The stars of the Radical Cup North America series shone brightly during the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca. Raiden Nicol surely caught the eye of the NTT IndyCar Series team owners by claiming an outright victory as he continued his perfect season to pick up wins 10, 11 and 12 in Pro 1500, while debutant Sam McDougall also impressed. Louis Schriber claimed two victories in the Platinum class, and Chris McMurry returned with a clean sweep in Pro 1340.

“With nearly 30 competitors battling it out on the twists and turns of the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Radical Cup was some of the most exciting races of the weekend,” said Radical Motorsport’s Tom Drewer. “Especially the epic ‘David and Goliath’ style battle between Field in the high-horsepower SR10 and Raiden Nicol in the 1500cc SR3. I hope the talent scouts were watching that one, because in Raiden Nicol there is something truly special, and he wasn’t the only standout. And with two weekends remaining, many of the championship battles are tighter than ever.”

Platinum

In the Platinum class, it was Jon Field who made a bold statement, converting his pole position into a commanding win in race one, leading flag to flag. Behind him, championship contender Louis Schriber looked poised for a strong runner-up finish after an early race battle, but a mid-race mistake cost him track position. Capitalizing on the moment, Wayne Williams and Chip Romer charged forward to take second and third, respectively, joining Field on the class podium.

Race two of the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca brought intense action and unexpected shakeups, especially in the Platinum class. Field who led early, looked poised to take another dominant win after leading nearly the entire race. However, upon the final restart, in a dramatic twist, Field was passed by Pro 1500 driver Raiden Nicol in the penultimate turn and spun while attempting to reclaim the outright lead through the final corner. This dumped Field down the order and handed victory to Schriber, who made a strong comeback to secure his second win of the season for JBR Motorsports. Scott Wagner, who had battled with Schriber early on, suffered an alternator belt failure with just under six minutes remaining, allowing Wayne Williams to take over second and Chip Romer to claim the final podium position in third.

In the final race of the weekend for the Platinum class, Schriber capped off a stellar performance by claiming his second third win of the year. He held off Wayne Williams, who crossed the line in second, while Scott Wagner rounded out the podium, and Steve Jenks salvaged fourth to still have a shot at the championship title. For much of the race it looked as though Wagner might add his name to winner’s list, but a tussle with Field, who was trying to unlap himself, and a mistake in the Corkscrew on the second to last lap cost him two steps. It also meant Williams walked away with three wins and 16 points over Schriber with two events and six races to go. 

Pro 1500

The Pro 1500 class saw pole sitter Nicol deliver a flawless drive from the front in race one, securing not only the class win but an impressive fourth-place overall finish. He was followed by Matt Romer in second and Spencer Schmidt in third, rounding out a tightly contested Pro 1500 podium. Valen Venkatesh impressed with fifth in front of his home crowd, while Jack Yang beat out Mike Anzaldi to secure the Gold class trophy.

Amazingly, Nicol was faster than even the Platinum class cars, meaning that a Pro 1500 car started Race 2 from the outright pole – a first for the series. Not surprisingly, the Primal Racing driver was swamped by the faster class as the green flag flew. Schmidt immediately capitalized on the melee, which saw him lead Pro 1500 until lap four, when Nicol took over the top spot. Nicol then proceeded to hunt down Field, whom he passed with a surprise lunge through Turn 10 to take the overall win along with Pro 1500 honors.

Behind him, a fierce battle for the podium unfolded between Schmidt and Matt Romer, but a late-race restart saw Canadian Austin Riley make a bold move to pass both and grab second in class. Yang continued his strong run in Pro 1500 Gold, finishing fifth overall and collecting his second Gold class victory of the weekend.

In race three Nicol continued his unbeatable form, securing another dominant class victory and an impressive second overall. Matt Romer and Schmidt battled closely throughout the race to claim second and third in class, just ahead of Gold class winner Yang, who finished fourth overall and completed a clean sweep of the Gold class for the weekend. With 12 consecutive wins, Nicol is in complete control of both the Pro 1500 and Overall Radical Cup North America championship battles, however behind him, Yang is now second in Pro 1500 points, just three points clear of Riley, with Schmidt only 14 points further back.

Pro 1340

In the Pro 1340 class, it was veteran racer Chris McMurry who turned heads in his return to the series. The Crown Racing with Radical Arizona driver outdueled Race 1 pole sitter and class points leader Brady Clapham in a nail-biting battle that lasted to the checkered flag. McMurry claimed the win, while Clapham held onto second, with Graham Rahal Performance’s Dermot Ennis locking in the third spot to complete the class podium.

