Penske IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin will race a Chevrolet Corvette at Suzuka next month to tick off what he is calling a “bucket list” ambition.

The New Zealander will drive a Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the Malaysian Johore Motorsports Racing team in the Suzuka 1000Km round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge on 14 September to fulfil his dream.

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“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the JMR team heading to Suzuka for the 1000Km,” said McLaughlin, who races a Chevrolet-powered Dallara DW12 for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series.

“I’ve always wanted to race Suzuka, and it’s a bucket list track for me.”

McLaughlin will share the JMR Pro class entry with Chevrolet factory drivers Alexander Sims and Nicky Catsburg, who he described as his “General Motors friends” and “two amazing Corvette racers”.

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Suzuka, round four of a series that incorporates the 24-hour classics at Spa and the Nurburgring, will be McLaughlin’s second race appearance at the wheel of Corvette Z06 GT3.R.

#91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ben Keating, Connor Zilisch, Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen

He drove one of Pratt & Miller-developed racers at the Daytona 24 Hours in January, the opening round of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, fielded by NASCAR Cup entrant Trackhouse Racing and run by TF Sport.

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McLaughlin’s CV has encompassed sportscar appearances in LMP2 in IMSA since he switched to IndyCars from the V8 Supercars Series in Australia at the end of 2020.

He won LMP2 and finished third overall at the 2023 Sebring 12 Hours driving a Tower Motorsports ORECA-Gibson 07.

His sportscar credits also include a victory at the Bathurst 12 Hours at the wheel of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in 2016.

JMR, a regular in the GT World Challenge Asia, will field a pair of Corvettes at the Suzuka IGTC fixture.

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A car is being fielded in Pro-Am for Malaysian princes Jefri Ibrahim and Abu Bakar Ibrahim, who will share with Finn GT specialist Konsta Lappalainen.

The IGTC is returning to Suzuka this year for the first time since 2019 after which the fixture fell victim to the COVID pandemic.

In its previous two editions, 2018 and ’19, the Suzuka round was a 10-hour race but this year the late summer endurance fixture dating back to 1966 is returning to its traditional 1000km format.

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The maximum duration of the race has been extended from six to six-and-a-half hours in an attempt to ensure the full distance is achieved. A 30-car entry has been received for the event.

Read Also:

Here’s a teaser of the sportscar that could become Mercedes’ next GT3 model

The Chinese Phantom Global Racing Porsche is reviving the ‘pink pig’ livery for Suzuka.

Its Porsche 911 GT3-R shared by factory drivers Klaus Bachler and Patric Niederhauser, along with Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific-contracted Dorian Boccolacci, will race in the colours first seen on a 917/20 at the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours.

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The factory revived a livery that features the names in German of the different butcher’s cuts of pork for one of the four entries that made up its 2018 Le Mans GTE Pro assault.

Phantom Global Racing Porsche livery

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia University has landed sponsorship that will include carrying its logos aboard a NASCAR truck this Friday, the school said.

Grant County Mulch has been announced as the official mulch supplier of WVU Athletics in a multi-year deal, according to a news release from WVU Athletics.

To celebrate the partnership, Grant County Mulch will carry WVU’s logos in a special paint scheme driven by NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Grant Enfinger and CR7 Motorsports, for which Grant County Mulch is a primary sponsor.

The truck will hit the track on Friday night at Richmond Raceway.

“We are very excited to welcome Grant County Mulch as the Official Mulch Supplier of WVU Athletics and to partner with them on the CR7 Motorsports entry in the upcoming NCTS race at Richmond,” Matt Wells, WVU’s Deputy Director of Athletics for External Affairs, said. “Grant County Mulch is a family-owned, West Virginia-based company whose history and brand fit perfectly with WVU Athletics.”

Among other benefits, the partnership includes awarding a “Tough as Mulch” Player of the Game by Mountaineer Sports Network for both football and men’s basketball games.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with WVU Athletics,” Larry and Janie Berg, founders of Grant County Mulch, said. “Both of us — and our parents — were born and raised in West Virginia, so this partnership means more than business to us. It’s about honoring our roots, supporting our home state, and being part of something that represents the pride and spirit of West Virginians everywhere.”

Grant County Mulch’s corporate office is in Petersburg, West Virginia. Coincidentally, CR7 Motorsports team owner Codie Rohrbaugh, a former driver himself, was also born in Petersburg.

