Connect with us

Motorsports

Appeals Panel Overturns Suspension Of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Driver

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik will keep his 2025 championship hopes alive after his one-race suspension was overturned following an appeal. 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Seekonk Speedway Kopcik was suspended one race for intentionally crashing Tyler Rypkema in the late stages of the 150-lap “FaithFest Evangelical Ministries 150” at North Wilkesboro […]

Published

on


NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik will keep his 2025 championship hopes alive after his one-race suspension was overturned following an appeal.

2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Seekonk Speedway

Kopcik was suspended one race for intentionally crashing Tyler Rypkema in the late stages of the 150-lap “FaithFest Evangelical Ministries 150” at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, May 18. 

The total penalty assessed by NASCAR following that race was a one-race suspension and a $1,500 fine for being deemed to have intentionally crashed Rypkema.

However, it was announced on Tuesday that Kopcik’s suspension had been overturned by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. The panel consisting of Chuck Deery (General Manager of La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway), Hunter Nickell (sports television executive), and Cathy Rice (longtime general manager at South Boston Speedway), did deem that the action of Kopcik was intentional, but lowered the penalty anyway.

The new penalty assessed to Kopcik on Tuesday, May 27 is a $2,500 fine and probation through December 31, 2025. 

As a result, Kopcik will race in Saturday’s J&R Precast 150 at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Kopcik is currently fifth in NWMT points, eight points back of Craig Lutz for the points lead.





Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsports

TB Promotions is headed to Virginia Motorsports Park for the East Coast Twin Fifties

Mark your calendars for the upcoming TB Promotions East Coast Twin Fifties on August 7-9, 2025 at Virginia Motorsports Park. NORTH DINWIDDIE, VA – TB Promotions is thrilled to announce the first ever Laris Motorsports Insurance East Coast Twin Fifties, presented by Vintage Trailers, at Virginia Motorsports Park! They are taking over the east coast on August 7-9, 2025! […]

Published

on


Mark your calendars for the upcoming TB Promotions East Coast Twin Fifties on August 7-9, 2025 at Virginia Motorsports Park.

NORTH DINWIDDIE, VA – TB Promotions is thrilled to announce the first ever Laris Motorsports Insurance East Coast Twin Fifties, presented by Vintage Trailers, at Virginia Motorsports Park! They are taking over the east coast on August 7-9, 2025!

This big-money bracket racing weekend will kick off on Wednesday with the Fuel Factory High-Roller 48-Car Shootout, followed by American Race Cars Thursday Warm-Up Race, where one person will walk away with a 2025 complete roller dragster, followed by two $50K races, No-Box bonuses, and two days of $500-to-win Junior Dragster competitions. Don’t miss out on this exciting weekend of racing and big payouts!

See full race and pre-entry details below!

DragChamp Logo

Fuel Factory High-Roller 48-Car Shootout

To kick off the weekend, there will be a high-roller 48-car $25,000-to-win shootout on Wednesday The runner-up will earn $5,000 and semi-finalists will take home $2,500, with quarter-finalists earning $1,000. The entry fee will be $1,000, and there are no buybacks. The deposit is $500 to hold your spot and entries go on sale on Tuesday, June 24.

American Race Cars Thursday Warm-Up

Racers competing in the warm-up race have the chance to take home a complete 2025 roller chassis from American Race Cars, completely assembled, wired, and custom painted! The runner-up will earn $5,000 and semi-finalists will take home $1,000, with quarter-finalists earning $500. The entry fee will be $250 with a buyback available for $100. Entries are available at the gate, and you do not have to be entered in the weekend to run the warm-up race.

Friday & Saturday Twin $50K events

Fuel Factory Friday and Moser Engineering Saturday will both feature a $50,000-to-win race with $10,000 going to the runner-up and $3,000 to the semi-finalists. There will be $250 round money starting with 3rd round winners and there will be a re-entry round after 1st round available for $250 if needed. The single day entry fee is $400 and the full weekend entry fee is $1,599. Doubles are allowed. See pre-entry information below.

