Motorsports

Drivers react to NASCAR’s use of tire packs to enforce track limits

In Mexico City, NASCAR has placed tire packs around the track at the apex of several corners, even adding another one after the first practice session. While drivers may use as much pavement as they want in some areas, such as the exit of the final corner, NASCAR wants to avoid drivers cutting corners. They’ve […]

Published

3 weeks ago

June 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

They’ve also painted yellow lines through the esses, and crossing that line will result in a stop-and-go penalty at a designated location around the track. But the addition of tire packs is a welcomed one for most drivers, who would rather focus on avoiding those than having to worry about the painted lines on the track.

Wallace in favor of tire packs

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

Photo by: Jam Media / Getty Images

“I think it is good for us,” said Bubba Wallace when Motorsport.com asked about the tire packs in a Friday press conference. “Us Cup drivers, we push to find the limits of the race cars and the race tracks, and it seems like we are always revamping the race tracks to meet the driver’s needs – like, well the track needs to be wider here for us. Slow down, slow down and we can make the corner.

“We are taking a race track and making it ‘Cup cars 2.0’ and it doesn’t make sense to me, so I was a big fan of the tire packs. It forces you to stay on the track limits and I spent the majority of my time on the sim, staying tidy and staying on the racing surface, and I think hopefully that pays dividends for when we get on track later. But I’m a big fan of the tire packs, keeping us on line and keeping us on the racing surface.”

NASCAR is also being cautious about placing tire packs in the faster sections of the track. They infamously put a tire pack at the exit of the original Charlotte Roval chicane, which several drivers (including Wallace) clobbered in ugly practice crashes. So far, the tire packs have caused no issues in Mexico City.

Changing the way you approach the corner with tire packs

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott was also asked by a different media outlet about track limits, noting how the tire barriers weren’t there when they practiced on the sim in preparation for this weekend.

“I ran laps (on the sim) where I was really aggressive running off the road and kind of taking advantage of different areas that I felt might be worth a little bit of time. But I would say the majority of laps that I ran, you know by choice, was just really staying inside the lines because I had a feeling that might be a little more of a reality,” said Elliott. “But, you know, there are some areas that I think you’ll take advantage of off the racetrack. I think the tire barriers have, especially through (turns) eight and nine or whatever numbers… I don’t know which track map you’re looking at, right, the numbers change. But the last two, that’s before you get to the stadium section, for clarity, the tire packs, where they’re located through that section, I think will significantly change how at least I was approaching that section in the sim.

“But … we have some practice to get some time on the track. I think everyone’s going to be super aggressive with taking every advantage that you can take and probably stepping over that line. And if you get caught, you’ll get caught, and you’ll learn what you can and can’t do. So my intention is to go and push the limits as far as I can push them. I’ll probably step over them, you know, at different points in time. And I want to know for sure what’s going to be called and what wasn’t.

Allgaier: “Any mistake can be a big mistake here”

Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images

Motorsport.com also asked reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier about the tire packs during his press conference appearance. The JR Motorsports driver said he and Michel Jourdain Jr. have been going over this very topic as he prepares for Saturday’s Xfinity race.

“For us, there are sections with track limits and there are sections without and I think it’s going to be interesting because we’re in a little bit of a moving target,” said Allgaier. “I think track limits can be relaxed or enforced harder based on how aggressive we are, and how much we’re trying to make in those sections. The tire packs, or the barriers that they’ve put in some of the different corners of the racetrack, I think are different than what I expected, until you see it and you feel it and understand it. I mean, even so, (even before making) a lap on track, I’m already changing my approach to a couple of different corners. That’s going to be something else that’s very interesting to me, is how do we race here? Where are the most effective passing zones?”

The tire packs also mean that drivers will have to be extra careful in minimizing mistakes as any off-road excursion could result in significant damage to the car.

“Any mistake can be a big mistake here,” noted Allgaier. “If you get off and you make a mistake, maybe other than turn one, it has the potential to be a big moment and damage to your car right so without really having the ability to go to a backup car, those are going to be important moments to not have, right.”

