Motorsports
Column | Owen Grennan powers to second Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified victory
Coming into the Newsday Salutes First Responders NASCAR Modified feature Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, Owen Grennan of Glen Cove formulated a game plan upon finding out he’d start outside of the front row. Grennan, a schoolteacher by day executed his plan to perfection winning the 50-lap main event, his second of 2025 and third of his career. Prior to racing Connie Partridge & Tom Gatz in conjunction with Newsday presented a moving salute to all First responders during opening ceremonies, complete with a flyover by the Suffolk County Police Department.
Kyle Ellwood and Owen Grennan made up the front row of the NASCAR Modified starting grid with Ellwood quickly bolting out front. Grennan, sticking to his pre-race game plan quickly ducked in behind Ellwood for the first segment of the race. Owen, who returns to teaching this week after the summer break was content riding behind Kyle, saving his tires for later in the race. Then the old saying sooner than later came into play on lap 18 when the caution waved for an incident involving Tom Rogers Jr. slowing with front end damage drawing the only yellow flag of the race.
Lined up alongside Ellwood for the resumption of the race, Grennan saw the opportunity to speed up his game plan when the green reappeared and was able to gain a run on Ellwood as the two raced nerf bar to nerf bar, each giving the other plenty of room to work with as Grennan took the lead officially on lap 19. Over the remainder of the contest Ellwood stayed right with Grennan hoping to catch him by surprise with an inside pass off the corners. After the halfway signal was given, Chase Grennan joined the party racing his way to third making, altering Ellwood’s plans slightly.
After the lap 18 stoppage, the race would finish with a 32-lap green flag run which was just fine with Owen Grennan and his Eastport Feeds team as he was first under the checker flag without any further double file restarts. After exiting his car Grennan waved the flag and pumped his first extra hard after his misfortunes during the Wednesday night event, “can’t thank my guys enough, we had work to do in a short amount of time to be on top of our game tonight” Grennan shared. “Early on I just wanted to stay with Kyle but not burn my stuff up, once I had that chance on the outside I went for it” Grennan offered, “hats off to Kyle Ellwood, he raced me the way we should all race each other, gave me plenty of room, he’s one of the best here”.
Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead was second in the Millennium Limited Contracting Chevy after holding the race winners younger brother Chase Grennan of Glen Cove in his Black Forest Auto entry who completed the podium. Mark Stewart of Riverhead was fourth, Timmy Solomito of Islip fifth in the final rundown.
The 40-lap Late Model feature may have been a rough and tumble affair for everyone except the eventual race winner Dave Brigati of Calverton. “The Fancy Farmer” was able to avoid the numerous missteps that unfolded during the extra distance tilt to earn a milestone 10th career LM win tying him for 17th on the track win list with Jim Malone Jr., Ed Densieski and Greg Kleila. Brandon Turbush raced out front early with Ryan Zukowski, CJ Lehmann and Brigati among his challengers prior to halfway. Brigati chased Turbush for 20-laps after moving to second on lap 13. Just after a restart on the 33rd lap, Ed Cheslak made a bold move to come to second on lap 34. Two laps later Turbush and Cheslak would bounce off each other exiting the fourth corner with the tangle lasting until they reached the first turn. The incident moved Dave Brigati to the race lead from third with CJ Lehmann now second. When the race resumed Brigati, steering the Coors Light entry was smart to pull away as things remained contentious behind him over the final four circuits. Keith Rotzi of Islip was runner-up in the Rudi’s Bar & Grill Chevy; championship leader Gerard Giordano of Freeport was third with his Venture Auto Body racer.
Vinny Delaney of Islip Terrace ended a three-year winless spell when he topped the 25-lap Eagle Chevrolet feature earning his 6th career victory in the process. Delaney and Sean Glennon brought the field to green with Delaney gaining the early advantage. AJ DeSantis entered the conversation when he worked his way under Glennon exiting the fourth corner to start the 3rd lap, AJ then settling in behind Delaney. DeSantis would show his nose to the race leader from time to time, but he soon has challengers of his own. Richie Davidowitz, Michael Berner and Eric Hersey were all within striking distance. Late race cautions would ramp up the intensity among the top five, on one such occasion DeSantis tried to hang to the outside of Delaney, allowing Davidowitz to duck under for second on lap 20, but DeSantis wasn’t going to go away quietly hanging to the right of Davidowitz, which was just fine with leader Delaney. When the race concluded and the dust settled a relieved Vinny Delaney withstood all challengers to park the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Chevy in victory lane. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches survived the frantic last lap pushing and shoving match for second in the Rosemar Paving machine, Eric Hersey of Commack came home third with his Peterson Irrigation Chevy.