Enfinger is a Truck Series veteran with 12 career wins. The 40-year-old clinched his spot in the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series playoffs last week at Watkins Glen International.

Those who are interested in seeing Enfinger’s No. 9 WVU-themed Grant County Mulch truck can tune into the eero 250 at Richmond Raceway, set to take place Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports 1.

IMSA Michelin GT Challenge and ‘Virginia is for Racing Lovers’ Grand Prix to return Aug. 22– 24, 2025, to Historic Alton, VA Track for 25th Anniversary Celebration. Final Race to be  broadcast live on three national television networks 

DANVILLE, Va. (Aug 12, 2025) – VIRginia International Raceway is revving up for the  IMSA Michelin GT Challenge & Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, to be held from  Friday, August 22, 2025, to Sunday, August 24, 2025.  

Beginning Friday, August 22, 2025, fans from around the globe will once again rally at the historic track in Alton, VA to witness high-performance drivers battling for this year’s championship title. Five challenges will culminate with the flagship race, the Michelin GT  Challenge, rocking the nation as everyone’s eyes will be focused on the fastest-growing series in motorsports. 

This adrenaline-fueled weekend starts with practice laps and qualifying rounds early  Friday morning and will continue throughout the weekend. The featured race of the will be the Michelin GT Challenge, which will take place on Sunday, August 24, from 2:10 p.m. to  4:50 p.m. and will be live broadcast on three national networks: USA, NBC, and Peacock.  This is a live event and all race times are approximate and subject to shift based on evolving conditions and considerations. 

Other weekend events will include:

• Virginia is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix – part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot  Challenge series 

• Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin – a signature spec for Mazda  motorsports, where cars are deconstructed and transformed into racecars • Mustang Challenge – a race where drivers up to FIA silver ratings compete on a  level playing field against other Mustang Dark Horse R cars 

• VP Racing SportsCar Challenge – a multi-class sprint racing series including P3  prototypes and GT3 and GT4 production car racing 

• Guest Karting on the VIR Track 

• Live Musical Performances at the Oak Tree Tavern 

• The Coca Cola Camping Contest – with $2,000 in participant prizes 

Fans will enjoy exclusive, up-close experiences with both cars and drivers all weekend long—no extra passes required! The North Paddock will be open to foot traffic, giving attendees an insider’s look at the iconic machines and the teams that run them. Fan walks on Pit Road will be happening Saturday and Sunday, and autograph sessions are scheduled or Saturday from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. 

The National Anthem will once again be performed by Tazewell County native, Noah  Spencer (Season 24 of NBC’s The Voice), and The Hitachi Energy Fireworks Extravaganza will take place Saturday evening. Spencer will also perform at Oak Tree Tavern throughout the weekend. Participants in the overnight Coca Cola Camping Contest must camp on-site from August 22-24 and fill out an entrance form to qualify. Participants can choose a theme  or “make it random.”  

“The momentum of IMSA and the excitement surrounding this event during our 25th  anniversary year is really evident,” Connie Nyholm, VIR Co-Founder and CEO said. “IMSA is bringing in top teams and drawing spectators from around the globe to help us celebrate. It looks like we are going to have a really impressive turn out with lots of first-time spectators. I have no doubt it’s going to be an unforgettable weekend.” 

All tickets for the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge and Virginia is for Racing Lovers weekend at VIRginia International Raceway are available now at www.virnow.com.

Car enthusiasts who want to gain access to special parking, parade laps, and shaded seating are invited to purchase advanced Car Corrals tickets, on sale now. (Tickets are limited to  Corvette, BMW, Mustang, and Porsche Cars).  

Limited tickets for the Oak Tree VIP Club Package are also available for purchase, which include top-tier amenities, an unobstructed view of the course, VIP private parking, and a catered lunch and open bar on Saturday and Sunday. 

About VIRginia International Raceway 

VIRginia International Raceway is one of America’s premier road courses, offering professional and amateur racing for modern and vintage classes while providing contemporary resort amenities. A prominent test facility for the automotive industry, VIR  has the distinction of being named one of the top six courses in North America by Car and  Driver Magazine, and southern roots and hospitality named it one of the friendliest.  Conveniently located at the Virginia/North Carolina border, VIR is centrally located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic with 15 million people within 150 miles. 

