ExxonMobil’s $467 billion empire is turbocharging NASCAR’s broadcast revolution. Its Mobil 1 brand will sponsor exclusive segments during The CW’s Xfinity Series coverage starting July 5 at the Chicago Street Race.

The multi-race integration marks NASCAR’s most ambitious content partnership since The CW Network secured broadcast rights this year. Mobil 1’s deep pockets signal corporate confidence in the series’ surging viewership as the network reshapes racing entertainment.

Mobil 1 Claims Victory Lane in CW Network’s Xfinity Series Makeover

Five races will feature “Mobil 1 Victory Lane” post-win driver interviews, injecting the lubricant brand into NASCAR’s most iconic celebration. Additional branded elements include:

• Pre-race “Keys to Mobil 1 Victory Lane” strategy segments
• “Mobil 1 Victory Lane Leaderboard Updates” after Stages 1 and 2
• “Mobil 1 Winning Moment” race-defining replay highlights
• “Mobil 1 Victory Lane Interview & Celebration” with the winning driver

.@Mobil1 has a new integrated ad buy with @TheCW for NASCAR Xfinity coverage, with the lubricants brand to sponsor segments for five races starting at Chicago: “Mobil 1 Victory Lane” driver interviews, a pre-race “Keys” segment and leaderboard updates after Stages Nos. 1 and 2. pic.twitter.com/mBJ5srQrmw

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) June 26, 2025

The Chicago launch on July 5, 2025, kicks off a strategic schedule that continues at:

• Watkins Glen – August 9,
• Daytona – August 22,
• Talladega – October 18,
• Phoenix’s season finale – November 1

ExxonMobil’s North America Marketing Manager, Austin Johansen, framed the move as fan-centric and said, “Our goal is to provide fans with new ways to experience the sport we love, bringing them closer to the action.”

NASCAR’s Chief Partnership Officer, Michelle Byron, emphasized legacy alignment, saying, “Mobil 1 Victory Lane has become a signature celebration in our sport, and we’re thrilled that our partners are committed to showcasing this iconic experience during the NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW.”

The CW’s Dan Lanzano noted, “This initiative is the result of continued collaboration and innovation between The CW, Mobil 1, and NASCAR Productions teams to enhance the Xfinity Series viewing experience for race fans around the country,” highlighting how brands now weave directly into NASCAR’s storytelling fabric.

But this isn’t a superficial sponsorship. Technical insights from Mobil 1 engineers will feature in pre-race segments, leveraging the brand’s two decades of NASCAR technical partnership. The deal exemplifies how blue-chip advertisers now demand deeper integration beyond logo slaps.

CW’s NASCAR Bet Ignites Audience Surge

The Mobil 1 deal reinforces The CW’s successful gamble on NASCAR. The Xfinity race at Pocono shattered all previous records, peaking at 1,575,000. Seventeen consecutive races surpassed 1 million viewers, marking the series’ strongest start since 2016.

Network executives credit authentic brand integrations for boosting engagement. The live pre-race show, “NASCAR COUNTDOWN LIVE,” has become a launchpad for organic sponsor activations, featuring drivers and broadcast talent in unscripted moments.

Read More: Xfinity Series Makes Its Case As NASCAR’s Best Product After Pocono Ratings Surge

Demographics reveal the real win. The CW’s younger-skewing audience aligns perfectly with NASCAR’s growth strategy. As Johansen stated, the partnership celebrates “the energy that makes NASCAR so memorable” while attracting elusive Gen Z viewers.

Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway race will test the model’s momentum. With 17 brands activating during February’s Daytona opener, The CW proves NASCAR’s second-tier series drives premium advertiser value.

Chicago’s street course now becomes Mobil 1’s laboratory. Expect camera angles focused on sponsored signage during winner burnouts and tech-focused commentary during critical passes.

Photo credit: Porsche

Porsche Motorsport North America’s Selected Drivers series continues its global push this weekend as Laurens Hartog and Tom Sargent prepare to compete in the 24 Hours of Spa. Both drivers will pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R entries at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with the race scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 28.

Hartog arrives fresh from a podium finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, while Sargent is making his Spa debut after racing at the Six Hours of Watkins Glen earlier this month. Hartog has twice won endurance events at Spa, including the Porsche 992 Endurance Cup 12-Hour and a 24-Hour Series race. Sargent earned a Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship runner-up spot in 2023 and captured a GT World Challenge victory with GMG Racing in 2024.

Both drivers were named to the PMNA Selected Drivers roster alongside Riley Dickinson in recognition of their success in Carrera Cup North America. Hartog is the defending series champion, and Sargent finished directly behind Dickinson in 2023. The Selected Drivers program provides manufacturer support, expanded race opportunities and mentorship across GT and endurance platforms.

Volker Holzmeyer, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, praised the group’s international impact and wished them luck at what is billed as the world’s largest GT3-only event. In addition to Hartog’s Dinamic GT entry and Sargent’s Wright Motorsports lineup, a total of 75 GT3 cars from 10 manufacturers will contest the race across five driver-ranking classes.