The TK Figure Eights had a rough outing as their schedules 15-lap feature was trimmed to 10-laps due to time constraints. When the caution waved for a two-car incident on lap 10, the race was deemed official with Ryan Warren of Ridge earning his second career win. Despite the race falling five laps short it was no walk in the ark for Ryan Warren who raced to the lead at the throw of the green over Will Farrell. Defending champion Scott Pedersen out for another win made his way to second on lap 2, joined quickly in third by his nephew Allan. Entering Saturday, either Scott (4) or Allan (3) had won in the seven events run in 2025, so Warren knew he had to run the race of his career if he were to become the first 2025 winner not named Pedersen. Armed with motivation to win one for his mentor TK Tommy Kraft, Warren was able to keep both Scott & Allan Pedersen at bay over numerous restarts to take the emotional win in the Advanced Waterworks machine, “this means so much to me to win for TK, Kathy and Tommy mean so much to my career, without them I don’t have one in Figure Eights”. Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches was second in the Elite Towing Camaro, Scott Pedersen of Shirley third with the Land, Air, Water Environmental Chevy.
Anytime the Super Pro Trucks take to the track in 2025, more often than not the race boils down to an intense battle between Sean Glennon of Northport and Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, the defending champion. Saturday’s 30-lapper was no exception as the two rivals again took each other to slide job city, swapping the lead numerous times over the final half of the race before Glennon prevailed for his fifth win of the season. Early on Frank Dumicich Jr. paced Lou Maestri over the first four trips around the oval, Sean Glennon moved to second on lap 5 while Handley was still making his way towards the front. Glennon pursued Dumicich for eight laps before jumping to the outside to take the lead on lap 13. Before Sean could get comfortable his nemesis Handley came to second during a double file restart on lap 17 and the slide jobs, swapping paint and intense racing was about to commence, again. Each driver took turns leading before the checker flag dropped and when t did Sean Glennon in the Glennon Construction Chevy came out on top. The win is the 15th of Sean’s career, tying him for 7th all time with Frank Dumicich Jr., who crossed the line third in the Okpetroluemmarketplace.com Toyota. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was third with the Andre Vega owned Cohen’s Fashion Optical of Riverhead Toyota.
In what was clearly the smoothest race of the night Brian Brown of Calverton notched his second win of the 2025 campaign winning a non-stop 20-lap Street Stock event. Brown and Tom Sullivan made up the front row with Brown jumping out front while Sullivan faded to third as Danny Pizzo slid under him at the drop of the green. Brown, who won the May Meltdown season opener the first weekend of May was very content with a caution free race driving the Eastport Feeds Chevelle to his 12th career win, second on the all-time win list. Danny Pizzo of Holbrook, back after missing a race due to a surgical procedure brought his sponsor wanted Chevy home second, Jarrod Hayes of Calverton completed the podium in third with the North Fork Sanitation entry.
In the annual First Responders 40-lap race, retired NYPD officer Fred Grover of Huntington would drive to victory in the popular race. Grover was chased by Suffolk County Corrections Officer Kevin Feeney of Quogue with Pat Collins Sr. & Pat Collins Jr. of the Southampton Volunteer Fire Department third and fourth in their PC Truck & Equipment machines. Danny Southard of Centereach completed the top five.
