By Elaine Briseño ( July 2, 2025, 11:41 PM EDT) — The first half of 2025 saw the dispute between NASCAR and two of its teams become supercharged and a judge give final approval to the disputed settlement for the NCAA name, image and likeness antitrust litigation….
Motorsports
Daniel Suarez optimistic, “not sad” about Trackhouse split
On Tuesday, Trackhouse Racing announced that the team’s original driver — Daniel Suarez — will not return in 2026 as the driver of the No. 99 Chevrolet. Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Suarez said of the news: “I want to make sure that you guys and the people listening know that I’m not sad. This is […]

On Tuesday, Trackhouse Racing announced that the team’s original driver — Daniel Suarez — will not return in 2026 as the driver of the No. 99 Chevrolet.
Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Suarez said of the news: “I want to make sure that you guys and the people listening know that I’m not sad. This is not sad. This is just a new chapter. That’s all it is … This is not a sad moment. It’s just a change and it happens.”
Suarez also revealed that this decision did not happen suddenly, adding: “This is not something new for me. I have known about this for a while and it just happens to be official today (Tuesday). I’m actually a little bit relieved that this is out and people know about it and we can talk about it and we can move forward with future plans and continue to work. I’m excited for whatever comes next.”
Suarez went on to talk about how thankful he is for his time with the organization, making it clear that there is no ill will between the two parties. “It’s just a change. I love Trackhouse. I love everyone there. There’s a lot of great people there, a lot of people I consider my family.”

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Photo by: Krista Jasso / Getty Images
When Trackhouse originally formed as a single-car team in 2021, they signed Suarez, who had previously raced for large organizations such as Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing. In both situations, he was let go to make room for another driver.
At Trackhouse, Suarez became a winner in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time, but the past five years have not been without their struggles. Trackhouse also has a rising star in Connor Zilisch waiting in the wings, and he’s a driver many rival teams would be happy to snatch up. While no announcement has been made, it’s expected that Zilisch will be called upon to replace Suarez at Trackhouse.
In this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Daniel Suarez
Trackhouse Racing Team
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Motorsports
Allmendinger Eyes Chicago With Road Course Grit And Dad Perspective
AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 02: AJ Allmendinger (#16 Kaulig Racing Celsius Chevrolet) acknowledges fans … More during driver introductionsbefore the NASCAR Cup Series Echo Park Automotive Grand Prix on March 2, 2025, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images There […]

AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 02: AJ Allmendinger (#16 Kaulig Racing Celsius Chevrolet) acknowledges fans … More
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There are drivers who show up to a NASCAR race quietly optimistic. And then there’s A.J. Allmendinger — the guy who shows up at the track looking like he’s ready to win or fight someone trying to stop him.
Or possibly both.
Heading into this weekend’s Grant Park 165 on the streets of Chicago, Allmendinger brings with him all the usual ingredients: a scrappy underdog mentality, a resume packed with road course success, and the kind of raw honesty that makes every interview feel like a confessional. Add to that a new layer of perspective thanks to fatherhood — and yes, a steady supply of CELSIUS energy drinks — and you’ve got one of the most intriguing storylines in the Cup Series garage.
A Season Of Progress — And Realism
“I think it’s a glass half full,” Allmendinger says, reflecting on his season so far with Kaulig Racing. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to have realistic expectations. We show up every week trying to win and make the playoffs and win the championship — that’s the pinnacle.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 01: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 Celsius Chevrolet, drives during … More
Getty Images
“But we also have an understanding of where we’re at right now as an organization, where the team was at, at this point last year and the gains that we’ve made.”
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Two blown motors, a couple of disappointing road course races — rare for a driver with his pedigree — and the usual grind of life in NASCAR’s top series have tested the team. But the bigger picture? There’s progress.
“We’ve made a lot of gains from where we were last year,” he adds. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel… and for once it doesn’t feel like it’s a train coming back at you.”
Fatherhood: The Ultimate Reset Button
As fierce as Allmendinger remains behind the wheel, life at home has added some welcome chaos — and maybe, just maybe, a little perspective; chaos thanks in part to his son Aero, who will be two in September.
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 09: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 Celsius Chevrolet, spends time … More
Getty Images
“If you listen to my radio, I’m still as fiery as ever,” he laughs. “But I feel like I’m still getting better. That fire of proving it to myself every weekend is what keeps pushing me.”
The biggest change? What happens after a tough day at the office.
“My wife, Tara, is amazing — she’s basically taking care of two kids, me included,” Allmendinger jokes. “But you get home after a bad day, frustrated, sad, all of it… and Aero doesn’t care. He just wants to play and jump on you. That part of it makes the bad weekends a little easier.”
Street Circuits: A Different Animal
Given his three career Cup wins have all come on road courses, you’d expect Allmendinger to circle Chicago’s street race as a golden opportunity. But the 12-turn concrete jungle that snakes through Grant Park has been anything but predictable.
“The street course definitely changes my confidence level — Chicago hasn’t helped it at all,” he admits. “The first year, we completely missed it — the car bounced around like crazy. Last year, we were just lost in practice and qualifying, but with the weather, we drove through the field and had a shot.”
This year? Still a question mark.
“It’s a tricky track — rough, technical, you’ve got to balance mechanical grip and aero grip perfectly. I’ve done all the studying I can. Now we’ll see if I can be better when we unload.”
The Elusive Oval Win
For all the road course glory, that first Cup oval win remains on Allmendinger’s to-do list — a challenge he embraces, even if it comes with the usual NASCAR frustrations.
“It’s hard,” he says bluntly. “You’ve got to have a good car — doesn’t matter if it’s an oval or road course, but on ovals, it’s even more critical to hit everything right.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 07: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #13 Benesch Chevrolet, drives after an … More
Getty Images
Tracks like Dover or Las Vegas give him hope. Short tracks? A surprising struggle.
“It’s weird because I’ve always loved short tracks,” he says. “But with this car, we’ve struggled there. If we knew why, we’d fix it already.”
For now, it’s about maximizing every opportunity, one weekend at a time.
“There are ovals you circle on the calendar and say, ‘We can win here.’ Others? You run top 15 that’s a that’s almost a win.”
The CELSIUS Factor: More Than Just A Sponsor
In a sport where sponsor logos change as often as tires, having a partner like CELSIUS stick with him through the ups and downs is more than just a marketing win — it’s personal.
“When I first joined Kaulig Racing, there was a little fridge in the corner with CELSIUS in it,” Allmendinger recalls. “Honestly, I’d never even seen the stuff before.”
Fast forward seven years, and both the driver and the brand have grown together — with plenty of Victory Lane celebrations (and CELSIUS can tosses) along the way.
“It’s a product I actually use daily — training, hydration, energy, golf, you name it,” he says. “That’s what I love about it. With some sponsors, it’s a logo. With CELSIUS, it’s part of my life.”
The Bottom Line
A.J. Allmendinger may not fit the mold of the typical NASCAR Cup Series contender — and he’s just fine with that. Whether it’s battling the unforgiving streets of Chicago, chasing that first elusive oval win, or navigating the joys (and sleep deprivation) of fatherhood, one thing remains constant:
The fire’s still there. The CELSIUS fridge is still stocked. And if the cards fall right, don’t be surprised if Allmendinger is the one spiking another energy drink in Victory Lane.
Motorsports
Previewing the NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Street Race
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the streets of Chicago this weekend for the Grant Park 165. It marks the third annual running of the Chicago Street Race, the lone street circuit Date: July 6, 2025Track: Chicago Street Course (Chicago, Illinois)Time: 2:00 p.m. ET TV: TNTStages: 20/45/75Defending Winner: Alex Bowman Date Time Session TV Sat., […]