In race two, Chris McMurry was once again in a league of his own, dominating the Pro 1340 class and mixing it up with the Pro 1500 field as he ran wheel-to-wheel with the likes of Ryan Persing and Dennis Kelly. Dermot Ennis repeated his performance from race one to finish third, while Clapham, who had been ‘Mr. Consistency’ in the class, slipped back in the order reporting bent suspension after a wild ride early in the race. That opened the door for Mike Dardin to secure his first podium of the weekend, finishing second.

McMurry proved unstoppable in Race 3, sweeping the weekend with his third class win. Clapham bounced back after a tough second race to finish second, while Dardin completed the Pro 1340 podium in third, to give Crown Racing and Radical Arizona yet another podium result. Clapham’s points haul was strong enough to keep him will in front in terms of the championship table, while Ennis’s podiums has solidified him in second.

The Sunoco Hard Charger of the Race awards went to:

Chris McMurry – Race 1

Steve Jenks – Race 2

Brady Clapham – Race 3

Next stop for Radical Cup North America will be over the September 11-13 weekend as they battle the famed Road Atlanta facility in Braselton, Georgia.

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at www.radicalmotorsport.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

In three NASCAR Cup Series starts at Iowa Speedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-15 finish. Carson Hocevar earned a team-best 14th-place finish in last season’s inaugural Iowa Corn 350. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
The Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol will be televised live on USA Sunday, Aug. 3 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 22nd of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
In last season’s inaugural Cup Series visit to Iowa, Haley started 19th and raced his way to a respectable 13th-place finish.
Last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), the Winamac, Ind., native finished 11th, a venue best. He led 15 laps and survived multiple attempts at NASCAR Overtime to collect the result. He crossed the line behind teammate Carson Hocevar, who secured a team-best 10th-place finish at IMS.
In the first 16 events of the 2025 Cup Series campaign, Haley tallied an average finishing position of 22.5. The No. 7 team has improved to a 17.83 average finish in the last six races, dating back to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.com or follow and connect with Gainbridge on X and LinkedIn.
In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Iowa, Haley recorded a venue best eight-place effort in July 2019. He finished 10th in his best of two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the 0.875-mile facility.
Haley is one of just 41 drivers to have won races in all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series. The driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevy has collected one win in the NASCAR Cup Series, four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and three in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Haley is a veteran of 166 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 118 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.

Justin Haley Quote
Coming off your best career result at Indianapolis, your home track, what are your thoughts heading into Iowa?
“Iowa was one of my favorites last season and I’ve always enjoyed racing there. I have raced at Iowa in all three NASCAR series and have good seat time there. We’ve had a good stretch lately with the No. 7 team and we’re building momentum each week. I feel like we are in position for a good result this weekend.”
Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports Competition Director and crew chief for the No. 7 team. He and driver Justin Haley were first paired up at Kansas Speedway in September 2024.
Sparks has called one Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway and is credited a top 25 in last season’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol.
The Winston Salem, N.C., native has called 189 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
In last season’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet,” McDowell started 22nd and finished 23rd.
The Glendale, Ariz., native tallied eight Xfinity Series starts at the 0.875-mile oval, collecting two top fives and seven top 10s, highlighted by a runner-up finish in August 2014.
While transitioning from open-wheel racing to stock cars, McDowell made a pair of ARCA Menards Series appearances at Iowa in 2006 and 2007, finishing seventh and second, respectively.
Bell Salvage will be featured as an associate sponsor for this weekend. The Ames, Iowa company, located just under an hour from Iowa Speedway, will be present on the rear quarter panels of the No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1.
The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during May’s NASCAR All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
The 40-year-old has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The team is one of three in the series to tally three or more bonus points via the program.
The No. 71 team secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. The 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval. Three weekends ago, the team also earned the first stage win in team history during the Grant Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago.

Michael McDowell Quote
What did you learn at Iowa last year and what are you expecting to see this Sunday?
“Iowa was great. It was a fun weekend. I’ve raced there a bunch in Xfinity and ARCA. Even in years when I wasn’t running full-time in Xfinity, I’d still do the standalone races for (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) or whoever.

It was honestly my best track in Xfinity from a results standpoint, but going back there last year—it was so different. The track had aged in some areas, but then there was new asphalt and patches. It was a very different racetrack.