Aug. 30 full results
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Chase Grennan 4. Mark Stewart 5. Timmy Solomito 6. John Beatty Jr. 7. Roger Turbush 8. Dylan Slepian 9. CJ Lehmann 10. JR Bertuccio 11. Chris Young 12. Howie Brode 13. Ken Darch DQ-, Tom Rogers Jr., Chris Rogers
Late Models: 1. Dave Brigati 2. Keith Rotzi 3. Gerard Giordano 4. CJ Lehmann 5. Ryan Zukowski 6. Russ Jansen 7. Brandon Turbush 8. Ed Cheslak 9. Kevin Metzger 10. Ray Minieri
Crate Modifieds: 1. Vinny Delaney 2. Richie Davidowitz 3. Eric Hersey 4. Michael Berner 5. Andrew Farnham 6. Sean Glennon 7. Thomas Grattan DQ- Tom Sekulski, AJ DeSantis
Figure Eights: 1. Ryan Warren 2. Allan Pedersen 3. Scott Pedersen 4. Will Farrell 5. David White 6. Tyler Farrell 7. Kim Hyde 8. Bobby Dalke
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Dave Koenig 6. Tony Naglieri 6. Frank Dumicich Sr. 7. Erin Solomito 8. Charles Sudano 9. Lou Maestri 10. Liam Patrick
Street Stocks: 1. Brian Brown 2. Danny Pizzo 3. Jarrod Hayes 4. Dave Antos 5. Alyssa Paprocky 6. Brandon Turbush 7. Ricky Carman 8. Kyle Halpin 9. Dennis Kurras 10. PJ McGay 11. Rich Braun 12. Bobby Dalke 13. Luke Foerster 14. Scott Pedersen 15. Chris McGuire DNS- John Harley DQ- Tom Sullivan
First Responders Race: 1. Fred Grover 2. Kevin Feeney 3. Pat Collins Sr. 4. Pat Collins Jr. 5. Danny Southard 6. Joe Carroll 7. Donovan Kilas 8. Robert Corwin 9, Matt Galeazzi 10, Willie Burns
Coming up Sept. 6
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns for another exciting 256-lap event on Saturday, Sept. 6. Gates open at 3 p.m. Racing starts at 6. Admission: $40 (adults) $20 (Children 6-12). Children 5 and under free.
More information at RiverheadRaceway.com
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Maurizio Leschiutta is set to step down as Lamborghini’s head of motorsport at the end of the calendar year.
Leschiutta (pictured above) will depart the Italian manufacturer after a short stint. He was originally appointed in mid-January to succeed Giorgio Sanna and oversee its GT and prototype efforts (although the SC63 program was paused after its partial season campaign in IMSA GTP), following his time spent at BMW working as project leader for its M Hybrid V8 LMDh program.
Rouven Mohr, the chief technical officer at Lamborghini, will assume the role of head of motorsport once again until the position is filled.
“During his tenure, Maurizio made a significant contribution to the sporting success of Lamborghini Squadra Corse during the 2025 season,” a statement from Lamborghini read. “Among the highlights, the team celebrated a historic overall victory in the 24 Hours of Spa, achieved together with Grasser Racing Team and Lamborghini factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler and Jordan Pepper.
“Beyond on-track success, Leschiutta also led the development of the new Lamborghini Temerario GT3 and Temerario Super Trofeo cars. These important projects will see their respective debuts at the 12 Hours of Sebring in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in 2026, and in the European, North American and Asian Super Trofeo championships starting in 2027, respectively.
“Lamborghini would like to sincerely thank Maurizio Leschiutta for the commitment, professionalism and dedication shown during his year with Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Lamborghini wishes him all the best for his future professional endeavors.”
The SCCA Foundation is embarking on an initiative in an effort to guarantee that future generations will be able to enjoy the thrill of amateur motorsports. That’s why Bob Crawford, chairman of SCCA’s Board of Directors (BoD), announced the appointment of Clay Turner as the new SCCA Foundation Executive Director. He and Foundation Chairman Jeff Jacobs are now charged with driving the non-profit’s bold mission of making opportunities in amateur motorsports accessible to all, now and for generations to come.
Turner, a 25-year member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and current member of SCCA’s BoD, brings extensive leadership experience and business acumen to this pivotal role, as well as a deep passion for motorsports. A seasoned competitor, he was elected to SCCA’s 13-member BoD in 2021 as the Area 8 representative after previously holding several leadership positions at SCCA’s Regional level.
“SCCA Foundation can play a larger role in preserving, protecting and expanding amateur motorsports,” Turner said. “We envision a vibrant future–one where the thrill of competition, the spirit of community, and the legacy of excellence are passed on to the next generation of drivers, volunteers and leaders. As a Club, SCCA is uniquely positioned to pass along a legacy of excellence built by racing legends, ensuring the thrill of competition and spirit of community continues to inspire future generations to experience the rush of auto racing competition.”
