Motorsports

Big Game Motorsports and Gravel Finish in Top Six All Four Nights of BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals Presented by Menards – Speedway Digest

Published

5 months ago

June 25, 2025

Big Game Motorsports was consistent throughout the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards last week at Huset’s Speedway.

David Gravel drove to a fourth-place finish the first three nights before ending sixth during the $250,000-to-win finale on Saturday.

“I thought it was a solid week,” he said. “We put ourselves in position each night for a shot at the win. Sadly, we didn’t get any wins, but we were right there. We just weren’t able to challenge for a first- or second-place finish. If it was the redraw not going our way or not being able to climb in the King of the Hill, we just needed a little better track position.”

Gravel kicked off the four-day World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series spectacle last Wednesday when he opened the Huset’s Hustle preliminary night by qualifying seventh quickest in his group. He then advanced from fourth to second place in a heat race and from sixth to fourth place in the A Main. That put him in a good points position for the $100,000-to-win finale on Thursday.

Gravel won a heat race to move into the King of the Hill, in which he placed fourth to line up on the outside of the second row in the main event. He battled for a spot on the podium throughout the race before ending fourth.

The team returned to the high-banked oval on Friday for the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by Menards preliminary night, which played out similar to the Huset’s Hustle prelim. Gravel was eighth quickest in his group during time trials and he maneuvered from fourth to third place in a heat race. He gained a position in the main event to finish fourth.

A heat race win earned a spot into the King of the Hill on Saturday. Gravel was fifth in it to start on the inside of the third row in the feature. He advanced to fourth and was in contention for a podium throughout the A Main before a couple of late passes relegated him to a sixth-place result – only the sixth time this season Gravel hasn’t finished in the top five.

“I think the guys up front were really, really fast all week,” he said. “We needed track position to challenge for wins. I don’t think anybody charged to the front.

“It was so hot all week long. A lot of the fans waited until later in the day to come out. I think it was a successful event and them raising the purse next year is cool. Overall, they did a good job with the track. The F-16 flyover was a nice touch. Hopefully next year we get some nice weather for them. It’ll keep building each year.”

Next up for the team is the Independence Spectacular this Friday and Saturday at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. Gravel was victorious at the track in 2023.

“Cedar Lake is one of my favorite tracks we go to,” he said. “They put dirt on it last year and that made it different than in years past. It’ll be interesting to see what it’s like this year.”

Gravel enters with a 176-point lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings.

QUICK RESULTS –

June 18 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 4 (6).

June 19 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D – Heat race: 1 (1); King of the Hill: 4 (4); Feature: 4 (4).

June 20 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 4 (5).

June 21 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D – Heat race: 1 (1); King of the Hill: 5 (4); Feature: 6 (5).

SEASON STATS –

37 races, 9 wins, 31 top fives, 36 top 10s, 36 top 15s, 36 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., for the Independence Spectacular with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

ILP PR

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Michael Annett, former NASCAR winner has passed at age 39

Published

1 hour ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JR Motorsports has issued a statement

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has passed away.

Annett climbed from the ARCA Menards Series to the NASCAR Cup Series. He ran with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series from 2017-2021.

He was a Daytona winner with JR Motorsports. He won the season opener in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

He also spent three years in the NASCAR Cup Series. He raced for Tommy Baldwin Racing (2014), HScott Motorsports (2015), Hillman-Circle Sport LLC (2015) and H Scott Motorsports (2016).

Annett was 39 years old.

At this time, there is no further information on his death.

JR Motorsports statement

JR Motorsports posted the following on Friday night:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports posted.

The team added, “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Annett suffered a leg injury and retired following the 2021 season.

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Lando Norris pips Max Verstappen to go quickest in FP1

Published

1 hour ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lando Norris went quickest in opening practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the weekend that he could claim his maiden Formula 1 world championship.

The McLaren driver set a 1m24.485s on used soft tyres, which meant he pipped second-placed Max Verstappen who is also his nearest challenger in the championship.

Norris will become champion should he claim a podium on Sunday, as he is 12 points above the Red Bull driver and 16 ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri who was one of nine drivers to sit out first practice.

That’s because F1 rules dictate that drivers must skip at least two FP1s during the season and give their seat to a driver with no more than two grand prix starts.

IndyCar star Pato O’Ward therefore took Piastri’s place and he was one of nine rookies to contest opening practice at Yas Marina Circuit, which was hot and sunny for the final weekend of the 2025 campaign.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

With it being the season finale, all cars were quick to enter the track during the opening five minutes, and it was Verstappen who set the early pace with a 1m27.130s on the hard tyre.

This was 0.038s quicker than runner-up George Russell on the same rubber, though not everybody started on the hards with O’Ward using soft tyres and several others – including Norris – opting for the mediums.

Such variety took place during an opening 30 minutes that was dictated by track evolution, as various names greeted the top of the leaderboard from Norris to Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar – who this week was announced as Verstappen’s Red Bull 2026 team-mate.

It was only until the halfway mark when drivers converged onto the softs that the usual frontrunners rose to the top. Verstappen was first to do so, breaking the 1m25s barrier with a 1m24.493s on his opening soft tyre run, 0.026s quicker than Norris and 0.074s above third-placed Charles Leclerc.

The championship top two would then trade positions as Norris pipped the four-time world champion by 0.008s with a lap time that would subsequently go unbeaten.

That’s because several cars went back onto the other compounds, including Verstappen with the hards, to complete their long-run programmes in a dramaless end to FP1.

Arthur Leclerc was one of nine rookies in action in FP1

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

So, the leaderboard largely remained as it was following the short soft-tyre window, as Leclerc completed the top three with a 1m24.501s, 0.016s behind Norris, but still complained of no grip and being “so slow”.