Feeling fresh off his first win as a crew chief in his first race on the box, Dale Earnhardt Jr. trolled his Hendrick Motorsports friends. Dale Jr. helped lead Connor Zilisch to the win at Pocono. It was the young NASCAR driver’s first win at an “oval” track.

There was a bit of criticism, or more dismissal, over Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his first race as a crew chief. A few people were talking about “war rooms” and how connected the crew chiefs are to the tracks, even when they are suspended.

No matter the outside noise, Dale Jr. appears to want to do it again. Chase Elliott’s No. 17 car was taken back to the Research and Development Center for a teardown. Well, the Hendrick Xfinity Series team got caught with a “main frame rail conical receiver violation.”

Adam Wall was the crew chief, and he’s suspended for three races. So, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he’s going to hit up Greg Ives and see if he can fill in for the 17 team.

According to a report from the Associated Press, T.J. Puchyr has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing and expand it into a three-car team by 2027.

Now, many fans are likely wondering who Puchyr is, but it is a name familiar to those in the NASCAR garage. He is a former owner at Spire Motorsports alongside Jeff Dickerson, helping to build it into the strong organization it now is. They purchased Furniture Row Racing’s charter following the 2018 season and formed Spire together, which now runs three full-time entries and has contended for multiple race wins this year. Puchyr has since sold his stake in Spire and is no longer connected to the team.

Per the AP, the deal would keep Rick Ware’s son Cody as one of the drivers. RWR currently runs one full-time, charted car, but they are also leasing another charter to RFK Racing for the No. 60 Ford in a two-year agreement. RWR is also in the middle of a lawsuit with Legacy Motor Club, who claims RWR backed out of a signed deal and that they owe them a charter for the 2026 season. 

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Photo by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Ford Mustang is currently last in the championships standings among the 36 chartered teams, placing no higher than 24th in any race this year.

“I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level, and I think we can compete with these guys,” said Puchyr in an interview with the Associated Press. “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.”

There are a lot of moving parts with this deal, and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds in the months to follow. 

In a year marked by turmoil and uncertainty, NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez found himself at the center of a storm of betrayal and upheaval. The shocking details of his breakup with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) after Toyota and sponsors turned their backs on him have now come to light, revealing a tale of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc across various industries, NASCAR was not spared from its effects. The 2020 season came to an abrupt halt, leaving teams scrambling to navigate the new normal of racing under strict protocols and financial strain. For Suárez, who had spent over four years at JGR, the sudden policy shifts and departures of key personnel created a sense of instability within the team. The Mexican driver admitted that it never felt like he was part of a winning environment, with crew chiefs and engineers constantly in flux.

The pandemic-induced sponsor cuts further exacerbated Suárez’s challenges, leading him to make multiple moves between teams, from Gibbs to Stewart-Haas, and eventually to Trackhouse Racing. Each transition tested his mettle and reinforced his focus on the ultimate prize. Suárez’s experience underscored the crucial role of trust in the world of NASCAR, where loyalty can quickly dissipate in the face of financial turmoil.

Speaking candidly on the Dale Jr. Dirty Mo podcast, Suárez revealed the harsh reality of dwindling sponsorships in the wake of the pandemic. What was once a promising partnership with Toyota and JGR crumbled as sponsor commitments evaporated, leaving the driver with limited resources to compete at the highest level. The financial strain was felt industry-wide, with NASCAR teams grappling with a significant drop in sponsorship revenue.

Despite the setbacks, Suárez approached each new opportunity with unwavering determination. His brief stint with Gaunt Brothers may not have yielded the desired results, but it showcased his relentless drive to succeed against all odds. Now, at Trackhouse Racing, Suárez faces another crossroads as his contract nears its end. With one win under his belt and a precarious position in the standings, the pressure is on for the Mexican driver to deliver results and secure his future in the sport.

As Suárez navigates the uncertainties of his racing career, his positive attitude and commitment to success have not gone unnoticed. Even in the face of potential upheaval at Trackhouse, the driver remains focused on achieving both personal glory and team success. The coming months will test Suárez’s resilience once again, as he strives to turn the lessons learned from past betrayals into a pathway to sustained competitiveness on the track.

ARCOLA, Ind. (WPTA) – A truck & tractor pull is set to bring three nights of motorsports to western Allen County.

From Thursday, June 26 to Saturday, June 28, the 2025 Arcola National Truck & Tractor Pull will be happening in Branning Park.

The event held by the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the National Tractor Pullers Association invites competitors and fans to take part in three nights of motorsports.

Gates open at 5 p.m. nightly, with pulls beginning at 7 p.m. Each night will feature a variety of vehicle classes.

RELATED: Husband-wife duo compete in Arcola Truck and Tractor Pull

Tickets for the event are $14 on Thursday for people 13 and up, $18 on Friday and Saturday for people 13 and up, $5 for children between the ages of 6 and 11, and free for children under the age of 6.

Founded in 1954 as part of Arcola Days, organizers say the Arcola National Truck & Tractor serves as a key fundraiser for the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department.