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of VIRginia International Raceway’s re-birth in 2000. The anniversary is celebrated with its Summer of Racing, a season jam-packed with intense racing and cutting-edge cars. SRO GT World Challenge, MotoAmerica Superbikes,  and IMSA Michelin GT Challenge are all highlighted in the 2025 summer schedule.  

VIR’s historic full course is 3.27 miles and is known as a “bucket list” track for road racers all over the world. It features 130 feet of elevation change and 17 challenging curves,  including the “climbing esses,” an iconic part of the course that is considered to be one of  the most challenging in North America. Drivers typically reach top speeds of 190 miles per hour, and their bodies endure more than 2Gs of force. 

The upcoming race weekend at VIRginia International Raceway includes various IMSA  series races, car corrals, a skid pad, a kart track, and camping opportunities. 

For more information, visit www.VIRnow.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

About the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 

The International Motorsports Association (IMSA) is the North American auto racing sanctioning body based in Daytona Beach, Florida. Owned by NASCAR, IMSA produces the  WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, its flagship North America-based series, which features a variety of race cars across multiple classes that compete at iconic tracks.  

The championship features two styles of cars – Prototype, which showcases the latest automotive technology and is uniquely designed for the racetrack, and Grand Touring,  which is based on road-going production models. IMSA also manages other racing series, including the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. 

IMSA’s flagship series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, competes at 11 of  North America’s leading sports car venues. Competition takes place in four classes – Grand  Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), and GT  Daytona (GTD) – and brings together renowned drivers with leading manufacturers for some of the world’s biggest sports car events, such as the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1  Twelve Hours of Sebring. The current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the result of a merger between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series in 2014.

The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR is part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar  Championship and features GTD Pro and GTD class cars. The Virginia is for Racing Lovers  Grand Prix is part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and features GS and TCR class cars.  

Learn more at IMSA.com and join the conversation with #IMSA.

Connor Zilisch’s road to recovery has taken a step forward, with the 19-year-old NASCAR prodigy having undergone surgery on a broken collarbone on Tuesday.

The Xfinity Series leader and driver of the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet suffered the bone break as he celebrated his win at Watkins Glen on Saturday. After climbing out of the window of his car and up onto the roof to celebrate, his leg slipped back into the cockpit, causing him to fall.

Strechered away and transported to a local hospital, Zilisch was cleared of any head injuries, although his left collarbone was less fortunate. Luckily for the youngster, this may not derail his title chase, with teammate Shane van Gisbergen having given an insight into his own experience racing shortly after breaking his collarbone in 2021.

Fast forward to Tuesday, Zilisch, who has six race wins this season, including four in the last five races, took to social media to update his fans, having recently undergone surgery. “Wanted to give everyone a quick update,” he wrote.

“Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped. Thank you.”

While it would be easy for Zilisch’s spirits to be low given the circumstances, including the fact that his injury caused him to miss a valuable Cup Series start for Trackhouse Racing, the Red Bull-sponsored athlete and Formula 1 hopeful was able to see the funny side of things.

In a separate social media post, he shared a photo of his hospital wrist band reading “Fall Risk,” captioning the snap, “The bracelet I got in the hospital this morning bc of anesthesia. Can’t make this stuff up.”

This came after Zilisch detailed the incident on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, where he revealed his equally hilarious immediate response to realizing the severity of his injury following his fall. While he had been “talking gibberish” to the medics, “The first words that came out of my mouth that were legitimate were, ‘God, everyone’s going to think I’m a p—-y.’ Cause I was like, ‘Why am I on a stretcher right now? I feel fine.’ I didn’t realize what had happened.”

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Exactly when Zilisch could return behind the wheel remains unclear. However, the Xfinity Series is not set to race again until the Wawa 250 at Daytona on August 22.

Now with a plate in place, if van Gisbergen’s experiences are any sign of what is to come for Zilisch, a return at Daytona could be on the cards. “Once the plate is in there, it’s stronger than the bone was,” the New Zealander, who won Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, explained.

“I’d get a plate put in and then take it out at the end of the year. It is obviously going to be in pain.

“My biggest problem was the tightening of the belts. I could really feel the plate through my skin, and it was a horrible feeling. But I raced the next week and did pretty well. So, with some good doctors and some good drugs, he’ll get through the race fine.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond for the Cook Out 400.