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the streets of Chicago this weekend for the Grant Park 165. It marks the third annual running of the Chicago Street Race, the lone street circuit
Date: July 6, 2025
Track: Chicago Street Course (Chicago, Illinois)
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Stages: 20/45/75
Defending Winner: Alex Bowman
Date |
Time |
Session |
TV |
---|---|---|---|
Sat., July 5 |
1 p.m. ET |
Practice |
truTV |
Sat., July 5 |
2 p.m. ET |
Qualifying |
truTV |
Sun., July 6 |
2 p.m. ET |
Grant Park 165 |
TNT |
The In-Season Challenge Hits the Streets
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge rolls into the second round, with 16 drivers remaining after a chaotic opening race at EchoPark Speedway. The second round creates some intriguing matchups with back-to-back road course races up next for the NASCAR Cup Series.
Tournament. In-Season Tournament Wide Open. dark. Next
With many of the drivers high in the NASCAR Cup Series points or already boasting wins this season collected in calamity at the former Atlanta Motor Speedway, some new faces are shining in the bracket. Competitors such as the bottom two seeds in the tournament, Noah Gragson and Ty Dillon, both scored upsets, now facing Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski, respectively.
The winners in Round 2 move on to the third round on July 13 at Sonoma Raceway, another winding road course that will challenge the quarterfinalists.
An Eye Towards the Skies
In the first two years of the Grant Park 165, weather has been a factor at some point during the race, challenging the NASCAR stars with wet-weather racing. While the forecast has plenty of time to change between now and Sunday, there is the potential for another rainy race day on Sunday.
On the already tight and twisty Chicago Street Course, this adds another layer of difficulty for the drivers in the race. Rain naturally lessens both grip and visibility around the 2.14-mile track.
Shane Van Gisbergen Looks For Another Win
Of course, you can’t go to Chicago without mentioning Shane Van Gisbergen. The New Zealand native announced his presence to the NASCAR audience by winning the inaugural event on the streets of Chicago in 2024.
He parlayed that into an Xfinity Series campaign in 2024, which included, you guessed it, a win at Chicago. Now, he’s contending for Rookie of the Year in the Cup Series with a win under his belt on another road course, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
Can Van Gisbergen add another road course win to his rookie season? Or did Alex Bowman’s win last year show the field has caught up to the international star?
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Motorsports
Tomy Drissi Claims Fourth at Road America in Dramatic Last-Lap Battle
July 3, 2025 Tomy Drissi finished fourth in Saturday’s Trans Am race at Road America after a last-lap pass The result was the best of Drissi’s Trans Am career at Road America, as well as his fifth consecutive top five finish this season Drissi remains third in the championship, extending his advantage over fourth to […]

July 3, 2025
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Tomy Drissi finished fourth in Saturday’s Trans Am race at Road America after a last-lap pass
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The result was the best of Drissi’s Trans Am career at Road America, as well as his fifth consecutive top five finish this season
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Drissi remains third in the championship, extending his advantage over fourth to 13 points
2009 Trans Am champion Tomy Drissi and the Drissi Motorsports team scored their fifth consecutive top-five finish and sixth of the 2025 Trans Am by Pirelli season at Road America on Saturday. In a thrilling three-way fight for fourth place on the last lap, Drissi and the #8 Trench Shoring Company/Motul/Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro came out on top, beating Brandon Jones to the line by just .130 seconds.
Drissi was involved in battles for position throughout the race, but none were more dramatic than the final few laps. He spent the time slashing the gap to fourth place while also facing pressure from a hard-charging Jones behind him. Using the slipstream on Road America’s long straightaways, he made the decisive pass in Turn 5 on the last lap before breaking Jones’ draft off the final corner to defend the spot across the line.
The fourth place run marked Drissi’s career best result at Road America. In 16 previous starts, he had scored multiple fifth place finishes, including in each of the past two years. The result also allowed Drissi to strengthen his hold on third in the TA championship standings, increasing his advantage to 13 points over fourth with five races remaining.
“That was an amazing finish at Road America!” said Drissi. “We definitely had the most exciting battle on track in the closing laps, and I hope the fans were excited with what they saw. We had a really good fight with Brandon Jones for fourth at the end! It was great to be able to score some decent points as we enter the second half of the season too. Thanks to the whole team for their efforts during this busy stretch of the year, all our sponsors, and the fans for their support. We’re going to recharge during the off weekend and come out swinging at Watkins Glen!”
After a well-deserved off weekend, Drissi Motorsports will wrap up the busiest stretch of the season on July 11-13 with a return to Watkins Glen International for Trans Am’s third event in four weeks. Last year, Drissi scored his fourth podium of the season with a third place finish at the historic New York circuit. Click here to buy tickets to watch Tomy race!
To keep up with Tomy Drissi, follow @tomydrissi on Instagram and Facebook, and visit www.tomydrissi.com.
About Tomy Drissi
Tomy Drissi is an American racing driver, multi-time winning IMSA driver, and 2009 Trans Am champion. His driver experience includes ALMS, Trans Am, and NASCAR. He has won many of the most iconic racing events in the world, from the Petit Le Mans to the Long Beach Grand Prix. Tomy leads Drissi Motorsports, one of Trans Am’s most successful race teams, as owner-driver.
Born December 9th in Hollywood, California, Tomy also owns a motion picture creative advertising agency. Drissi’s first racing experience in motorsports was street racing on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills.
Tomy is married to Lacy Livingston Drissi, with two beautiful children, Elin and Jagger.
Follow Tomy Drissi on Social Media:
· Instagram: @tomydrissi
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomydrissi/
· Twitter: @tomydrissi
· TikTok: @tomy_drissi
· Website: https://tomydrissi.com/
About Trench Shoring Company
Whether it’s for a current project – or your next project – Trench Shoring Company should be your 1st choice for shoring equipment, trench safety training and service. For decades, the California & Nevada construction industry has counted on Trench Shoring Company for our extensive construction knowledge, complete inventory and same-day service.
We know every job is different. Our experts are there to help guide your project, train your teams, and ensure your shoring equipment needs are met – starting with offering 13 standard and custom sizes of Steel Trench Plates, as well as Trench Shields™, Hydraulic Shoring, Slide Rail and additional underground equipment.
We know time is money – so we provide same-day service from our twelve convenient locations – Compton, Bakersfield, Banning, Corona, Fresno, Fullerton, Lake Forest, Moorpark, Sacramento, San Diego, San Leandro and Las Vegas, Nevada – all to provide you with what you need when you need it. Trench Shoring Company has consistently handled our customers’ toughest jobs and the most challenging job requirements – with safety, service and customer satisfaction – since our start in 1973.
About Motul
Motul is a world class European company specializing in the formulation, production and distribution of hightech engine lubricants (motorcycles, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its MotulTech activity. Unanimously recognized for more than 170 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognized as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant for automotive engines, the 300V lubricant, making use of Esters technology and issued from the aeronautical industry. Throughout the years, Motul has gained experience as an official supplier to many racing teams and manufacturers and contributes with them to further technological development in motorsports. Motul is supporting those teams in international competitions such as: 24 Hours of Le Mans (cars and motorcycles), FIA World Endurance Championship, Super GT, Drift, Pikes Peak, Japanese championship Super Formula, Blancplan Endurance & Sprint Series, MotoGP, World Superbike, MXGP, Endurance World Championship, Supercross, IOM IT, Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship, F1 Boat and scores of others.
Motorsports
NCAA, NASCAR Antitrust Challenges Permeate 2025’s 1st Half
By Elaine Briseño ( July 2, 2025, 11:41 PM EDT) — The first half of 2025 saw the dispute between NASCAR and two of its teams become supercharged and a judge give final approval to the disputed settlement for the NCAA name, image and likeness antitrust litigation…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. […]