It was still fun. Big crowd, big event. Going back this time, I think everyone is looking forward to having their cars drive a little better, getting over that bump in Turn 1 a little smoother, and not being so caught off guard by how challenging the track is. It’s another big opportunity for us.”
Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Crew chief Travis Peterson calls the shots for Michael McDowell and the No. 71 team, and will stand atop the “war wagon” for the second time at the Newton-oval.
During his time as an Xfinity Series race engineer at JR Motorsports, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte engineering graduate collected one top five and three top 10s, highlighted by a fourth-place result with Chase Elliott in May 2014.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Carson Hocevar will pilot the No. 77 MINER Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway. The event will mark Hocevar’s second NASCAR Cup Series start at the 0.875-mile track following a 14th-place effort in his first outing last year.
Hocevar has made 11 Cup Series starts on tracks measuring less than one-mile in distance. His lone top-10 finish on short tracks came in August 2024 when he piloted his Spire Chevy to eighth at the 0.75-mile Richmond Raceway, a track that served as 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Rusty Wallace’s inspiration for the layout of Iowa.
In the ARCA Menards Series, Hocevar started seventh and finished fourth in the 2019 Fans with Benefits 150.
The Portage, Mich., native earned a 10th-place finish in last Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the best finish for both Hocevar and Spire Motorsports at the 2.5-mile oval and marked the driver’s fifth top-10 finish of the 2025 season.
MINER makes their third primary appearance of the season in Sunday’s race and second within the last three races. Miner Ltd. is the leading self-perform, national service partner for smarter, safer loading docks and a division of OnPoint Group. As the premier expert in loading docks, commercial doors and more, Miner’s team of best-in-class service professionals help large-scale facilities and Fortune 500-class companies mitigate risk and improve efficiency. With over 400 service professionals in more than 40 markets, Miner is the only company of its kind with a coast to coast footprint, offering the largest self-perform network in the country for supporting all doors, loading dock products, vehicle restraints and safety products, HVLS fans, service, aftermarket and more. Miner also supports end users, general contractors, architects, and developers, from ground-up developments to tenant improvement or extensive remodels. Learn more about how Miner delivers speed, consistency and results at https://www.minercorp.com.

Carson Hocevar Quote
How do you feel about the Cup Series’ second visit to Iowa Speedway?
“I feel pretty good about it. We finished well there last year, and for the most part, we’ve been able to improve on those good finishes when we go back places. Iowa is a really fun track and the fans are always so excited when we come to town. It’s a great atmosphere that matches the racing on track.”
Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

Like his driver, crew chief Luke Lambert will call just his second NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa this weekend.
The Mount Airy, N.C., native has called 68 short track races over his 13-year career in the Cup Series, resulting in four top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.
The 44-year-old has been atop the box for two previous NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Iowa, both coming in 2012. On May 20, 2012, Lambert led Elliott Sadler to the pole position and a runner-up finish. When the series returned to Iowa later that August, Sadler started from the pole and led 60 laps en route to the win.

Spire Motorsports PR

December 8–10, 2025 | Indianapolis, Indiana
Returning to PRI Show Week – Bigger, Bolder, and More Impactful Than Ever
Presented by Mobil 1™ for the Fourth Consecutive Year

Registration Now Open

INDIANAPOLIS, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The engine of progress is revving once again as Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) proudly announces the return of its flagship event — the Women with Drive V – Driven by Mobil 1™ Summit, December 8–10, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Coinciding with the start of PRI Show Week, this fifth annual gathering promises to deliver the most electrifying Summit yet.

From the paddock to the boardroom, Women with Drive unites the people powering motorsports forward — industry veterans, rising stars, and game-changing allies — for three unforgettable days of connection, education, and inspiration.

With Mobil 1™ back on board as Presenting Sponsor for the fourth straight year, the Summit remains fueled by the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand and its unwavering commitment to equity, innovation, and increased representation across all levels of racing.

“For the fourth consecutive year, Mobil 1™ is proud to support the Women with Drive Summit,” said Michelle Hassinger, Global Marketing Manager, Strategic Alliance for ExxonMobil. “It’s more than an event — it’s a platform that reflects our belief in the power of inclusion and meaningful change within the motorsports community.”

