• Kyle Larson was subbing for injured Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

• The victory was Larson’s second of the Xfinity Series season, his second at Texas and the 17th of his career.

• Larson pulled away to win by 1.265 seconds over Taylor Gray, who surged from fourth to second in the final two laps.

Crew chief Mardy Lindley called his shot.

“We’ve got to stop to win,” Lindley radioed to driver Kyle Larson, subbing for injured Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Lindley was right. Larson made a late pit stop and proceeded to win Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in two overtimes.

The victory was Larson’s second of the season, his second at Texas and the 17th of his career, with Larson charging from the seventh position on a Lap 194 restart—behind six cars that stayed out on older tires—to win in two extra periods.

On Lap 188, Larson was cruising to a probable win with a lead of more than six seconds when Corey Day—in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Larson drove to a dominating win at Bristol in mid-April—hit the tire barrier on the inside of Turn 3 to cause the ninth of 11 cautions.

That’s when Lindley made the call to bring Larson to pit road, and ultimately it paid off. After moving from third to second on the first overtime restart, Larson took the lead from defending race winner Sam Mayer in the second overtime and pulled away to win by 1.265 seconds over Taylor Gray, who surged from fourth to second in the final two laps.

“It was a lot of survival, I felt like in that race,” Larson said. “I got in some wrecks, the balance we had to work on quite a bit. So, it was fun. I felt like if I could ever get the lead, I could stretch it out, but I couldn’t get by Justin (Allgaier). He was running where I needed to be.

“Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today. Obviously, I wish Connor was in the car, but it means a lot that they thought of me to call up to run this thing.”

As Larson worked his way through the field twice—once from the 20th starting position and again after an uncontrolled tire penalty sent him to the rear after the first stage break—Allgaier led a race-high 99 laps and kept Larson at bay until a cycle of green-flag pit stops in the final stage scrambled the running order.

It was during that cycle that Allgaier’s race came to an untimely end. Running 12th after pitting on Lap 153, Allgaier closed fast on the No. 5 Chevrolet of Kris Wright near the exit from Turn 4.

Wright failed to hold the bottom lane and drifted up the track into Allgaier’s line. Allgaier made a move toward the inside but couldn’t avoid Wright’s car. The No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet slammed into the outside wall in the tri-oval, slid down onto the infield grass and ended the race on a wrecker.

Allgaier, who had lost position to Larson during the pit sequence, was gracious in his assessment of the wreck that ended his day.

“The hard part is, ultimately it falls on my shoulders,” Allgaier said. “We’d about gotten crashed a couple laps before the green-flag stop there, and I think they had some damage and he (Wright) was having a bit of a tough time with his race car, and I’m trying to catch back to the 88 and trying to push and ultimately put myself in a bad position…

“Kyle and I had a great battle, and I was having a lot of fun with it. Obviously, the guy’s ultra-fast in anything that he drives… I think probably the most disappointing part about today is that it’s my mom’s birthday. I would love to get a trophy and celebrate her birthday with that, but instead I’m standing here talking to you guys.”

Allgaier’s exit opened the door for Mayer, Gray, Austin Hill and Nick Sanchez. Driving the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet, Sanchez ran consistently in the top five until the second overtime, when he hit the wall and dropped to 20th at the finish.

Riley Herbst finished third after restarting sixth in the final overtime, with Hill coming home fourth, Mayer fifth and Harrison Burton sixth. Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones and Jeb Burton completed the top 10.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300

Texas Motor Speedway

1. (20) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 208.

2. (12) Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 208.

3. (27) Riley Herbst(i), Toyota, 208.

4. (1) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 208.

5. (7) Sam Mayer, Ford, 208.

6. (5) Harrison Burton, Ford, 208.

7. (3) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 208.

8. (31) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 208.

9. (21) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 208.

10. (4) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 208.

11. (9) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 208.

12. (10) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 208.

13. (35) William Sawalich #, Toyota, 208.

14. (34) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 208.

15. (8) Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 208.

16. (33) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 208.

17. (18) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 208.

18. (22) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 208.

19. (13) Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 208.

20. (14) Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 208.

21. (32) Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 207.

22. (26) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 207.

23. (19) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 207.

24. (11) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 207.

25. (37) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 207.

26. (28) Mason Maggio, Ford, 207.

27. (16) Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 205.

28. (24) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 205.

29. (15) Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 204.

30. (38) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 201.

31. (25) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Accident, 200.

32. (36) Katherine Legge(i), Chevrolet, 200.

33. (30) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 199.

34. (17) Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, Vibration, 165.

35. (2) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 155.

36. (6) Sheldon Creed, Ford, Accident, 104.

37. (29) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Accident, 97.

38. (23) Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, Engine, 47.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 106.424 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 55 Mins, 54 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.265 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 11 for 62 laps.