No-Box Bonuses

No-Box will run completely separate with their own bye run until down to one remaining driver. The last remaining No-Box car will receive a $2,500 bonus on Friday and Saturday. The winner will advance into the next round along with the remaining Top Bulb entries. No-Box will earn the same round money as Top Bulb, and Doubles will NOT be allowed in No-Box!

Jr. Dragster $500-to-win

Jr. Dragster racers will compete for $500-to-win on Friday and Saturday in a 16-car shootout, sponsored by The Hub Saver/JFP Solutions. Doubles are not allowed and there will be a 1st round buyback available for $20. Runner-ups will take home $100 while semi-finalists will cash in for $500. The weekend entry fee is $100 and includes one entry into both races. No single day entries will be sold. See pre-entry information below. 

Pre-Entry Information

Pre-entry for the East Coast Twin Fifties officially opens on June 24 at noon EST at www.racederbycity.com. This event is capped at 425 Top Bulb and 32 No Box entries. Everything will go on sale on the same day, including the Fuel Factory High Roller Shootout and Junior Dragsters.

Pre-entry fees are refundable if canceled before July 28, 2025. After that date, you may sell your pre-entry to another racer.

Event Extras

MotorMania TV will be on-site, live-streaming the action for those unable to attend in person. Additionally, Laris Motorsports Insurance will host a special Racer Appreciation Dinner on Friday night for racers and their families to enjoy.

Schedule

Wednesday

  • Parking opens at 8:00 a.m. EST
  • Testing 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ($50)
  • Fuel Factory 48 Round 1 – 2 p.m. EST
  • Eliminations to follow

Thursday

  • Time Run – 9:00 a.m. EST
  • American Race Cars Round 1 – 1:00 p.m. EST

Friday

  • New entry time run – 8:00 a.m. EST
  • Fuel Factory $50K Round 1 to Follow
  • Laris Motorsports Insurance Racer Party at night!

Saturday

  • New entry time run – 8:00 a.m. EST
  • Moser Engineering $50K Round 1 to Follow

Sunday

Contact Tyler Bohannon at 502-417-0008 or Brian Whitworth at 502-715-1778 if you have any questions about the Laris Motorsports Insurance East Coast Twin Fifties, presented by Vintage Trailers, at Virginia Motorsports Park.

For more bracket racing news from DragChamp, click here.





Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

NASCAR fans celebrate with friends and family in the center of Pocono Raceway

LONG POND, MONROE CO. (WOLF) — Rain and wind didn’t stop the party inside of Pocono Raceway’s infield for The Great American Getaway 400. “Even though it’s raining, there’s nothing better than this. As long as we don’t get struck by lightning, we’re good,” saidChristopher Belvedere, a Long Island native. The rain may have delayed […]

Published

on


Rain and wind didn’t stop the party inside of Pocono Raceway’s infield for The Great American Getaway 400.

“Even though it’s raining, there’s nothing better than this. As long as we don’t get struck by lightning, we’re good,” saidChristopher Belvedere, a Long Island native.

The rain may have delayed the race but it didn’t delay partiers like William Auchmoody from enjoying the morning.

“My first race I was 14 years old but for the last 9 or 10 years, we come here every race weekend, a whole big group of us and we tailgate, put up tents and cook,” said Auchmoody, “It’s generational. My dad brought me to my first race when I was a kid and I bring my sons and my daughter who is 21 and actually works in NASCAR now.”

Auchmoody traveled from Highland, New York and he and the rest of his crew come to the races for more than just the cars.

“We go to races all over the country and this is one of the most fan friendly places. We sometimes watch the races, but it’s everything that goes on in the infield here. It’s amazing,” he explained.

The atmosphere of the Pocono Raceway infield attracts fans from all over, like young fans Rhett and Kennedy Chapman, from Virginia.

