Joe Gibbs Racing has struck gold once again, with a groundbreaking partnership announcement that is set to shake up the racing world. In a move that is causing ripples of excitement among fans and experts alike, Bob’s Discount Furniture has inked a multiyear deal to become the primary sponsor for none other than Denny Hamlin.

The roar of the engines will now be accompanied by the presence of Bob’s Discount Furniture on the sleek No. 11 Toyota, marking the beginning of a thrilling collaboration that is set to debut at the upcoming Iowa Speedway event on August 3rd. This new alliance is poised to redefine the racing landscape, with a full lineup of races already on the horizon for this dynamic duo.

The high-octane world of racing is no stranger to game-changing partnerships, but the union between Joe Gibbs Racing and Bob’s Discount Furniture is already being hailed as a match made in racing heaven. As the anticipation builds and the countdown to the Iowa Speedway event begins, all eyes are on Denny Hamlin and his revamped No. 11 Toyota, ready to showcase the power of this new sponsorship on the track.

Innate skill, a fast car, and a solid team are all factors that give relentless confidence to a professional race car driver. In the NASCAR Cup Series, a stable sponsor can be added to that list. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell understands this, having been showered with all these positives over the past few years.

Following the retirement of Martin Truex Jr., Bell has become a more central figure in his team. He is, arguably, the best driver that Coach Gibbs currently has under his wing and one of the two best championship bets for JGR, along with Denny Hamlin. Anyone who has been following the sport for the last couple of years would have noticed that his stature across the garage and media has grown significantly.

NASCAR involves him in crucial discussions surrounding the future, and other drivers respect him a lot more than they did earlier. What’s the reason behind this transition? Jeff Gluck asked him this in a recent interview and pointed out how this change has come about only after the 2024 Martinsville penalty decision that cost Bell a playoff spot.

The driver responded, “I know what changed, and it was single-handedly the confidence and commitment I got from my team and my sponsors. This sport is so tough because you’re scrutinized to the sharpest of margins.

“Whenever you have sponsors who are paying for you to race, you have to have these people, and you just don’t want to say the wrong things. You don’t want to get in trouble.”

It had taken Bell a while to get comfortable in the seat of his No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE. Once he did and knew for a fact that his minor mistakes wouldn’t result in him losing a sponsor, he became more open with his words and opinions. He realized, for good, that he wasn’t “walking on pins and needles and eggshells.”

It was after the Martinsville incident that this awareness came about on a full scale. Bell had been on the verge of making it into the Championship 4 on that fateful night. In the final turn of the final lap, he slid into the wall and rode it for a few seconds. This move was akin to the illegal move Ross Chastain pulled at the same track in 2022. But crucially, it was not intentional like the ‘Hail Melon.’

Still, NASCAR decided to punish Bell for it and put him on the tail end of the lap he was on. This cost him the Championship 4 spot and Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron made it through. The composed attitude and character with which Bell handled the disappointment impressed NASCAR greatly and has made all the difference since.

With 10 races remaining in the regular season, the NASCAR Cup Series will make its lone trip to Pocono Raceway this weekend.

It’s the fourth consecutive year that the 2.5-mile track has played host to one annual Cup race. Ryan Blaney is the defending winner, having ended a 13-year winless drought for Team Penske at Pocono last year.

The Xfinity and Truck series also will be racing this weekend at the track in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Corey Heim (Truck) and Cole Custer (Xfinity) are the defending winners.

NASCAR’s top three national series most recently shared the same race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway on May 30-June 1.

Denny Hamlin returns to the series this weekend after missing last weekend’s race in Mexico for the birth of his son.