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Motorsports
NASCAR at Chicago Street Course: Key info, links, results for race weekend
The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series head to the Great Lakes this weekend for a stop at the Chicago Street Course for the third time. Bookmark this page and come back often for your race-week essentials — from links to qualifying order, average practice speeds, results and more. RELATED: Full weekend schedule NASCAR Cup Series […]

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series head to the Great Lakes this weekend for a stop at the Chicago Street Course for the third time. Bookmark this page and come back often for your race-week essentials — from links to qualifying order, average practice speeds, results and more.
RELATED: Full weekend schedule
NASCAR Cup Series
Race day: Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on TNT Sports. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.
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Tires: Six sets for the race (five race sets plus one set transferred from qualifying). Teams also have one set for practice, plus six total rain sets for the weekend, if needed.
Entry List
Qualifying Order
Practice Results
Practice Lap Averages
Practice Lap Times
Qualifying Results
Pit Stalls
Stage 1 Results
Stage 2 Results
Race Results
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Race day: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The categories listed below will be filled out with links as the information becomes available.
Tires: Four sets for the race (three race sets plus one set transferred from qualifying). Teams also have two sets for practice, plus four total rain sets for the weekend, if needed.
Entry List
Qualifying Order
Practice Results
Practice Lap Averages
Practice Lap Times
Qualifying Results
Pit Stalls
Stage 1 Results
Stage 2 Results
Race Results
Motorsports
Chase Briscoe returns to Chicago for third NASCAR street race in Grant Park
Chase Briscoe returns to Chicago for third NASCAR street race in Grant Park – CBS Chicago Watch CBS News NASCAR drivers are starting to roll into Chicago ahead of this weekend’s street race in Grant Park. Chase Briscoe has raced in both of the first two races in Chicago, and shared what it’s like racing […]

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