Motorsports

BIG MONEY PETE: The Journey of Big Game Motorsports’ Longtime Workhorse

Published

7 months ago

June 3, 2025

Pete Stephens has been a consistent piece of Tod Quiring’s team throughout the years

Throughout Big Game Motorsports’ history, there’s been a quiet, reliable presence working hard to help ensure Tod Quiring’s cars remain some of the fastest in the country.

While a handful of drivers have come and gone, crew member Pete Stephens has almost always been there. He may have had some stints with other teams, but Big Game has remained a priority for 15 years.

That commitment led to him being tapped as the new car chief for David Gravel and the defending World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champions. He stepped into the role after Stephen Hamm-Reilly vacated the position at the end of the 2024 season.

Stephens’ path to becoming a car chief began in his home state of Washington. He’s from the town of Mount Vernon, which is just a 15-minute drive down I-5 from Skagit Speedway. Attending races with his family evolved into helping a local team to get his foot in the door.

“I started out at Skagit with Chad Hillier when he was young,” Stephens recalled. “He started in the Sportsman class out there. I just knew him through friends and everything and started working with him in the mid to late 90s, probably. I just kind of raced at Skagit with him for a long time.”

Eventually, Hillier got the opportunity to expand his operation nationally, which also allowed Stephens to hit the road for the first time.

“Chad got a chance to go out and run World of Outlaws stuff in 2007,” Stephens said. “I had a business back there at that time, and I always thought working on a World of Outlaws Sprint Car team was one of those things like, ‘Oh man, if I could do anything, that’s what I would do.’ So, he got a break to go run that stuff, and I just kind of called him one time and asked if he knew anybody looking for help because I’d maybe like to go try it, and he said they were. It was basically him and Tyler Swank at the time, so I went out with those guys for a bit and liked it.”

The business Stephens mentioned is part of what instilled his work ethic. He started a hoof trimming operation for cattle, which makes Sprint Car maintenance feel easy by comparison.

“You’re usually up by five-thirty or six in the morning,” Stephens said of a regular day in the hoof trimming business. “You usually got half an hour to an hour drive to your job site. You set up, and you’re usually there for eight to 10 hours, and you’re physically moving non-stop because in the hoof trimming world, if you’re not moving, you’re not making money. You’re physically working most of the day. We did dairy cows, and with the farms getting the size they are, it’s a very labor-intensive job.”

The time on the tour allowed Stephens to make some connections and led to working with one of the sport’s legends in 2009. Sammy Swindell was driving for Tom Rolfe, and Stephens joined the crew. The next domino to fall was heading to Lonnie Parsons’ team with Danny Lasoski in late 2009. Oddly enough, that’s where Stephens first met current Big Game crew chief Cody Jacobs as they both worked with Barry Jackson on the No. 6. The following year, Swindell joined forces with Big Game, and Stephens reunited with “Slammin’ Sammy” in Quiring’s camp for what became a hugely successful stretch.

Pete Stephens stands with Danny Lasoski, Cody Jacobs, and Barry Jackson in Victory Lane — Pete Stephens worked with Cody Jacobs on Lonnie Parsons’ Sprint Car well before their days together at Big Game Motorsports

“That was a lot of fun when Sammy got into that deal,” Stephens said. “We had a good time. We finished 2010 and started 2011 with a pretty light crew. There was only two of us, me and Scott Green was the kid’s name who did tires and stuff like that. That was a lot of fun, 2010, ’11, ’12. We won a lot of races and had a good time.”

Stephens worked for a different team following the run with Swindell but was quickly back in the Big Game shop, this time on Craig Dollansky’s car. But he wasn’t done with Swindell as Stephens returned to the No. 1 team in 2014.

In the late 2010s, Stephens made the decision to head home and focus on business as well as raising his child, but it wasn’t long until involvement with Big Game was back on his calendar. When Cody Jacobs went to the team in 2020, the two talked, and Stephens returned part-time, a period that birthed a nickname.