What to Expect in 2025

• Welcome Reception at the newly reimagined Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on Monday evening — a fresh, immersive experience to kick off Summit Week.
• Keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions led by some of the most respected names in motorsports — from drivers and engineers to team principals, sponsors, OEMs, and media leaders.
• Mentorship and career-building opportunities designed to spark professional growth and provide real pathways into and through the industry.
• Networking with purpose, in an environment built to foster collaboration, leadership, and a more inclusive future for motorsports.

Now in its fifth year, the Women with Drive Summit has become the go-to event for those who believe in the future of racing — one that is equitable, innovative, and welcoming to all voices and talents. From its roots in Nashville to expansions in Charlotte, Phoenix, and Indianapolis, the Summit continues to grow — with over 600 attendees in 2024 and even more expected this year.

“We’re thrilled to return to Indy with a Summit that’s more dynamic than ever,” said Cindy Sisson, Executive Director of WIMNA. “This event has become a powerful platform for change, and thanks to long-standing partners like Mobil 1™ and PRI, we’ve created a space where the motorsports industry comes together to ADVANCE, CONNECT, and ENABLE. You won’t want to miss what’s ahead.”

Join the Movement. Drive the Change.

Registration is now open at www.womenwithdrivesummit.com

Stay connected:

About Mobil 1™

For 50 years, Mobil 1™ has been trusted by drivers to keep their engines running longer. Our products combine the latest technology and innovation to exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers and tuning shops—so consumers can get the most out of their time behind the wheel, both on the road and on the track. Turn every day into an adventure with Mobil 1™, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Learn more at www.mobil1.us and follow @Mobil1Racing on Instagram and X. Join us. For the love of driving.

About Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA)

Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by motorsports leaders Lyn St. James and Beth Paretta. Built by and for industry professionals, WIMNA is dedicated to advancing opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines. Through intentional efforts to connect individuals and organizations and enable personal and professional growth, WIMNA creates an inclusive environment that champions mentorship, advocacy, education, and community. Together, we’re building a stronger, more sustainable future for the sport.

Learn more at womeninmotorsportsna.com.

Media Contact:
Cindy Sisson
(704) 906-9507
[email protected] 

SOURCE Women in Motorsports North America

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway after last year’s inaugural event.

Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney have combined to win 11 of the last 14 short track races. Larson and Hamlin have four wins each during that stretch and Blaney has three, including last year’s race at Iowa.

Here is a look at the good news and bad news for Cup teams heading into Sunday’s 3:30 p.m. ET race on USA Network.

23XI Racing — Good news: Bubba Wallace snapped his 100-race winless streak with his victory last weekend at Indianapolis. … Wallace’s win was the first for 23XI Racing this season. … All four of Wallace’s top-five finishes on short tracks in Cup have come in the last seven races. … Riley Herbst, who is making his first Cup start at Iowa, finished second in last year’s Xfinity race there. Bad news: Tyler Reddick failed to finish last weekend at Indianapolis, the first time he’s not finished a race this year. … Reddick has three top-10 finishes in the last 23 short track races.

Bubba Wallace’s trip to victory lane at Indianapolis was more than a 400-mile trip, it was a journey of years.

Front Row Motorsports — Good news: Todd Gilliland placed sixth at Indianapolis last week, snapping an eight-race streak of finishes outside the top 20. … That finish was Gilliland’s best since he scored a sixth-place result at Indy the year before. Bad news: Ryan Bergenty, crew chief for Zane Smith, noted on social media this week that in the final laps at Sonoma, Dover and Indianapolis — the last three races — Smith has lost a total of 51 positions (due to incidents on track). … Noah Gragson has finished 30th or worse in four consecutive races.

Haas Factory Team — Good news: Cole Custer’s 20th-place finish last weekend at Indy is his best result in the last four races. Bad News: Custer has started 20th or worse in 10 of the last 12 races, including the last four.

Hendrick Motorsports — Good news: Hendrick Motorsports has had at least one car finish in the top 10 in the last 30 races. … Hendrick cars have led 39.5% of the 5,511 laps run this year. … The organization has the top three drivers in the points (Chase Elliott, William Byron and Kyle Larson). … Larson has finished in the top 10 in the last five short track races, tied for his longest streak on short tracks. … Larson’s 14 top-10 finishes this season are the most in the series. … While Byron has only one win in his last 50 Cup races, he has six runner-up finishes and six third-place finishes, during that time — meaning he has placed in the top three in 26% of the last 50 races. … Alex Bowman has five top 10s in the last seven races. Bad news: Byron ran out of fuel on the last lap at Indy, the second time since Michigan in June he has run out of fuel before the checkered flag and cost him a top-five finish. … After leading at least a lap in 13 of the first 16 races this season, Byron has not led a lap in the last six races.