Created in 1986, SCCA Foundation’s original signatories included Paul Newman, Carl Haas and former ACCUS-FIA President Nick Craw. As an SCCA support organization, the non-profit Foundation has nearly four decades of service to the Club through its education, training and development efforts.
For more information or to support the Foundation’s endeavors, visit sccafoundation.org.
For more on the SCCA, visit scca.com.
Motorsports
NASCAR’s tragic ties to aviation crashes stretch back decades before Greg Biffle’s death
Aviation crashes have taken the lives of some of NASCAR’s most notable drivers, including Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR icon Greg Biffle was killed in a plane crash at the Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday, along with his wife, two children, and three others.
Biffle was a 19-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner and was the first driver to win a championship in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2002) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000).
NASCAR drivers spend their careers racing at speeds sometimes in excess of 200 mph, pushing their cars to the limit in dangerous conditions. The sport has dramatically increased safety standards in recent years, with zero deaths in NASCAR’s top three series since Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death in 2001, but the risks still remain.
In a sport highlighted by breakneck speeds and death-defying crashes, aviation crashes away from the race track have seemed all too common over the years.
Biffle’s death is the latest plane crash to shake the NASCAR community, but it is far from the first.
RELATED: ‘More than a champion’ | NASCAR issues statement following Greg Biffle’s plane crash death
Hendrick Motorsports disaster (2004)
Ten people connected to Hendrick Motorsports were killed in a Virginia plane crash on Oct. 24, 2004. The plane was headed for Martinsville Speedway when it crashed into a mountain due to foggy conditions.
Four of team-owner Rick Hendrick’s family members were killed in the crash, including his son Ricky Hendrick, brother John Hendrick, and nieces Kimberly and Jennifer. Engine-builder Randy Dorton, team executive Jeff Turner, DuPont executive Joe Jackson, pilots Elizabeth Morrison and Richard Tracey, and Scott Latham, one of Tony Stewart’s pilots, also died in the crash.
Alan Kulwicki (1993)
1992 NASCAR Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki died when his plane lost power on April 1, 1993, in Tennessee while headed to Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kulwicki, along with Hooters executives Mark Brooks and Dan Duncan, and the pilot Charles Campbell, died in the crash.
Kulwicki won five NASCAR Cup Series races and captured the 1992 title as an owner-driver in an epic underdog story.
Kulwicki was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.
Davey Allison (1993)
Just three months after Kulwicki’s death, Davey Allison died in a helicopter crash on July 12, 1993, near Talladega Superspeedway.
Allison was attempting to land the helicopter when it crashed. Red Farmer, a NASCAR Hall of Fame member, was also on board but survived the crash.
Allison narrowly lost the 1992 championship and was one of the sport’s brightest young drivers at the time of his death. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.
Curtis Turner (1970)
Curtis Turner, one of NASCAR’s earliest stars, was killed in a crash on Oct. 4, 1970, in Pennsylvania. Turner was piloting the small plane when it crashed shortly after takeoff. Golfer Clarence King was also killed in the crash.
Turner competed in the first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1949, which was held in Charlotte. He raced until the late 1960s, winning 17 races in the series.
Turner and Bruton Smith teamed up to build Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1959.
He was scheduled for a one-off race in the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which happened days after his death.
RELATED: At least two pilots were on Greg Biffle’s plane that crashed in Statesville, records show
Mike Stefanik (2019)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour legend Mike Stefanik died in a Connecticut plane crash on Sept. 15, 2019.
Stefanik was flying alone from Rhode Island when the plane suffered mechanical problems and crashed.
Stefanik won the Modified Tour championship seven times and is one of the series’ greatest drivers.
In 2022, Stefanik was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He was listed as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Ted Christopher (2017)
Another modified icon lost their life in a plane crash. Ted Christopher died in a New York crash on Sept. 16, 2017.
Christopher was headed for a race at Riverhead Raceway when the plane he was in suffered fuel starvation, causing it to crash. Christopher and the plane’s pilot were killed in the crash.