Pocono Raceway weekend schedule

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, June 20

Garage open

• 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. — Truck Series
• 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Xfinity Series

Track activity

• 12:35 – 1:30 p.m. — Truck practice (FS2)
• 1:40 – 2:30 p.m. — Truck qualifying (FS2)
• 5 p.m. — Truck race (80 laps, 200 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 20, Stage 2 at Lap 40; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Saturday, June 21

Garage open

• 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. — Xfinity Series
• 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 10 – 10:55 a.m. — Xfinity practice (CW App)
• 11:05 a.m. – noon — Xfinity qualifying (CW App)
• 12:35 – 1:35 p.m. — Cup practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 3:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (100 laps, 250 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 25, Stage 2 at Lap 50; CW Network; MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, June 22

Garage open

• 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 2 p.m. — Cup race (160 laps, 400 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 30, Stage 2 at Lap 95; Prime; MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Weekend weather

Friday: Partly cloudy skies with a stray shower possible, a high of 77 degrees with winds from the west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. It’s expected to 75 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Truck Series race.

Saturday: A mixture of sunshine and clouds with a high of 81 degrees and winds from the west to southwest at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 79 degrees with a 3% chance of rain for the start of the Xfinty Series race.

Sunday: A mixture of sunshine and clouds with a high of 85 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 82 degrees with a 6% chance of racing for the start of the Cup Series race.

Chicago, the streets are closing as the city prepares to welcome NASCAR on July 5 and 6. But you probably already noticed that on your way about town.

The race will return for its third year to a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course winding through Grant Park, along DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue — all of which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites.

What has been less observed is the tidy little subsidy the state approved for NASCAR in this year’s budget in exchange for its Chicago spectacle: a $5 million check.

This news comes on the heels of the exciting announcement that the Chicago Fire, led by owner and Chicago philanthropist Joe Mansueto, is building a $650 million privately funded stadium at The 78, the 62 long-fallow acres of former railroad-owned land bordered by Roosevelt Road to the north, Clark Street to the east, 16th Street to the south and the South Branch of the Chicago River to the west.

That plan was met with enthusiasm by all — it’s a boon for Chicago not only because it brings a world-class facility to our MLS team and the city’s many soccer fans, but also because it showed us all that people are willing to make big investments here without incentives from the government. That the news came out as other teams, including the Chicago Bears and the Chicago White Sox, are seeking taxpayer funding made it all the more significant.

And so the NASCAR check rubs us the wrong way, to put it bluntly, even though this payment does mark a decline in state funding support for the race. As we’ve written before, the jury remains out on whether NASCAR ought to become a fixture of downtown Chicago summers going forward.

There are virtues to NASCAR that go beyond tax revenues, hotel stays and cash registers ringing at restaurants and bars. The gorgeous views of downtown Chicago are no small part of what makes the race so distinctive. Viewers from around the country are treated to an hourslong advertisement for a city that these days can use all the good PR it can get, especially in the red states where our city often plays the role of punching bag.

But should taxpayers the state over be required to subsidize an event that primarily benefits Chicago?

Before this budget passed, the state doled out $7 million to NASCAR. A $2 million cut is good, but it’s still hard to justify given the state’s massive public debt and the rapid acceleration of state spending since just prior to COVID.

Asked about the funding at a June 16 news conference, Gov. JB Pritzker said he couldn’t speak for the specific reason for it, but he was proud of the increased investment during his tenure as governor. 

“Very importantly, it has brought enormous benefit to the state. Specifically, the investment in tourism yields revenue for the state that is vastly more than the investment that gets made by our tourism office,” he said.

That’s a fine political pivot, but let’s not forget that NASCAR’s economic impact hasn’t always been what was promised, despite the significant disruptions city residents face so the show can go on. In 2023, the economic impact was $109 million — less than the $113.8 million NASCAR projected. That shortfall may not seem dramatic, but it casts doubt on the optimistic assumptions used to justify ongoing subsidies.

We support NASCAR in Chicago, but the reality of the state’s fiscal situation means the downwards trajectory of those millions in state money should continue.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

The 2026 American International Motorcycle Expo is making its Southern California debut Jan. 7-9, at the Anaheim Convention Center, and registration for North America’s premier powersports trade show is now officially open.

The 2026 AIMExpo will also be coinciding with the opening round of the 2026 Supercross season, ensuring next year’s AIMExpo at Anaheim to be a powersports-packed experience.

“California is a major hub for the powersports industry, and the timing with Supercross gives dealers and exhibitors another exciting reason to attend,” says Cinnamon Kernes, Motorcycle Industry Council vice president of market expansion. “This move strengthens our ability to bring the industry together and create meaningful, lasting connections.”

