NASCAR is all-encompassing. It is road courses, short tracks, superspeedway.”

Dale Jr. revealed that he was at peace with NASCAR adding more road courses. He said:

“I agree with Richard Petty. NASCAR stock car racing is predominantly an oval-based series. Always has been. We have removed some ovals, we’ve removed some tracks, added some road courses. I’m fine with that because I do like the idea that our drivers need to be great at all things. If you’re going to be a champion, you now have to be as good at a road course as you are at an oval. Back when I started driving, you didn’t. You could f***ing suck at the road course as long as you were good everywhere else.”

Manchester United Strikes Gold with Sponsorship Extension

In a groundbreaking move that is set to shake the sports sponsorship landscape, Manchester United has officially declared the extension of their highly profitable partnership with a major sponsor. This announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry, solidifying Manchester United’s dominance not only on the field but also in the boardroom.

The Red Devils have once again showcased their prowess in securing lucrative deals, proving why they are considered one of the biggest powerhouses in the world of sports. With this extended partnership, Manchester United is not only securing financial stability but also reinforcing their brand on a global scale.

This move comes as no surprise to industry experts who have long admired Manchester United’s ability to attract top-tier sponsors. The club’s unparalleled success both on and off the pitch makes them a prime choice for brands looking to gain exposure to millions of fans worldwide.

As the details of the extended partnership emerge, one thing is clear – Manchester United shows no signs of slowing down. Their strategic business decisions continue to set them apart from the competition, cementing their status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of sports marketing.

Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating the impact of this extended partnership, with many speculating on the potential benefits it could bring to the club both in the short and long term. Manchester United’s ability to consistently attract high-profile sponsors speaks volumes about their global appeal and marketability.

With this latest announcement, Manchester United has once again demonstrated why they are at the top of the game, both on and off the field. The footballing giants show no signs of relinquishing their position as industry leaders, leaving their competitors in the dust.

Stay tuned as more details about this groundbreaking partnership extension continue to unfold, reshaping the sports sponsorship landscape as we know it.

Layne Riggs capped one of the best race weekends of his young career, claiming his first ever pole position then leading the final 20 laps of Friday’s MillerTech Battery 200 to take his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory of the season in the opening race of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Riggs’ No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford beat TRICON Garage driver Tanner Gray to the checkered flag by a healthy 3.64s delivering the young star his third career series win.

Riggs had been fast all day and was running second to championship leader Corey Heim coming to a restart with 19 laps to go only to have Heim’s No. 11 Toyota suffer a flat tire just as the field was about to take the green flag.

Just after Heim pulled off the track for a quick tire change, NASCAR Cup Series driver and former Truck Series regular Carson Hocevar moved his No. 7 truck forward and into the lead on the restart – but was handed a penalty for the move.

Riggs, as the second place car, was the “control” car when Heim pit – not Hocevar – and Riggs assumed the lead for good when Hocevar pit with 18 laps remaining to serve the stop-and-go penalty for his restart violation.

“That’s just a testament to this team, that thing was bad fast especially that last run right there,” said Riggs, the 23-year-old son of former NASCAR Cup Series standout Scott Riggs.

“I really hate the No. 11 [Heim] fell out and not sure what the No. 7 [Hocevar] was doing on the restart there, but made sure to take advantage of it.

“But, hey, I’m a happy man right now. … This is not what I had circled. Last year we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify and ran dead last all day, and today we were the best. It’s amazing.”

For much of the early race – before the tire problem – it appeared the season’s four-race winner Heim would essentially turn in a repeat performance of his work a year ago at the 2.5-mile Pocono track when he swept both stages and won the race. Heim did lead a race best 48 of the 90 laps and set an all-time series record claiming his 12th stage win.

But to his credit, Riggs – who also took a stage win – kept Heim honest all day, and that’s what put him in position to capitalize.

Kaden Honeycutt, who started on the front row alongside Riggs, finished third in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. Brandon Jones in the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota and former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric in the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet rounded out the top five.

Rookie Connor Mosack, Riggs’ teammate Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, reigning series champion Ty Majeski and Rajah Caruth completed the top 10.

Heim rallied to a 23rd-place finish and leads Riggs’ teammate, Chandler Smith, by 124 points in the championship standings.

With the victory, Riggs claims the seventh Playoff position based on race wins. Only four more regular season races remain to decide which 10 drivers will compete for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship.

The series heads to the historic Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut for next Saturday’s inaugural LIUNA 150 (1 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RESULTS