Lead Changes: 12 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Allgaier 1-24;A. Hill 25;J. Allgaier 26-49;A. Hill 50-102;J. Allgaier 103-153;S. Mayer 154-158;D. Dye # 159;K. Larson(i) 160-189;A. Hill 190-192;N. Sanchez # 193;S. Mayer 194-206;K. Larson(i) 207-208.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Justin Allgaier 3 times for 99 laps; Austin Hill 3 times for 57 laps; Kyle Larson(i) 2 times for 32 laps; Sam Mayer 2 times for 18 laps; Nick Sanchez # 1 time for 1 lap; Daniel Dye # 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 7,88,48,21,41,00,39,20,27,42

Stage #2 Top Ten: 21,7,00,48,41,19,2,17,20,54

Tyler Reddick surprised his wife, Alexa DeLeon Reddick, with his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota for the NASCAR Cup Series Texas race, set for 2:30 p.m. CT on May 4.

Reddick has his wife’s name, Alexa, on the name rail where his name normally goes, according to a social media post by the driver. There are two heart symbols around her name. Reddick is running a diamond-look paint scheme with the Jordan Brand sponsorship with his 23XI Racing team co-owner, Michael Jordan.

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“Alexa has always shown nothing but unwavering support for our family,” Reddick wrote on Instagram. “With Mother’s Day approaching we wanted to surprise her with a little something for Texas!”

Mother’s Day is May 11.

If the trend of less snow in northern Maine continues, motorsports may be the next crucial tourism draw, event promoters told a Caribou crowd Thursday.

More than 100 people gathered at the Best Western Caribou Inn for the annual tourism summit hosted by Aroostook County Tourism.

Snowmobiling, a longtime staple of Aroostook County’s winter economy, has taken a hit with diminished snowfall in the past two years. To maintain its economic stability, the area needs attractions to lure visitors north whether the snow is dependable or not.

The rise of more audience-focused events such as the SnowBowl and a new cross-country race series could counteract the economic effects of an evolving climate, given that they can be held during a wider range of weather conditions, one promoter said.

“We’re seeing a shortened winter. That has traditionally been our biggest economic driver,” Chris Carroll of Carroll Live Events said. “We are going to have to come up with new ways to get people to come to Aroostook County, travel here and spend money. And live events [are] going to be a big part of that.”

Both residents and visitors to Aroostook County have shown they are willing to pay to attend events and entertainment here, he said. More than 25,000 people attended speedway events in 2024, he said.

The new New England XC snowmobile series can be held as long as there’s ice on the lakes, he said. More than 70 races were held at each site — Presque Isle, Oquossoc, Lincoln, Portage Lake and Long Lake — and lodging and short-term rental spaces were at capacity.

Ashland’s Big Woods Grass Drags — in which snowmobiles are used during summer on a field track — draw 1,500 people to the area, Carroll said. More than 100 snowmobilers raced last year and the event made $50,000. After expenses, organizers doled out the remaining $40,000 to local snowmobile clubs.

Besides events organized by Spud Speedway owners Troy Haney and Jim Gamage, which Carroll said have been phenomenally successful, another venue is steadily gaining ground: The Sawdust Pit, a new motocross dirt-bike racing venue launched by Buddy Collins of North Star Motorsports.

Collins talked about the site and its growing popularity. He loves to ride and race himself and enjoys seeing people get together for such events, he said.

The 5-acre parcel formerly housed the Grafton Mill in the 1950s and ’60s, he said. The mill burned and a large pile of sawdust remained for decades. The fact that there was no real place for kids to ride until they’re 10 and can be on the trails inspired him to create something from the pile.

WIth a lot of helping hands, including some contractors, the all-volunteer group created a track from the sawdust base. Though motocross isn’t widely known in the area, it quickly gained traction. Races draw participants of all ages, Collins said.

The family-friendly sport gives more kids a reason to get out and be outside, he said. Now, he wants to invite veteran riders to come and offer youth clinics, and find other ways to grow the sport.

“We’re talking about northern Maine and how can we attract people up to our area. Find something you’re passionate about,” he said. “We’re now connected with thousands of people all over that share this same passion and this same interest.”

Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette shared statewide and local tourism data. Tourism declined slightly all over Maine in 2024, but those who visited stayed longer and spent more money, she said.

Statewide, visitors fell 9 percent from 2023, spending declined half a percent and visitors spent 7.7 million days in Maine overall, down about 16 percent.

Visitors spent more in The County on restaurants, transportation, groceries and entertainment, she said.

Aroostook County saw more than 300,200 visitors in 2024, down almost 10 percent from 332,400 in 2023, Ouellette said. Tourist spending declined 1.4 percent, from roughly $170 million to $167 million, and visitors spent a total of 1.2 million days in the region, down 3.5 percent.

The total economic impact of tourism in the region fell 1.8 percent, from $78 million in 2023 to $77 million in 2024.