AIMExpo is expanding its footprint to more than 293,000 square feet to meet growing demand. More than 175 exhibitors have confirmed attendance, including major OEMs such as American Honda Motor Co., Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, Yamaha and others. Leading distributors such as Automatic Distributors, Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties, and Turn 14 Powersports, are also set to return.

The 2026 event brings back the features that attendees look forward to each year. Dealer Excellence will return in partnership with MPN and include expert-led sessions packed with strategies dealers can apply immediately. In the Digital & Tech Sector, Tech Talks will feature candid, small-group conversations with innovators exploring real-world challenges and emerging technologies. New Product Central will also return, giving dealers and media a front-row seat to the latest vehicles, gear, tech, and tools set to shape the future of powersports.

New for 2026, the Dealer Evolution stage will showcase presenters leading high-level conversations designed to challenge assumptions and spark new ideas. Additional interactive features are in development for the 2026 show and will be announced in the months ahead.

“The industry left AIMExpo 2025 energized. The momentum built over our years in Vegas is carrying us forward and setting the stage for a show unlike anything we’ve seen before,” says Andre Albert, MIC director of marketing and events. “In the coming months, we’ll be rolling out even more features and new ways for the industry to connect, both on and off the show floor.”

England’s GeoPura is using high-performance motorsports to help prove the viability of hydrogen technology with grid-supporting potential.

It’s a fascinating advancement for scaling a cleaner version of the fuel, often called green hydrogen.

“Designed with modular scalability in mind, the unit can be deployed independently or paired with external battery systems for hybrid configurations,” according to Environment+Energy Leader.

The report stated the innovation can energize more than 1,000 homes for a day. But first it will power the FIA Extreme H World Cup, a race featuring hydrogen fuel cell cars later this year. It’s an event designed to showcase the power source’s potential, according to race organizers. The invention has already been tested with racing at a site in Newcastle, as well.

HPU2 is a collection of breakthroughs needed to overcome what have been substantial hurdles for hydrogen, including harmful nitrogen oxide emissions released when it’s burned to make power. Government experts said the fumes can irritate human airways if inhaled. It’s among concerns the Sierra Club has voiced about the alternative fuel.

In answer, GeoPura makes hydrogen using electrolysis, leveraging electricity from renewables to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with no planet-warming fumes. It also eliminates the need for fossil fuels that are used in the common production process, per U.S. government reports.

From there, it’s transported to an HPU2 unit, the next generation of GeoPura’s technology. The setup is about the size of a storage container. It uses fuel cells, not combustion, to make electricity. Reusable water is one of the harmless byproducts, according to the company.

Inside the unit, the electricity is converted into a current that’s ready to bail out the grid when it can’t handle demand, powering electric vehicle charging stations and more, per a GeoPura video clip.

“At its core, the HPU2 combines fuel cell technology, battery storage, and advanced power electronics,” per the company website. The modular design makes it a good fit for remote settings, as well.

The versatility is needed, as power demand for data centers is forecast by Goldman Sachs to increase 165% by 2030. That’s in addition to growing grid demand for air conditioners and other tech used to keep worsening heat waves at bay. NASA has linked the severe weather to the planet’s warming, which is fueled by fossil fuel use that the invention avoids.

That’s partly why switching to cleaner heat pumps can be a value for the grid and your pocketbook, too. You can save up to a grand a year in home heating and cooling expenses as compared to the use of aging, inefficient HVAC systems. Tax breaks are still available to help pay for the upgrade, too.

For its part, hydrogen fuel is being developed for use in interesting settings around the world, powering cranes, boats, and other machines. Planes are even a possibility.

When made with electrolysis and used in a fuel cell, it has the potential to eliminate harmful air pollution from numerous industries.

The U.S. Department of Energy cited cost and durability as some obstacles to wider use. But it seems GeoPura might have the tech to eliminate production, transportation, and use hurdles. The next milestone will be powering hydrogen-based racing events. But that’s only the beginning, according to company officials.

“We provide zero-emission energy wherever it’s needed,” per the clip.

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