Mercedes teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli was then 0.123s off the Monegasque in fourth with Nico Hulkenberg completing the top five. Russell was sixth in the sister Mercedes, 0.248s off the pace and one spot above Hulkenberg’s team-mate Bortoleto in a strong showing for Sauber, which will enjoy its final race before becoming Audi.

The top seven times were all set on the soft tyre, and it was Oliver Bearman in eighth who went quickest on the mediums, as he completed a 1m24.759s for Haas.

Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto then rounded up the top 10, meaning all nine rookies finished in the bottom half of the order.

Endurance world champion Ryo Hirakawa was quickest of the nine with a 1m24,934s, ahead of Paul Aron (13th), O’Ward (14th), Arvid Lindblad (15th), Arthur Leclerc (16th), Ayumu Iwasa (17th), Luke Browning (18th), Jak Crawford (19th) and Cian Shields (20th).

F1 Abu Dhabi GP – FP1 results

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP – Practice

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Paul Aron, Alpine F1, Arthur Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Alexandra Saint Mleux

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, in photos

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Ex-NASCAR driver dead at 39 as JR Motorsports issues statement – Motorsport – Sports

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JR Motorsports has confirmed the death of former driver Michael Annett.

On Friday, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR team, JR Motorsports (JRM), announced that Annett, the 39-year-old former driver for the team, had died. Annett had spent time driving in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series — now called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — and Truck Series.

In October 2021, Annett announced he would retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2021 season. The news of Annett’s death comes days after JRM revealed a new color scheme honoring the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JRM’s statement on social media began. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

The Xfinity Racing X account also posted on Annett’s passing, writing: “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett at the age of 39. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Annett family in this difficult time.”

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Drivers from throughout the various levels of NASCAR also posted their condolences after hearing the news of the 39-year-old’s death. “RIP Michael Annett — I was on the radio with him at Hawkeye Downs Speedway the first time he drove a big car on asphalt. Life is precious,” Landon Cassill posted on X.

Front Row Motorsports’ Noah Gragson added: “Love you diesel Mike. Will always cherish my time with you buddy!” Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also posted: “Sad to get the news of Big Mikes passing. Raced each other for a long time coming up through ARCA together. Spent a lot of days in the gym together before he retired.”

Zachary Tinkle, a driver in the ARCA Menards Series East, posted a lengthy message on social media, recalling memories of the recently passed Annett. “Saddened to hear of the loss of Michael Annett tonight, gone way too soon,” Tinkle’s post on X began. “I’d like to send my thoughts and prayers to the Annett family during this difficult time.

“I will always fondly remember seeing those Pilot / Flying J colors Michael had on his car on the racetrack growing up as one of my favorite cars to see on the Nationwide/Xfinity series track every week, and watching live to see Michael finally break through to win at Daytona. You will be missed by everyone in the NASCAR family, Rest In Peace, Michael.”

NASCAR star Matt Tifft added: “Thoughts and prayers with Michael Annetts family and friends tonight, one of the nicest guys in the garage.”

Annett’s cause of death is currently unknown.

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Viking Motorsports Expands to Two-Car Operation for 2026 Season – Speedway Digest

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Viking Motorsports announced today that the organization will expand to a two-car NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program for the 2026 season. The team will field the newly established No. 96 Chevrolet, driven by Anthony Alfredo, with Josh Graham — who previously worked with Alfredo earlier in his career — returning as his crew chief as the pair reunite for another competitive run together.

This expansion marks a major step in the team’s evolution as Viking Motorsports enters its second full-time season at the national level. The move underscores the organization’s commitment to continued growth, performance, and long-term competitiveness.

Team owner Don Sackett expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s next phase:

“Expanding to a second full-time car is a major moment for our organization. Anthony brings experience, professionalism, and a tremendous work ethic that aligns perfectly with where Viking Motorsports is heading. Reuniting him with Josh gives us a strong foundation for this new team. Their chemistry, trust, and history together will help accelerate our growth and elevate our entire program.”

Alfredo, who joins Viking Motorsports with multiple years of NASCAR national series experience, is eager to reteam with Graham.

“I’m fired up to join Viking Motorsports and drive the No. 96 Chevrolet in 2026. Having the chance to work with Josh again is something I’m really excited about — we’ve had success together, and I know what we can accomplish as a team. You can see how much Viking is building and investing in its future. Being part of their expansion to a two-car program is a big opportunity, and I can’t wait to get going.”

The team will announce primary and associate partners for the No. 96 Chevrolet in the coming weeks.

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Mark Martin is worried about the NASCAR lawsuit hurting the sport

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

“I’m worried about our sport. I want it to thrive.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are currently suing NASCAR for alleged antitrust violations. The trial began on Monday and they have been in court every day this week.

There’s been a lot of news to come out of the trial. Both NASCAR and the teams involved have egg on their face as private messages surface in court.

Richard Childress is considering legal action against NASCAR he was called a ‘redneck’

The trial is expected to last just a few weeks. However, the loser will likely appeal, dragging this case on for a lengthy amount of time.

A settlement could bring it all to a stop. Settlement discussions took place leading up to Monday’s opening in court but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

All of this has Mark Martin worried…

NASCAR team owner says he’s lost $100M in the sport

Mark Martin comments

“This lawsuit is devastating to the sport we love. I really hope we as fans come out of this better off, but I just don’t see a pathway that leads us to that,” Mark Martin stated via X.

He added, “I’m worried about our sport. I want it to thrive.”

He’s not alone. Earlier this year, Brad Keselowski noted that this lawsuit was the greatest threat to the sport.

Brad Keselowski says the NASCAR lawsuit is a threat to the sport

Before the trial began, Judge Kenneth Bell encouraged both sides to come to an agreement before trial. He noted that otherwise, both sides would be “burning the house down”.