“NASCAR is basically Hotwheels but it’s bigger and the cars can actually drive,” said Kennedy Chapman.

Chapman’s brother, Rhett is excited to cheer on his favorite driver, Kyle Bush.

“When I was picking my driver when I was little, I did it off my favorite snack, and that was M&Ms,” said Chapman.

Smaller, non-motor vehicles were also part of the pre-race festivities.

“There’s a bike over there, if you can ride it, we’ll give you free beer for life,” said Christopher Belvedere, a Long Island native.

The bike has problems with steering and breaking, although Mike Graziano, another Long Islander, seems to be the only person who can successfully ride it.

“It’s almost amazing that he can do it,” said Belvedere.

By the time the race started, the sun was shining, and the grills were running.

“Just bring your sunscreen, bring an umbrella. In all my years of coming here I do see that at least one day we do get rain,” said Auchmoody,



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Thomas Annunziata to Race Spire Motorsports’ No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado at Lime Rock Park – Speedway Digest

Today, Spire Motorsports announced road-racing standout Thomas Annunziata will pilot the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series inaugural visit to Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park where TOP LINER will be showcased as the team’s primary sponsor. Annunziata brings over nine years of competitive experience, spanning multiple division’s including karting, sports cars, […]

Published

on


Today, Spire Motorsports announced road-racing standout Thomas Annunziata will pilot the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series inaugural visit to Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park where TOP LINER will be showcased as the team’s primary sponsor.

Annunziata brings over nine years of competitive experience, spanning multiple division’s including karting, sports cars, Trans Am and NASCAR’s developmental divisions. The newly minted 20-year-old looks to build on his well-established road-racing acumen and to carry that experience into his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at the mile-and-a-half, seven-turn Lime Rock Park layout.

“It’s a dream to race for a top team in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for my debut race,” said Annunziata. “Spire Motorsports is one of the elite teams and I hope to get them another win.”

The Colts Neck, N.J., native, has carved a swift path through the road-racing ranks, having made a name for himself in Trans Am and IMSA-sanctioned events. He began karting at age 10, ascended to the senior class by 2021 and was ranked among the world’s top karters that season.

The three-time national karting champion transitioned to sports cars in 2022, where he swept both SCCA Spec Miata and Mazda Motorsports Spec MX5 Challenge titles and earned the $75,000 Mazda MX5 Cup Shootout scholarship. The Trans Am paddock took notice that same year when Annunziata earned a podium finish at Circuit of the Americas in just his second-career CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series start.

In 2023, Annunziata became the only rookie to capture a pole position and win in TA2 competition. He went on to claim the series’ Young Guns Champion award in 2024 while balancing ARCA Menards Series’ duties that included a runner-up finish at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and a strong run at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Those efforts opened the door to a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with Cope Family Racing in 2025. Meanwhile Annunziata continues to compete full time in the Trans Am TA2 Series where he’s notched victories at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
 
“Thomas drove for us in the Trans Am car and was on pace immediately,” said Claudio Burtin, Owner at TOP LINER and Team Principal at Burtin Racing. “He showed some unique car control. We look forward to mixing it up with the truck regulars and more to come!”

The LiUNA 150 at Lime Rock Park will be televised live on FOX Saturday, June 28, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Spire Motorsports PR



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Drivers Deliver Verdict On New NASCAR In-Season Challenge with $1M Prize

NASCAR drivers have shared their excitement at the new in-season tournament set to begin from the next race, especially considering the impressive $1 million prize money. The upcoming five races in the Cup Series will be treated as a tournament, and the seedings have been set after the race at Pocono. With a 32-driver field, […]

Published

on


NASCAR drivers have shared their excitement at the new in-season tournament set to begin from the next race, especially considering the impressive $1 million prize money.

The upcoming five races in the Cup Series will be treated as a tournament, and the seedings have been set after the race at Pocono. With a 32-driver field, each one will be slotted according to their best finish in Michigan, Mexico, and Pocono.