“Once Cody got here, the joke was kind of that I would only go to the big events,” Stephens said with a laugh. “My one friend Nate, he nicknamed me “Big Money Pete.” So, yeah, I’d go to the larger events and help out and stuff like that.”

Fast forward to the off-season heading into 2025, and Big Game was looking for a full-time car chief. Originally, Stephens had no plans of being on the road this season, but the team’s first candidate backed out. So, Stephens agreed to help get them ready for the season opener and navigate the opening portion of the season. But one thing led to another, and he agreed to come aboard for the entire season of their title defense.

It’s been the right move so far as the No. 2 team has been all but unstoppable in 2025. They’ve already piled up eight wins, 17 podiums, and 23 top fives through 27 races. Their average finish is third, and their worst result is seventh. Gravel owns a healthy 188-point advantage atop the standings.

Big Game Motorsports in Victory Lane — Pete Stephens has been a part of many trips to Victory Lane with Big Game Motorsports (Trent Gower Photo)

There’s no doubt Big Game Motorsports is at the height of their powers. The team’s history features many successful chapters, but none quite as impactful as the last four-plus years since Gravel came aboard. Stephens has been around for nearly every step of the way, and he remains a key contributor – a rewarding journey for a Washington kid who wanted more than anything to work with a World of Outlaws team.

“It’s been pretty cool to see it built,” Stephens said. “So many people don’t realize how hard it is. These things are built over time. I don’t care how much money you’ve got; spending money is not going to win a race. It’s people. It’s engines. It’s all the small things that have to come together and work. It’s been really neat to kind of watch Tod and Cody. I mean, I knew Cody when he was in his mid-20s and have watched him grow into this and do what he’s done with Tod. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Stephens, Gravel, and the entire Big Game Motorsports team continue their quest for back-to-back World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car titles this week with four races in five nights. First up is Minnesota’s Jackson Motorplex on Wednesday, June 4, for the FENDT Showdown. Then, the Badger State Triple takes teams to three Wisconsin tracks in three nights with visits to Plymouth Dirt Track (June 6), Beaver Dam Raceway (June 7), and Angell Park Speedway (June 8) on the calendar. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

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Motorsports

Registration Opens for RPM @ Daytona WorkshopsPerformance Racing Industry

Published

26 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Registration is officially open and session times have been announced for the 53rd Annual RPM @ Daytona Workshops, scheduled for February 8–10, 2026, in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.

The 2026 speaking lineup will be headlined by Levi Jones, promoter and general manager of Eldora Speedway. Jones’ diverse background and attention to detail have established him as one of the sport’s leading voices, offering insight into both operational excellence and forward-thinking promotion.

Joining the program on Tuesday, February 10, will be Loretta Thiering, owner and promoter of Edmonton International Raceway (Alberta, Canada). Thiering will present a dynamic session focused on the evolving business of race track promotion.

Additional sessions include

“The Jody Session,” honoring the legacy of Jody Deery, one of the founders and strongest supporters of the RPM Workshops. This session will be led by women in the motorsports industry, with all attendees encouraged to participate.
Legal Update & Pro Bono Hour, expanded and delivered through breakout sessions.
Additional sessions designed to support, educate and strengthen the short track motorsports industry.

More information and registration for the 53rd Annual RPM @ Daytona Workshops is now available here.

Additionally, voting is now open for the annual Auto-Racing Promoter of the Year (ARPY) Award.

Click here to vote.

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Motorsports

Hocevar gets 3-year backing from Zeigler Auto Group

Published

43 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

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COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — With hats, photos and even car bumpers, NASCAR fans came from around the area to Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo Monday night to meet one guy — Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar.

The 22-year-old NASCAR driver and Portage native was back to greet fans and sign a sponsorship deal with Zeigler Auto Group. The line formed in the showroom more than an hour before the event.