Chase Elliott leads the points but the next three drivers in the standings are within 20 points with four races left in the regular season.

Hyak Motorsports — Good news: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished fifth at Iowa last season. Bad news: Stenhouse has one top-10 finish in the last 11 races.

Joe Gibbs Racing — Good news: Denny Hamlin posted the fastest lap last weekend at Indy, the sixth time in 22 races this season he’s done that. … Hamlin scored the most points in the four races of July at 155. … Chase Briscoe scored 147 points in the four races of July to rank second in the series for the month. … Hamlin has finished in the top five in the last five short track races. … Briscoe ranks third in speed rating in the last nine races after ranking 19th in the first 13 races of the year. … Briscoe’s 10 top-10 finishes this season tie for his most ever in a year. … Ty Gibbs won the $1 million In-Season Challenge last weekend at Indy. … Christopher Bell finished fourth at Iowa last year after starting in the rear in a backup car after a crash in practice. Bad news: Bell has finished 16th or worse in five of the last eight races.

Kaulig Racing — Good news: The organization has had a car finish in the top 20 in eight of the last 10 races. Bad news: Ty Dillon’s 28th-place finish snapped his streak of four consecutive top-20 finishes. … Dillon has never finished better than 13th in 38 Cup short track races. … AJ Allmendinger has one top-20 finish in his last 11 short track starts.

Legacy Motor Club — Good news: John Hunter Nemechek will make his 100th career Cup start this weekend at Iowa. … Five drivers have won in their 100th career Cup start, the most recent is Nemechek’s teammate, Erik Jones, who did it in the 2019 Southern 500. … Both Nemechek (eighth) and Jones (ninth) rank in the top 10 in laps completed this season at more than 97%. Bad news: After qualifying third at Indy, Jones saw his race end with a crash after the right front tire wasn’t tightened on a pit stop. … Jones’ 36th-place finish at Indy marked his fourth race in a row he’s placed outside the top 25. … Nemechek has placed outside the top 20 in the last eight Cup short track races.

Richard Childress Racing — Good news: Kyle Busch was one of three drivers to take part in a Goodyear tire test at Iowa in June, joining Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe. … Austin Dillon has three top 10s, including a win at Richmond, in the last five short track races. Bad news: While Kyle Busch has 16 Cup short track wins, his last victory at such a track came in 2019.

Austin Hill will miss Saturday’s Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway.

Rick Ware Racing — Good news: Cody Ware makes his first start in any series at Iowa this weekend. Bad news: Ware finished a season-worst 37th last weekend at Indianapolis. … Ware’s seven DNFs ties Ryan Blaney for the most this season.

RFK Racing — Good news: Brad Keselowski has six top-10 finishes in the last 10 races after not scoring a top-10 result in the first 12 races of the season. … Ryan Preece is coming off a fourth-place finish last weekend at Indy. … Chris Buescher continues to lead the series this season in average starting position at 10.4. Bad news: Buescher, who is on the playoff cutline, has finished outside the top 10 in the last seven short track races.

RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher holds the final playoff spot and teammate Ryan Preece is the first driver below the cutline heading to Sunday’s race at Iowa.

Spire Motorsports — Good news: Carson Hocevar’s 10th-place finish at Indy last weekend ended a streak of three consecutive finishes of 30th or worse. … Justin Haley’s 11th-place finish was his best result since Homestead in March. … Haley’s result at Indy gives him three consecutive top-20 finishes, the first time he’s done that this season. Bad news: Michael McDowell has four finishes of 30th or worse in the last eight races.

Team Penske — Good news: Ryan Blaney led a race-high 201 laps in winning last year’s race at Iowa. … Blaney seeks to become the first driver since 2001-02 to win the first two races at a track (Jeff Gordon won the first two races at Kansas and Kevin Harvick won the first two races at Chicagoland Speedway). … Blaney has five top-10 finishes, including two wins, in his last seven short track races. … Austin Cindric was one of three drivers to take part in a Goodyear tire test at Iowa, joining Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch. … Cindric has led a career-high 291 laps this season. Bad news: Joey Logano has not finished better than ninth in the last eight races.