Christopher won the 2008 Modified Tour championship and 42 races in the series.
Richie Panch (1985)
Richie Panch and three others died on Sept. 1, 1985, when their plane came apart mid-air during a heavy storm system in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
Panch made 47 NASCAR Cup Series starts, scoring 11 top 10s. He finished 14th in the 1974 season, his only full-time year. Panch was the son of 17-time Cup Series race winner Marvin Panch, who won the 1961 Daytona 500.
RELATED: ‘We are devastated’ | Families of Biffle, others killed in plane crash release joint statement
Non-fatal crashes
Some NASCAR personnel have miraculously survived aviation crashes.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2019)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife Amy, and their daughter Isla survived after their private plane crashed near the Elizabeth Municipal Airport in Tennessee on Aug. 15, 2019.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated that the pilot’s inability to maintain proper airspeed, along with a decision to continue an unstable approach, led to the crash.
The plane went through a chain-link fence before coming to rest on the edge of Tennessee Highway 91. Unable to escape through an emergency exit door above the wing, Earnhardt and his family managed to get out through the main cabin door as the plane caught fire, according to witness statements.
Earnhardt won 26 NASCAR Cup Series races and was a two-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion. He won the NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award 15 times in the Cup Series, one shy of the all-time record. Earnhardt is the son of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. Earnhardt Jr.
Jack Roush (2002, 2010)
The primary owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Jack Roush, survived two plane crashes.
The first one happened on April 19, 2002. Roush was piloting a single-seat plane that hit a power line and fell into a lake in Troy, Alabama. A witness saved Roush from the lake, pulling him from the lake and administering CPR. Roush suffered broken ribs, a shattered leg, and head injuries, but survived. The man who saved him suffered chemical burns during the rescue.
O July 27, 2010, Roush crashed a private jet he piloted. The NTSB said Roush did not advance the engines to takeoff power, causing an aerodynamic stall. Roush escaped alive but suffered a broken jaw, fractured back, and a loss of vision in his left eye.
Roush started RFK Racing in 1988 under the name Roush Racing. The team has been one of the sport’s most successful teams over the last three decades, winning two Cup Series championships and 143 races.
Rick Hendrick (2011)
Rick and Linda Hendrick suffered minor injuries after their private jet ran off the runway at the Key West International Airport on Nov. 1, 2011.
The aircraft had no brakes when it landed on the runway, leading to the crash.
Hendrick runs Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful team in NASCAR’s history. The team has won 15 Cup Series championships and 320 races, both of which are records.
Bill Elliott (1987)
A year before winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship, Bill Elliott nearly lost his life during a demonstration flight in a Georgia Air National Guard fighter.
Elliott was in an F-16 fighter jet after filming a promotional video for the Georgia National Guard. The jet collided with an F-15 fighter jet. The plane Elliott was on landed safely while heavily damaged. The pilot of the other plane safely ejected.
Elliott won the 1988 NASCAR Cup Series title, 44 races, and a record 16 Most Poular Driver awards.
Motorsports
Indian Supercross Racing League Team Indewheelers Motorsports onboards Apollo Techno Industries as Title Sponsor
Pune: Indewheelers Motorsports, one of the franchise teams competing in the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), has announced Apollo Techno Industries Ltd. as its Title Sponsor for the upcoming season. Following this association, the team will now compete under the name Apollo Indewheelers Motorsports, marking a significant milestone in its journey within India’s premier Supercross championship.
The collaboration brings together two brands driven by a shared commitment to engineering excellence and performance. As the ISRL continues to evolve into a world-class motorsport property, the partnership strengthens Indewheelers Motorsports’ competitive positioning while providing Apollo Techno Industries with a high-impact platform to engage with India’s rapidly growing motorsport and two-wheeler enthusiast community.
Commenting on the partnership, Vikram Dhar, Founder, Indewheelers Motorsports, said, “We are delighted to welcome Apollo as the Title Sponsor of our team. This partnership is a strong endorsement of what we are building at Indewheelers Motorsports, an organization driven by performance and a long-term vision for motorsports in India. With Apollo’s support, we are confident of elevating our on-track competitiveness while creating deeper fan engagement through the ISRL platform.”