There is good news, Ouellette said. Numbers did decline over 2023 and 2024, but that follows extremely high numbers during the COVID years. Aroostook attracted more fall and winter tourists as well as more younger travelers, and visitor satisfaction was up 11 percent.

Aroostook obviously excels in snow and active outdoor activities. Additionally, many people plan trips directly to Aroostook County, rather than traveling there as one of multiple destinations.

“Most people are coming just to Aroostook, and that actually went way up,” Ouellette said. “When they’re traveling, they’re coming right up here to see you guys and spend time in the region, and that’s not actually the case in other regions.”

Ouellette also detailed statewide marketing plans to include national magazine and television ads, celebrating Maine’s natural surroundings, outdoor recreation and quality of life. She urged those attending to consider those themes when trying to attract people north.

Chase Elliott’s storybook ending at Texas Motor Speedway in 2024 had one more unexpected – and unfortunate – twist.

This weekend, Elliott is set to return to the same track where he emerged victorious last year. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver will don a new paint scheme for the Wurth 400, but has yet to coast down victory lane this season – prompting fans to question if his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, is the right man for the job with Elliott telling fans “all that matters.”

Last April, Elliott claimed his 19th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series with a first-place finish in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400. The emotional victory was a long time coming for both the No. 9 Chevrolet driver, who dedicated the dominant performance to Hooters and Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki.

With the win, Elliott snapped a streak of 42 consecutive races without a win. It additionally marked the first time a car with Hooters as its primary sponsor won in the NASCAR Cup Series since Kulwicki won at Pocono Raceway in 1992.

“Oh, man, couldn’t feel any better. First off, thanks to everybody that came out today. You guys are unbelievable,” Elliott said at the time. “Hooters has been a partner of ours for a number of years now. It’s been a dream of mine to pay respect to the late Alan Kulwicki.

“Driving this car to a victory and do a Polish victory lap, just really crazy how things came full circle there in that moment. It was pretty emotional for me. He beat dad back in the day. Here, we are sharing his sponsor and having an opportunity to win today.

“So just, man, couldn’t be more grateful for this journey and kind of the path that hasn’t always been fun, but certainly have enjoyed working with our guys. We’ve been working really hard and really well together. Like I said, hasn’t always been fun, but we’ve enjoyed the fight together.”

Several months after Hendrick Motorsports and Hooters reached the pinnacle of NASCAR, their partnership came crashing down when the race team sued the restaurant chain for $1.705 million in missed payments.

DON’T MISS:

Last July, Hendrick Motorsports announced that it’d be terminating the three-race contract with Hooters due to the company’s inability to “meet its business obligations.”

In an official statement, Hendrick Motorsports wrote: “Hooters has been a valued partner of Hendrick Motorsports since 2017, contributing to our shared successes both on and off the track. In recent months, however, Hooters has not been able to meet its business obligations to our organization.

“Due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution, it became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship. It has been a privilege having Hooters as a part of our team and we wish them the best.”

Last month, Hooters reportedly agreed to pay $900,000 to Hendrick Motorsports in order to resolve the legal dispute.

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the Wurth 400 – where Ross Chastain was left fuming after clashing with William Byron a year ago.

When the 2024 Cup Series season landed in Texas, Chastain was under pressure after struggling with a difficult start to the campaign. But he bounced back with an improved performance and was in contention to enter Victory Lane at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400.

With just two laps to go in the second overtime period, leader Chase Elliott was staving off Byron, Chastain, and Denny Hamlin. As Chastain looked to close Byron out, the latter clipped him and sent his Chevrolet spinning out, ending his chances. Elliott went on to win.

Byron took third place, but Chastain was left with just 32nd to show for his efforts as the crash rendered his vehicle unable to finish. Once he had been checked and cleared at the infield care center, a furious Chastain refused to speak about the incident when approached by media.

However, Byron gave his version of events. The two-time Daytona 500 winner said: “I just had a big run. Ross and I race really well, and I didn’t want to wreck him there, but he blocked me late, which is understood.

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“It’s racing at the end, but I was already there and unfortunately, we made enough contact to where it got him squirrelly, and it happened. So, I hate that that happened, but it’s the last lap and I had the run so I am going to just take the run. I didn’t expect it, but I don’t want to do that to a fellow Chevy guy, and we always race really well.”

All the drivers were uninjured in the crash and quickly released from evaluations. Hamlin also spun out while chasing Elliott for the win, allowing Brad Keselowski to snatch second.

DON’T MISS

For the 2025 NASCAR season, Chastain is yet to pick up a win. The 32-year-old has logged two top-5 and eight top-10 finishes so far this season, and would love to emerge victorious for the first time since September 2024.

Meanwhile, Byron won the season-opening Daytona 500 and has finished on the podium four times with three runner-up finishes. The Hendrick Motorsports star is always a threat and will look to win in Texas for the first time since 2023.