Motorsports

Forza Motorsport Development Team at Turn 10 Reportedly Shut Down

by William D’Angelo , posted 15 hours ago / 1,738 Views The massive Microsoft layoffs yesterday saw many Xbox subsidiaries see at least some layoffs with some seeing 100 or more people let go. One of the studios with the biggest cuts is Turn 10 that reportedly saw nearly 50 percent of its staff laid off. Former […]

Published

6 minutes ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Forza Motorsport Development Team at Turn 10 Reportedly Shut Down

by
William D’Angelo
, posted 15 hours ago / 1,738 Views

The massive Microsoft layoffs yesterday saw many Xbox subsidiaries see at least some layoffs with some seeing 100 or more people let go. One of the studios with the biggest cuts is Turn 10 that reportedly saw nearly 50 percent of its staff laid off.

Former Turn 10 employee Fred Russell in a post on Facebook is now claiming the Forza Motorsport team has been shut down.

Turn 10 Studios has shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more,” said Russell. “A very sad day for one of the best car racing video games. I loved my time there.”

If this is true the remaining employees are likely going to focus on updating ForzaTech and will act as more of a support studio for Playground Games on the Forza Horizon series.

The last entry in the Forza Motorsport series was 2023’s Forza Motorsport.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D’Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.

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Motorsports

Team Penske announces replacement Managers

Team Penske announced today a new leadership structure for the organization’s championship-winning INDYCAR and Sports Car programs. Two of the team’s longtime associates that have experience across both programs will officially transition to their new roles, beginning this weekend. Related Article: IndyCar News: Penske sacks top personnel over cheating scandal Jonathan Diuguid (pictured) has been promoted […]

Published

27 minutes ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Team Penske announced today a new leadership structure for the organization’s championship-winning INDYCAR and Sports Car programs.

Two of the team’s longtime associates that have experience across both programs will officially transition to their new roles, beginning this weekend.

Related Article: IndyCar News: Penske sacks top personnel over cheating scandal

Jonathan Diuguid (pictured) has been promoted to President of Penske Racing, Inc., and Travis Law has been named Competition Director for Penske Racing, Inc.

Diuguid and Law bring a combined 38 years of experience at Team Penske that will serve them well as they look to build on the organization’s legacy of motorsports success. In their new roles, Diuguid and Law will oversee the Team Penske teams competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES (INDYCAR), as well as Porsche Penske Motorsport, which races in both the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (IMSA) and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Most recently, both Diuguid and Law served in leadership positions for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

As the Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, Diuguid led the global sports car program to consecutive wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona (2024, 2025), a victory in the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring, a championship in IMSA’s GTP Class last season and the 2024 WEC Hypercar driver’s crown – all achieved in less than three seasons. Since joining Team Penske in 2005, the Raleigh, North Carolina native has gained valuable experience, first working on the team’s Porsche RS Spyder program followed by seven successful seasons as a race engineer for the organization’s INDYCAR SERIES teams before taking on his most recent leadership role with Porsche Penske Motorsport.

“The opportunity to lead the Team Penske efforts across the INDYCAR SERIES, IMSA and WEC is a tremendous responsibility, and the feeling of being trusted to lead these teams is a great honor,” said Diuguid. “After two decades working for Roger Penske, I truly know and understand what the Penske name means in the world of motorsports. The best way I know to show my appreciation to him for his trust is to ensure our success continues well into the future.”

Law represents another shining example of the organic growth and advancement that has been cultivated throughout the Penske organization. The Maquoketa, Iowa native has also been a key contributor to the success of Team Penske’s INDYCAR and Sports Car programs in recent years. After beginning his Team Penske career in 2007 as an INDYCAR tire specialist, Law rose through the ranks to become a championship-winning chief mechanic in the INDYCAR SERIES before enjoying the same success in sports car competition. Law most recently served as Competition Director for Porsche Penske Motorsport before earning a promotion to his new role with the organization.