NASCAR drivers compete in five head-to-head races starting from the next round. Each winner will advance to the following round, with the field narrowing until the tournament winner is declared. After the race in Atlanta, the field will narrow down to 16 drivers, then to 8 following the race in Chicago.

NASCAR Cup Series
A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 22, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

After the race at Sonoma, only 4 drivers will remain, and after the round at Dover, two drivers will battle at Indianapolis for the grand prize. These races will be separate from the regular Cup Series races.

Joey Logano loved the idea of a mid-season tournament, given the extra bit of excitement it would bring to a regular NASCAR season. He said:

“Yeah, I love it. I think it’s great. I think it’s placed perfectly where it is in the season. This is kind of that moment where the newness has worn off, right? Like we’re into the rhythm. We’re racing every week.”

He added:

“It’s not like really the main story quite yet. So this really spices up the mid part of the season. We have a long season, so just kind of changing it up and adding something to it is great, and the in-season tournament, it’s cool.”

Chase Elliott said the idea was a great way to spice things up and welcomed the initiative to make the sport more exciting. He said:

“The season is so long, and anyway, you can spice up the year and have something else going on within our season is ultimately good not only for the fans but also for us.

“I think it’s exciting for us to have something else going on in any given weekend. It’s the first time we’ve done it, and I’m curious to see how it plays out. I think it’s a good addition, and I’m glad to see us try new things.”

Ryan Blaney admitted that the tournament was a unique concept to have mid-season. He said ahead of the race in Michigan:

“I think it’s a unique thing to have in the middle of the year. It’s definitely going to be something on people’s minds starting this week.

“Qualifiers are this week and it goes for three weeks, and then we get going. So, I think it’s in the back of people’s minds. I wasn’t sitting around this week like, ‘Alright, in-season tournament time.’ You just try to run the best you can, and then I think when you get into that five-week stretch of the tournament, you’re going to be aware of who you’re racing — like, who am I up against this week?

“You’re definitely going to be aware of that because there is a lot of money and pride if you win the thing. So, it’s like a five-week all-star race, kind of. You’re always going to be thinking about that.

“You can go the easy route and say, ‘Well, if I just win all five races, I’m going to beat everybody and win the deal.’ And I guess that’s a mindset you can have, for sure.”



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Late Model Mania set to return to Limaland Motorsports Park for the first time since 2007

(Photo Submitted) Information Submitted ELIDA — The last time Late Models appeared at Limaland Motorsports Park on May 11, 2007, Colton Burdette was just 13 years old.… Previous Post MICHAEL L. ‘MICK’ SCHAFFNER Next Post Canal Commission sets Canal Cleanup for Saturday Link 0

Published

on


Information Submitted ELIDA — The last time Late Models appeared at Limaland Motorsports Park on May 11, 2007, Colton Burdette was just 13 years old.…



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Raffle for 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race underway for good cause

Raffle for NASCAR Chicago Street Race underway Raffle for NASCAR Chicago Street Race underway 00:42 Preparations are underway for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race happening next month.  If you don’t already have tickets, you can still win some and help a good cause. A raffle is open to win two-day passes to the race in […]

Published

on


Raffle for NASCAR Chicago Street Race underway



Raffle for NASCAR Chicago Street Race underway

00:42

Preparations are underway for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race happening next month. 

If you don’t already have tickets, you can still win some and help a good cause.

A raffle is open to win two-day passes to the race in Grant Park.

The passes will be awarded to 45 winners who will get standing room trackside viewing locations and access to the Zac Brown Band concert.

Raffle sales benefit the Chicago Park District’s “Park Kids Are Our Kids” fund, which helps families in need get their kids into summer day camp and after-school programs.

The raffle is open until Thursday night. Tickets start at $15, and participants can buy 25 entries for $100.

The race is set for July 5 and 6. 



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending