Motorsports
Chicago mayor signals openness to NASCAR’s return, but maybe not on July 4th weekend
CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson signaled openness to having the NASCAR Chicago Street Race return to the city’s downtown next year, but perhaps not on the Fourth of July weekend. While the city touts the two-day event of racing as a boon to the local economy by bringing thousands of spectators to the area around […]

CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson signaled openness to having the NASCAR Chicago Street Race return to the city’s downtown next year, but perhaps not on the Fourth of July weekend.
While the city touts the two-day event of racing as a boon to the local economy by bringing thousands of spectators to the area around Grant Park, it also causes headaches for locals.
Local perspective:
Weeks of street closures have been a frustration since the first downtown race in 2023, although organizers have reduced the preparation time from 43 days in the first year to just 25 days this year.
But Johnson appeared to question on Tuesday whether holding the race on the Fourth of July weekend was the most optimal time slot.
“The Fourth of July is already, quite frankly, it’s a heavier burden for our law enforcement because of so much activity that happens in Chicago and as tourism continues to increase and more and more people continue to visit our city, the expectation of law enforcement and our first responders continue to grow,” Johnson said.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Valvoline Chevrolet, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course on July 07, 202
City Council members representing the downtown area have expressed similar concerns.
“They have also brought noise, disruption, and road closures, some of which will continue from this year’s event for many days to come,” wrote Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) in a newsletter to constituents. “This past year alone, I heard from numerous 2nd Ward residents whose commutes and daily lives are altered drastically by these closures, a matter I take very seriously. Given the multiple other downtown large-scale events whose economic impacts are as much or greater than this event’s, with less disruption, I still have concerns.”
RELATED: Future of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago weekend is unclear going into the third year of contract
Under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the city entered into a three-year agreement with NASCAR to host the race, with an option for a two-year extension.
What’s next:
Five downtown aldermen, including Hopkins, sent a letter to Julie Giese, the president of NASCAR Chicago Street Race, requesting a meeting to “discuss the event’s future in Chicago.”
In a statement, NASCAR said that they’ve “had good conversations with the city and following another tremendously successful event that helped support Chicago’s economy by driving tourism from 35 countries.”
Motorsports
Big Game Motorsports and Gravel Victorious at Weedsport Speedway for Fifth Straight Season – Speedway Digest
Big Game Motorsports wrapped up the month of July with a strong week in the Northeast. While Mother Nature wiped out the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., David Gravel and the team garnered a runner-up result on Wednesday at BAPS Motor Speedway in […]

Big Game Motorsports wrapped up the month of July with a strong week in the Northeast.
While Mother Nature wiped out the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series doubleheader at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., David Gravel and the team garnered a runner-up result on Wednesday at BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa., before capturing a World of Outlaws win at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday for the fifth straight year.
“You just never know,” Gravel said in a post-race interview on DIRTVision. “The pace gets so slow. They did track work, had the tiller out, and they haven’t done that all night. So, I just didn’t know if the top was going to be the place to be or not. We had a lot of aggressive guys behind us, so you know they were going to try it. I saw Cole (Macedo) in (turns) one and two those first couple laps, but other than that I didn’t really see him.”
Gravel dominated the night at Weedsport Speedway, setting quick time in his group’s qualifying session before winning a heat race, the dash and the main event. His margin of victory in the feature was 6.120 seconds.
The team was also strong throughout the program at BAPS Motor Speedway, where Gravel was quickest in his group during time trials. He won a heat race and the dash to garner the pole position for the A Main. Gravel led the first six laps before dropping to second on a restart on Lap 7.
“I just didn’t know where to run on the restart there and protected, but should’ve protected a little bit more, but I ran the top,” Gravel said in a post-race interview on DIRTVision. “(Anthony) Macri got by me. I kind of did the same thing to him the next restart. I was able to slide him. I took too long to slide across and about stopped at the cushion, so he got back underneath me, and they did a great job in traffic.”
Gravel holds a 182-point lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings entering the Ironman 55 this Friday and Saturday at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 23 – BAPS Motor Speedway in York Haven, Pa. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 1 (2); Feature: 2 (1).
July 27 – Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, N.Y. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 1 (1); Feature: 1 (1).
SEASON STATS –
47 races, 11 wins, 38 top fives, 44 top 10s, 44 top 15s, 44 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo., for the Ironman 55 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
ILP PR
Motorsports
NASCAR Today: Bubba Wallace stuns at the Brickyard as disqualified driver set to appeal
23XI star Bubba Wallace put on a stunning display at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday night, snapping a 100-race winless streak to lock himself into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. ➡️ READ MORE NASCAR driver DISQUALIFIED at Indianapolis reveals official protest plan After being disqualified in Indianapolis, as NASCAR driver has confirmed he and his […]

23XI star Bubba Wallace put on a stunning display at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday night, snapping a 100-race winless streak to lock himself into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
➡️ READ MORE
NASCAR driver DISQUALIFIED at Indianapolis reveals official protest plan

After being disqualified in Indianapolis, as NASCAR driver has confirmed he and his team are set to appeal.
➡️ READ MORE
NASCAR announce five drivers DEMOTED at Indianapolis including Denny Hamlin

Five NASCAR drivers were dealt significant setbacks ahead of Sunday’s race at IMS.
➡️ READ MORE
NASCAR driver facing race BAN after Indianapolis incident

A NASCAR driver could be set for a race ban after accusations of intentionally wrecking a rival at IMS.
➡️ READ MORE
Kyle Busch touted for series switch as potential NASCAR ban looms

Kyle Busch has been suggested as a potential option for an exciting opportunity.
➡️ READ MORE
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Motorsports
Kris Wright Signs Multi-Race Deal With Top ARCA Team
What’s Happening? Former Xfinity Series driver Kris Wright has found a home for the rest of the 2025 racing season. He has signed a three-race ARCA Menards Series contract to drive a car “prepared” by Venturini Motorsports. Wright’s return to Venturini begins this weekend at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway on Friday evening. He will get […]

What’s Happening?
Former Xfinity Series driver Kris Wright has found a home for the rest of the 2025 racing season. He has signed a three-race ARCA Menards Series contract to drive a car “prepared” by Venturini Motorsports.
- Wright’s return to Venturini begins this weekend at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway on Friday evening. He will get back behind the wheel on Aug. 8 at Watkins Glen, then round out his duties on Sept. 26 at Kansas Speedway for the series season finale.
- Wright returns to the ARCA Menards Series after a short stint driving full-time for the now-shuttered Our Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season. During his starts, Wright had a best finish of ninth at Martinsville and a 27.4 average finish. Despite his poor on-track performance with the Chevrolet team, the news managed to find Wright throughout his 18-race schedule, including run-ins with Josh Bilicki and Justin Allgaier.
- His season came to an early end after the Sonoma race weekend, when Our removed him from the entry list for Dover, replacing him with Kaz Grala. The team announced later that week that all operations would cease after the race weekend at Dover. At the time, Wright claimed that the two parties had agreed to part ways.
- Wright has 35 career starts in the AMS, including 22 starts under the Venturini banner. In those starts with Venturini, Wright has 13 of his career 21 top-ten finishes and all eight of his career top-five finishes. In 2024, racing full-time with the Toyota outfit, Wright finished third of eight competitors to enter all 20 races.
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Motorsports
Indianapolis a ‘bittersweet’ victory for Hamlin
Denny Hamlin, the driver, finished third in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Denny Hamlin, the owner, however, won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis with 23XI Racing. The moment was undoubtedly bittersweet for Hamlin, who has yet to win the crown jewel event himself. It is the only crown jewel on the NASCAR schedule that Hamlin, […]

Denny Hamlin, the driver, finished third in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Denny Hamlin, the owner, however, won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis with 23XI Racing.
The moment was undoubtedly bittersweet for Hamlin, who has yet to win the crown jewel event himself. It is the only crown jewel on the NASCAR schedule that Hamlin, 44, has not laid claim to, and Sunday was his 17th attempt.
He admitted as much – about it being bittersweet – as he fulfilled his obligations as the winning car owner. One of those obligations was having to address the media, putting into perspective what the win means for his driver, Bubba Wallace, and the organization, even though it’s not something he’s ever experienced.
“Yeah [it’s bittersweet] because I had a role in it,” Hamlin said. “I help mentor these guys, and they’re in my brain every single Monday and Tuesday. I’m trying everything I can to teach them all the tricks in the book that I have, and so I know there is a part of me out there. Yeah, it’s not my car number and it sucks that it’s not my team, team No. 11 out there, but I’m still very gratified because truthfully, I took our chances of winning out yesterday.”
Saturday at the Speedway was a tough pill to swallow for Hamlin. His Toyota was the fastest in Cup Series practice, having arrived at Indianapolis off his fourth win of the season a week ago at Dover Motor Speedway. But as the last driver to attempt a qualifying run, he pushed too hard and crashed.
With the primary car destroyed, his team had to go to a backup. It was all hands on deck to prepare for Sunday’s race, with Hamlin having to come from the rear of the field in a track position race.
“I knew that the possibility of winning from the back here was so small,” Hamlin said. “Not only that, I knew the car we had was not going to be nearly as fast as what we had yesterday, so I was content with getting a good finish, and then I hope that one of the 23XI cars that qualified up front could execute a good day. It looked like the No. 23 and No. 45 executed a good day. The No. 35 looked like he had speed, just couldn’t get over the hump.
“So, I’m still very gratified just because of the weekend. I’m sitting back there after qualifying, in the car, thinking, ‘Well, I’ve only got two more chances.’ I knew I had blown this chance for this weekend because of all the obstacles to try to win from the back. Without luck, it’s nearly impossible, so this was the next best result.”
Hamlin signed a two-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, which was announced on Friday. It is, according to Hamlin, “probably, most likely” his last contract extension in Cup Series racing.
Indianapolis is not a traditional race victory as it comes with many spoils. Wallace and the No. 23 team celebrated in victory lane, received a trophy and a ring, and then went to the frontstretch to kiss the bricks. Hamlin was there for all of it, the kiss included.
There was no hesitation to participate in the tradition over hoping to do it as a driver one day.
“I’ll take every opportunity that I can,” Hamlin said. “When those guys go out there and get trophies, I make sure I get my own and treat it as my own, because I can assure you, it’s much harder to win as a team owner than it is as a driver. Joe Gibbs and that whole team do all the work. All I have to do out here each weekend is drive it to the best of my ability, and I have to send them in the right direction to make the car go faster.
“Building a team from scratch is a huge undertaking, so you feel more gratification because I had my hand in every little piece of that race, from the branding to the sponsorship to the competition to everything. Parents always feel much prouder when their kids accomplish something more than they do.”
Motorsports
Camrie Caruso Motorsports Partners with Green Genie of NY for Final Three IHRA Events of 2025
Camrie Caruso Motorsports is proud to unveil a brand-new partnership with Green Genie of New York, set to debut at the final three IHRA events of the 2025 season. The collaboration features the launch of the bold, vibrant Green Genie Chevy Cobalt, adding serious flair and firepower to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class. The striking new […]

Camrie Caruso Motorsports is proud to unveil a brand-new partnership with Green Genie of New York, set to debut at the final three IHRA events of the 2025 season. The collaboration features the launch of the bold, vibrant Green Genie Chevy Cobalt, adding serious flair and firepower to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class.
The striking new Chevy Cobalt Pro Stocker will make its first appearance at IHRA Columbus (Sept. 3–6), followed by West Salem, OH (Sept. 24–27), and the season finale in Dunn, NC (Nov. 5–8).
“I’m beyond excited to partner with a company from East Rochester, NY – where my mom grew up,” said Camrie Caruso. “This deal hits close to home for me, and bringing it to life with such a unique and eye-catching car makes it even more special. The Green Genie Cobalt is going to turn heads, and we’re showing up to win.”
Green Genie – known for their bold branding and tagline, “We make incredible edibles for people who know the difference!” – is bringing its high-energy style to the drag strip, teaming up with one of the sport’s standout female drivers to close out the 2025 season in unforgettable fashion.
Fans can expect not only fierce performance on the track, but also exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan-focused activations, and a deeper look into the creation of the Green Genie Chevy Cobalt.
This story was originally published on July 28, 2025.
Motorsports
NASCAR Discloses Data Breach Linked to Medusa Ransomware Group
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has disclosed a data breach following a network intrusion that occurred between March 31 and April 3, 2025. Although the organization did not disclose many details about the breach, it may be connected to a broader ransomware incident earlier this year involving the notorious Medusa group. […]


The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has disclosed a data breach following a network intrusion that occurred between March 31 and April 3, 2025.
Although the organization did not disclose many details about the breach, it may be connected to a broader ransomware incident earlier this year involving the notorious Medusa group.
NASCAR, headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, is the governing body for stock car racing in the United States and owns 16 major motorsport facilities nationwide. The organization employs over 8,700 people and plays a central role in American motorsports culture and business.
According to the breach notification submitted to the Maine Attorney General’s office, NASCAR detected unusual activity on April 3 and immediately launched an investigation with the assistance of a specialized cybersecurity firm. The company determined that threat actors had accessed and exfiltrated data files from their internal network during a three-day window. It wasn’t until June 24, 2025, that investigators confirmed these files contained personally identifiable information, specifically names and Social Security numbers.
The notice shared with the authorities does not list all the compromised data types, so it is unclear precisely what was exposed to the cybercriminals.
NASCAR began notifying affected individuals on July 24, offering them one year of free credit and identity monitoring services through Experian. The organization has also set up a toll-free call center to assist with inquiries related to the incident.
Although NASCAR has not disclosed the total number of individuals impacted, this disclosure follows a claim by the Medusa ransomware gang in April 2025 that they had breached the organization’s network. The gang claimed to have stolen over one terabyte (1,038.70 GB) of data and demanded a $4 million ransom. The entry, initially listed on Medusa’s leak site, has since been removed, an action that sometimes signals either negotiations, payment, or abandonment of the extortion attempt.
In its notification to affected individuals, NASCAR emphasized that it had taken immediate steps to secure its systems and was implementing additional security enhancements. While the company did not provide details on the nature of the compromised files or how many people were affected, the Medusa claim suggests that the scale may be far broader than officially acknowledged.
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