Portage NASCAR cup series driver Carson Hocevar in Portage for a meet and greet and signing a 3-year contract with Zeigler Auto Group. (Jan. 5, 2026)

“It’s almost 4 o’clock on a workday on Monday, right after the New Year that everybody’s busy or just took all their days off of work. So, it means a lot for me,” said Hocevar.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year is stepping into year three on the track. With those accolades behind him, the excited crowd was still a surprise to him.

“It just sort of shocks me a little bit at times. I’m like, I just drive in circles, and I play with my dogs. I don’t do anything special at home,” he said.

In the background was a black and metallic gold racecar similar to the one Hocevar drove in June 2025 at Michigan International Speedway. He has sported the Zeigler name before. But Monday’s stop marked a primary sponsorship with Zeigler Auto Group for the next three years. It’s a full circle moment for him.

“We’re doing all the press conference and everything after … not many years (since) I was coming here picking up some of my buddies or meeting them and going to work out. And I barely had any NASCAR starts in any of the three series,” he said.

The deal means the Zeigler name will be sported for 11 races this season, including the June 7 run at Michigan International Speedway.

Despite some other drivers sharing issues with his aggressive nature on the course, he said he’s not letting up. It’s just instinct.

“I’m just racing and making moves and I feel like I make more mistakes when I’m thinking about it than not,” he told News 8.

It’s part of the playbook, he explains.

“Ultimately, we race for the best of us, best of the team, best of our sponsors, and people we represent. And just being aggressive is part of the game nowadays,” said Hocevar.

He said that he doesn’t want to tear anybody up, but make competing drivers uncomfortable enough to create an opening to gain a spot.

For Zeigler Auto Group President and CEO Aaron Zeigler, watching Hocevar’s rise is something he considers to be once-in-a-generation talent.

“For 22 years old, he’s wise beyond his years, and it’s great to see the heart that he has and to see him give back. A lot of people don’t see that on the track, but he really does, and he does a great job with it,” he said.

Looking back, Hocevar said the previous years have created challenges and successes that he has built upon to prepare for this next season.

“What shows up on the racetrack speed-wise is everything you can’t see. It’s the shocks, it’s the people, it’s everything underneath the car, you know, all those little details that take time. It’s not easy to, even in a top team, plug a driver in anymore and have that set-up work for that driver, especially with how this new next-gen car is,” he said.

It goes back to that constant growth despite the outcome.

“We were really, really fast because that two years of development has been good. And then some tracks we were out to lunch because that two years of development we thought we were going to hit on it and went the wrong direction. But going the wrong direction, I feel better for year three that we can replicate the good stuff and fix the iffy miss of setups,” said Hocevar.

During year three, he hopes to improve on road courses and see improvements on short tracks. With the new season starting next month, Hocevar has enjoyed the time at home. One of his favorite parts has been spending time with his grandfather.

“My grandma passed away unfortunately last year. So, it’s been great to go to his favorite spot and you know, just kind of fill in, and nobody will ever replace grandma and it’s taught me a lot of just how loving they were,” Hocevar said. “It just truly teaches you stuff about life that racecars can’t.”

At the end of the announcement event, Hocevar got the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to his grandfather ahead of his 90th this week.

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Motorsports

Cummins joins NASCAR team with full-time sponsorship in 2026

Published

59 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Full-season sponsorship is very rare across the NASCAR garage

Cummins Inc. has joined NASCAR ahead of the 2026 season. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen will drive the No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.

Queen is entering his first full-time season of NASCAR competition. Cummins branding will be on the No. 12 truck as a primary sponsor for every race of the 2026 season.

Kaulig Racing is making the switch to Ram for the 2026 season. Cummins and Ram have a long history as they launched the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram back in 1989. 3.5M Ram trucks have been built with Cummins power.