Sharing his thoughts on the association, Parth Rashmikant Patel, MD, Apollo Techno Industries Ltd., said, “Motorsport is a true test of technology, endurance, and teamwork, and Indewheelers Motorsports embodies all of these elements. Partnering as the Title Sponsor aligns perfectly with Apollo’s vision of supporting high-performance platforms and inspiring the next generation of riders and racers. We are excited to see Apollo Indewheelers Motorsports compete and succeed across championships.”
Earlier this season, Indewheelers Motorsports also received backing from leading infrastructure brand Arabian Coast. Commenting on the development, Jacob Varghese, Director, Arabian Coast, said, “This partnership brings together two strong brands with a shared passion for motorsports and high performance. Indewheelers Motorsports has consistently demonstrated professionalism, competitive spirit, and strong brand value. Apollo’s association as Title Sponsor further elevates the team’s stature and opens up exciting opportunities for fan engagement, visibility, and long-term growth.”
The partnership reflects the growing confidence of leading Indian brands in ISRL’s franchise-based model, which combines elite international racing standards with high-energy fan experiences and strong regional team identities. As Apollo Indewheelers Motorsports gears up for the upcoming races, the collaboration is expected to unlock new avenues for fan engagement and sustained growth within India’s evolving motorsports ecosystem.
The ISRL now heads to Kozhikode, Kerala, for the Grand Finale on December 21, 2025, at the EMS Corporation Stadium, in the presence of superstar Salman Khan, promising the most intense championship showdown of the season.
Tickets for the ISRL Season Finale are available on BookMyShow. Fans can also follow the action live and on-demand on FanCode, watch broadcasts on Eurosport India, and tune in globally via the Indian Supercross Racing League’s official YouTube channel, while joining the conversation on social media using #FlirtWithDirt.
Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 5:26 p.m. ET
The motorsports world is mourning the tragic death of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family on Thursday.
Biffle and three members of his family died on Thursday in a plane crash while the business jet they were flying in attempted to land in Statesville, North Carolina. Seven people died in the plane crash, including Biffle, his wife Cristina and his son and daughter. The three others on board were Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
The families of the seven people killed released a statement on Thursday afternoon regarding the tragic plane crash:
We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words.
Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders).
Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.
Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them.
Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him.
Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.
We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time.
At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another.
NASCAR also released its own statement regarding the death of Biffle and his family.
As the shocking news reverberated throughout the motorsports world, NASCAR drivers took to social media to mourn Biffle, his family and the others on board the tragic plane crash.
From Daytona to Indy to Watkins Glen, NBC Sports will present more than 160 hours of IMSA coverage in 2026, headlined by the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN.
NBC Sports’ 2026 IMSA schedule includes over 15 hours of live coverage on NBC broadcast network and over 160 hours on Peacock, with over 140 hours exclusively on Peacock. Notable races on the WeatherTech Championship schedule include the historic 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25, Six Hours of The Glen on June 28, the Battle on the Bricks from famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sept. 20, and the season finale Petit Le Mans from Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Oct. 3.
NBC’s live coverage includes the start and finish of January’s Rolex 24 At Daytona; flag-to-flag coverage of the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18; Detroit Grand Prix on May 3; GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway on Aug. 23; September’s Battle on the Bricks; and the opening hours of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans in October.
Additionally, a special 2026 season preview show will be presented on Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. A 2026 season review special will also be presented on NBC and Peacock on Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Peacock will serve as the streaming home of the WeatherTech Championship with flag-to-flag live coverage of all races as well as exclusive coverage of qualifying and portions of select endurance races, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Six Hours of The Glen, and Twelve Hours of Sebring.
NBCSN, NBC Sports’ recently-launched 24/7 linear network featuring a wide range of marquee sporting events and programming, will present simulstreamed coverage of select races this season, including the final portions of the Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans as well as the entire race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Peacock will once again present live coverage of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and IMSA-sanctioned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Ford Mustang Challenge, and Porsche Carrera Cup races in 2026.
NBC Sports’ motorsports play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey – the “Voice of Speed” – will lead IMSA coverage, along with 1990 Rolex 24 winner and former IMSA GT driver Calvin Fish (analyst) and former CART Championship Car driver Brian Till (analyst).
Below is NBC Sports’ 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule:
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