Trackhouse Racing — Good news: Ross Chastain has finished in the top 10 in each of the last five short track races. … Shane van Gisbergen qualified 11th at Indy, his best qualifying result on an oval in his Cup career. Bad news: Chastain has failed to finish three of the last five races, all due to accidents. … Daniel Suarez has finished 26th or worse in four of the last five races.

Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Josh Berry ranks 11th in the series in laps led with a career-high 169. … Berry started third and finished seventh at Iowa last year. Bad news: Berry has only one top-10 result since his victory at Las Vegas in March.

Every young boy with an interest in motorsports goes to sleep with the dream of being a driver in the NASCAR Cup Series someday. But not everyone makes it. Tommy Joe Martins is one of those who had every bit of skill to make it to the highest levels of the sport, but the journey didn’t quite lead him there. In a recent conversation with The SportsRush, he revealed some interesting facets of his career.

Martins has made 129 Xfinity Series and 28 Craftsman Truck Series starts over the years. We asked him if he ever had the opportunity to race in the Cup Series or if it just never happened. He replied that he actually discussed the idea with Carl Long back in 2019 when he drove for Long’s MBM Motorsports outfit. But things did not fall into place then, and they didn’t in the following years either.

Then, in 2023, he applied for a Cup Series license with the hope of fulfilling his lifelong dream. What resulted was a heartbreaking sequence. He narrated, “I applied for a Cup license a couple of years ago, and it got declined. They told me I just didn’t have a Cup resume, and I didn’t have enough success in the lower series.”

He continued, “Obviously, I look at other small-time guys that have been in underfunded rides that have done a great job at that level, and I consider them peers of mine, so that was a tough thing to hear. It will always really bother me.”

Martins’ most recent Xfinity start was at Talladega last October. He finished 13th there driving the No. 45 Chevy for Alpha Prime Racing, where he is also the team president and co-owner.

Martins on missed sponsorship opportunities

Obtaining sponsorships to race in NASCAR is one of the most difficult things to do for a driver. Being someone who doesn’t come from a wealthy background, Martins faced his share of troubles on this front. He told The SportsRush that sponsors don’t understand how much certain drivers rely on the money that they provide.

This leads to situations of false hope. He said, “I had meetings with high-up people at companies, and they say, ‘Maybe.’ Well, ‘maybe’ I’ve learned is a no, but in the moment, ‘maybe’ is hope. Like, maybe this is gonna be my dream come true, but really it’s just them stringing you along because they don’t really want to say no.”

Martins is now 38 years old. Realistically, gaining entry into the Cup Series at this age is next to impossible. For now, he has no plans to race in any NASCAR series, but he still misses driving on track. All his focus is dedicated toward getting his team to the best possible place.

Andretti Global, a racing team under the TWG Motorsports umbrella, announced today that longtime partner Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS), a global leader in 3D printing hardware, materials, software and services, has extended its multi-year partnership with the team as the Official 3D Printing Partner of Andretti INDYCAR.  

Since 2018, Andretti INDYCAR’s technical partnership with Stratasys has supported its engineering and production efforts through in-house industrial 3D printing systems and services, including the Stratasys F370 and Fortus 450MC machines. Advanced materials and capabilities from Stratasys have helped the team accelerate prototyping, tooling, and part production, including an RVB cooling shroud that cools the pneumatic shifting valve block, a steering wheel setup beam that holds the steering system during setup, helmet cooling adapters and a damper spring perch tool, among many others. 

In addition to the printers, materials, software and services that Stratasys provides, the 3D printing solutions leader will also play a key role in designing an optimized state-of-the-art 3D printing lab inside the team’s new headquarters. As part of the extended agreement, Stratasys branding will remain visible on the sides of the tire ramps on each of the Andretti INDYCAR Honda entries.  

RICH GARRITY, CHIEF COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OFFICER, STRATASYS

“Our continued partnership with Andretti Global highlights the critical role of additive manufacturing in advancing motorsports innovation. We’re proud to support the Andretti team with cutting-edge 3D printing technologies that help drive performance, speed up development, and give them a competitive edge on and off the track.” 

SCOTT GRAVES, ENGINEERING MANAGER, ANDRETTI GLOBAL

“The expansion of our partnership with Stratasys will significantly enhance our additive capacity and capabilities at Andretti Global. Armed with their latest industry-leading technologies, we can push the limits of what’s possible in additive manufacturing. Faster turnaround times, more complex geometries and higher-quality parts will be essential in meeting the extreme demands of INDYCAR racing.”