View the photo of the 2026 Cummins NASCAR Truck below.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen comments

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen said via the team release.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen added. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

Chris Rice comments

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cummins to the Kaulig Racing family,” said Chris Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Kaulig Racing.

“Their engineering excellence and commitment to innovation are a perfect match for our vision. Brenden is an exceptional talent, and we’re building a program around him that we believe can compete for wins and make a playoff run right away.”

Cummins comments

“Cummins has racing in its DNA,” said Brett Merritt, Vice President and President, Engine Business, Cummins.

“From Clessie Cummins’ winning the first Indianapolis 500 as a crew member to our leadership in commercial power, we’ve always pushed the limits of what’s possible. Brenden Queen represents that same spirit – talented, hardworking, and full of momentum. Partnering with both Kaulig Racing and Ram provides the opportunity for us to continue to write our motorsport legacy.”

The Cummins truck will make it’s debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.

Cummins NASCAR Truck Photo

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Motorsports

Daren Lucas named President of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA)

Published

1 hour ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Daren Lucas, a 35-year career professional in sports marketing, private equity, fundraising, college athletics and motorsports, has been named President of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA). The appointment returns Lucas to the Daytona Beach area where he previously held several executive business development, management and revenue generating positions with both Daytona International Speedway (DIS) and NASCAR from 2000 through 2006.

Lucas joins the MSHFA after most recently spending the past 10 years in his own sports consultancy, which has kept him at the forefront of sports sponsorship and digital and social marketing. Previously in Daytona, Lucas led all Sales and Marketing at DIS and all Consumer Marketing and Ticketing for NASCAR-owned tracks, in support of such major events as the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race and the Daytona 200 motorcycle road race and other major motorsports events.

In his agency work, Lucas executed more than 100 official partnership deals including with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indianapolis 500. Lucas also brings extensive career experience in the sports travel and tourism industry at Super Bowls, Olympics, Masters and Kentucky Derbys. Lucas earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which was followed by a Master of Sports Administration (MSA) at Ohio University.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to join the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America as President,” Lucas said. “The impressive MSHFA Museum has grown extensively since relocating nearly 10 years ago in the DIS Ticket and Tours building, which is located just outside of the Speedway’s NASCAR Turn 4. The MSHFA administrative headquarters facility is housed in the same offices I worked in earlier in this century with DIS and NASCAR. Now, I look forward to working with both the MSHFA Board of Directors and the MSHFA team in my next chapter in Daytona and – most importantly – the next phase of success and growth for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.”

Lucas takes over MSHFA’s leadership from the retiring George Levy, who served as president from late 2019 through the end of 2025. Levy was just the MSHFA’s second president following the late Ron Watson, who initially held the presidential position from 1989 until his unexpected passing in October of 2019.

The future of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is solid but has room to continue to grow,” said MSHFA Board of Directors Chair Paul Doleshal.

“With the hiring of Daren, we feel that we are poised for that growth. We are more than confident that we have found the right person with Daren who can help advance the Hall into its next chapter of success.”

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Motorsports

Cummins Announces Partnership with Kaulig Racing and Ram in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Speedway Digest

Published

1 hour ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a global power technology leader and one of America’s most storied engineering and motorsports innovators for over a century, is returning to the national racing spotlight. Today, the leader in diesel, natural gas, and alternative power technologies announced it will serve as the full-season primary sponsor of Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and the No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.

The partnership pairs Cummins’ 100+ year history of engineering expertise and innovation with one of NASCAR’s fastest-rising talents. Cummins branding will be featured on the primary livery of Queen’s Ram 1500 for every race in 2026. This partnership marks the latest milestone in the longstanding partnership between Cummins and Ram, which began in 1989 when the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram was produced. Since then, more than 3.5 million Ram trucks have been powered by Cummins, setting the standard for heavy duty diesel pickups.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen

“Cummins has racing in its DNA,” said Brett Merritt, Vice President and President, Engine Business, Cummins. “From Clessie Cummins’ winning the first Indianapolis 500 as a crew member to our leadership in commercial power, we’ve always pushed the limits of what’s possible. Brenden Queen represents that same spirit – talented, hardworking, and full of momentum. Partnering with both Kaulig Racing and Ram provides the opportunity for us to continue to write our motorsport legacy.”