When it comes to the odds, bettors can also dive into that action and place wagers on which driver they think has what it takes to win outright.

Last weekend at Watkins Glen, Shane van Gisbergen got into victory lane with win No. 4 on the season. For this weekend’s race at Richmond, Denny Hamlin has opened as the slight favorite at +400 over Christopher Bell, who’s second on the board at +450.

Who will take the checkered flag at the Cook Out? Let’s dive into the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Aug. 13.

Cook Out 400 Richmond 2025

Denny Hamlin: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Christopher Bell: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Kyle Larson: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
William Byron: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Joey Logano: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Ryan Blaney: +1100 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Chase Briscoe: +1100 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Chase Elliott: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Brad Keselowski: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Chris Buescher: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Ross Chastain: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Tyler Reddick: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Kyle Busch: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Austin Dillon: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Bubba Wallace: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Ty Gibbs: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Josh Berry: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Carson Hocevar: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Ryan Preece: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Alex Bowman: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Daniel Suarez: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Austin Cindric: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total)
Corey Heim: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Erik Jones: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
John Hunter Nemechek: +16000 (bet $10 to win $1,610 total)
Noah Gragson: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Michael McDowell: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
AJ Allmendinger: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)
Zane Smith: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Shane van Gisbergen: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total)
Todd Gilliland: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)
Jesse Love: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)
Justin Haley: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)
Cole Custer: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total)
Ty Dillon: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Riley Herbst: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Cody Ware: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)

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During the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. responded to Kyle Petty’s viral clip lobbying support for the NASCAR Next Gen car, in which Petty said NASCAR has not raced ‘stock cars’ since “about 1958.”

Following a difficult showing for NASCAR’s Generation Seven race car at Iowa Speedway, last week’s episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, featured the second-generation driver discussing his issues with NASCAR’s current Cup Series car.

During this rant, Earnhardt voiced his frustration with aspects of the car that many deem untraditional, such as a rear diffuser, single lug-nut wheels, and better brakes. Perhaps the most heated quote from this rant was Earnahrdt saying, “I don’t love the Next Gen car…. It’s an IMSA car. It’s a sports car.”

“I want to say that I don’t love the Next Gen car, but it’s here. I don’t love the Next Gen car…. It’s an IMSA car. It’s a sports car. It’s got a diffuser. It’s got low-profile tires, it’s got big rims and big brakes. It’s a sports car. It’s not a NASCAR stock car, but it’s here. Everybody’s invested. There’s millions of dollars already way down the road and the car’s here. It’s on the track. It’s not changing. It’s not going anywhere… It doesn’t do me any good to sit here and bitch about the f****** lack of tire fall off or the inability to pass. It’s frustrating.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr., The Dale Jr. Download, Aug 5

These words echoed into yet another lackluster showing for the car at Watkins Glen, and, unsurprisingly, Earnhardt’s comment re-emerged, this time via an unlikely source.

During the Aug. 11 episode of PRN’s Fast Talk, fellow second-generation racer Kyle Petty responded to Earnhardt, saying that he doesn’t feel like the Hall of Famer’s comments are “deserved,” and “we have not raced stock cars since about 1958,” Petty said. “We don’t race stock cars. We race NASCARs.”

People have always resisted modernizing the NASCAR stock car platform, but Petty claimed that the Gen Seven car is “years ahead” of the “antiquated” cars of the past. The 65-year-old closed by saying, “We’re seeing some spectacular stuff on the racetrack, and I think it’s only gonna get better.”

During this week’s episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt responded to Petty, saying, “I really, really respect Kyle, I think the world of him, and I appreciate his opinion,” Earnhardt said. “But I would just disagree that the car doesn’t produce what I expect.”

Earnhardt again mounted his soapbox, suggesting that if he had a say in fixing the car, he would continue searching for the right changes to “achieve f****** amazing great racing” at short tracks and road courses.

“Again, going back 75 years, I know Kyle’s been around a long time, the car doesn’t produce the kind of racing that I know we are capable of at road courses and short tracks,” Earnhardt said. “The car does not produce the type of racing that I think should be our standard, and I know what we’re capable of at road courses and short tracks; and I would not stop at trying to achieve f****** amazing great racing at those style tracks.”

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