Queen, a fan-favorite short-track star known affectionately as “Butterbean,” enters his first full-time Truck Series season following a breakout year across multiple national platforms. During his 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship run, Queen earned eight wins and finished inside the top five in 17 of 20 races. Kaulig Racing further tested his potential with five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to close out 2025, where Queen delivered strong, attention-grabbing performances.

Following that success, Queen, 28, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was announced as the first of Kaulig’s five drivers chosen to lead Ram’s high-profile return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

For Kaulig Racing, the Cummins partnership represents a significant step forward as the team expands its competitive footprint in the Truck Series.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cummins to the Kaulig Racing family,” said Chris Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Kaulig Racing. “Their engineering excellence and commitment to innovation are a perfect match for our vision. Brenden is an exceptional talent, and we’re building a program around him that we believe can compete for wins and make a playoff run right away.”

Queen’s No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 will make its official debut at the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.

Kaulig Racing PR

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Motorsports

Trackhouse Racing Faces 2026 Questions as Major Sponsor Disappears From Team Website

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Your Sports Nation

With less than a month remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Trackhouse Racing is facing fresh speculation off the track.

Fans have begun spotting a potential red flag for Trackhouse Racing: a major sponsor appears to be missing from the team’s official website.

Sponsor Uncertainty Emerges As Trackhouse Racing Undergoes Major Changes

According to reports, fans have noticed that WeatherTech, one of the organization’s most recognizable partners in recent seasons, is no longer listed among the team’s sponsors on its official website. This has raised questions about Trackhouse’s sponsorship lineup heading into 2026.

Trackhouse has undergone a period of rapid evolution over the past two seasons, reshaping both its competitive structure and long-term vision. The team entered 2025 with major ambition, expanding to a third full-time Cup Series entry.

The team also signed Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen to drive the No. 88 last season. That move signaled Trackhouse’s intent to grow beyond a two-car operation and lean further into its global racing identity.

Then, at the end of the 2025 season, Trackhouse parted ways with Daniel Suárez, one of the organization’s foundational drivers since its Cup debut. In his place, the team announced rising star Connor Zilisch as part of their 2026 plans, doubling down on youth development and long-term growth.

Driver commitments were also solidified with van Gisbergen signing a long-term extension, joining Ross Chastain, who inked his own multi-year deal in 2023. Both drivers are now a cornerstone of Trackhouse’s future. Alongside these moves, the team also adjusted its on-track branding, assigning Zilisch to the No. 88 while unveiling the No. 97 as van Gisbergen’s new Cup Series number.

Against that backdrop of expansion and restructuring, the apparent disappearance of WeatherTech from the team’s sponsor listings has drawn particular attention. Neither Trackhouse nor WeatherTech has issued an official statement confirming or denying anything. However, sponsor visibility, especially this close to the start of a season, is often closely monitored by fans and industry insiders alike.

If confirmed, the loss would be a meaningful one. Since partnering with the team in 2024, WeatherTech has sponsored Trackhouse or Trackhouse-affiliated drivers in 23 NASCAR Cup Series races and 40 NASCAR Xfinity Series events, making it one of the organization’s more consistent commercial partners.

WeatherTech’s involvement in the sport has also extended beyond race weekends. The company served as the base sponsor in the NASCAR 25 console game’s custom car creator. This expanded its marketing investment within the NASCAR ecosystem and made it popular among younger fans.

Sponsorship changes are not uncommon in NASCAR. However, with Trackhouse preparing for a pivotal 2026, featuring one of the most exciting driver lineups, the potential departure of a major sponsor has fans on high alert.

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