“Success is what is expected at Team Penske,” stated Law. “Roger Penske is someone that leads by example. When we get to the racetrack, we know we have the support of someone who has achieved at the highest levels. I am ready to get to work.”

The NASCAR leadership structure for Penske Racing South remains unchanged with Michael Nelson serving as President, Penske Racing South and Travis Geisler continuing his role at Vice President of Competition, Penske Racing South. Nelson and Geisler bring nearly 50 years of team experience in leading the five-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series championship team.

The 2025 INDYCAR SERIES season continues with this weekend’s race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sunday, July 7 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Porsche Penske Motorsport will return to action on Sunday, July 13 with the World Endurance Championship race in São Paulo, Brazil while the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season resumes on Sunday, August 3 at Road America

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Motorsports

NASCAR Chicago street full weekend track schedule, TV schedule for Grant Park 165, other races

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to the Chicago street course for the third straight season this weekend. The Xfinity Series will practice, qualify and race in The Loop 110 on July 5, with Shane van Gisbergen in the field for the first time this year. Advertisement The Cup Series will practice and […]

Published

28 minutes ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to the Chicago street course for the third straight season this weekend.

The Xfinity Series will practice, qualify and race in The Loop 110 on July 5, with Shane van Gisbergen in the field for the first time this year.

The Cup Series will practice and qualify also on July 5 for the next day’s Grant Park 165. For the first time since 2018 in a non-Daytona 500 race, there will be one driver to DNQ. 41 drivers are entered for 40 starting spots.

Here is the full on-track schedule in Chicago:

NASCAR Chicago street on-track schedule, TV schedule for the Grant Park 165

All times Central; on-track activity at the Chicago street course unless otherwise detailed.

Saturday, July 5

9:30 am. — NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, CW app

12 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying, truTV (Watch FREE on Fubo)

3:30 p.m. — The Loop 110 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (50 laps, 110 miles), CW Network (Watch FREE on Fubo)

Sunday, July 6

1 p.m. — Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race (75 laps, 165 miles), TNT (Watch FREE on Fubo) and MAX (in-car cameras)

NASCAR Chicago street news, stories

CHANGES AT TRACKHOUSE FOR 2026: Daniel Suarez will not return to Trackhouse Racing after 2025 NASCAR season

LAST WEEK: NASCAR Atlanta winners, losers: Chase Elliott steals playoff spot from Brad Keselowski on last lap

PLAYOFF PICTURE: NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Atlanta race

IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT UPDATE: NASCAR in-season tournament results: First round winners, Chicago street matchups set

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Chicago full weekend schedule, TV schedule for Cup Series race

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Motorsports

From football to NASCAR, Jonathan Willard continues to perform at a high level on pit road

The former Clemson linebacker has gone from casual NASCAR fan to a full-fledged competitor as a longtime pit crew member ATLANTA — Jonathan Willard developed a reputation as one of the most consistent linebackers during his time at Clemson in a career that saw him lead the team in tackles during his senior season of […]

Published

52 minutes ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The former Clemson linebacker has gone from casual NASCAR fan to a full-fledged competitor as a longtime pit crew member

ATLANTA — Jonathan Willard developed a reputation as one of the most consistent linebackers during his time at Clemson in a career that saw him lead the team in tackles during his senior season of 2012.

After two years on the Tennessee Titans practice squad, Willard retired from the game and spent two years in law enforcement before he jumped at an opportunity to work in NASCAR on pit road.

The native of Loris was working at the Mario Andretti Racing Experience, driving fans around the track, when he was eventually approached about working on pit road in NASCAR.

Willard experienced some growing pains as a rookie jackman in 2016, but he eventually became a more than solid performer in the pits, working with the likes of Trackhouse Racing and now RFK Racing.

In his 10th year in NASCAR, Willard is currently the tire carrier for the #60 team driven by Ryan Preece.

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Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. pokes fun at NASCAR ripping off Denny Hamlin’s bracket challenge: ‘They’re already in court’

Before there was the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, there was Denny Hamlin‘s Bracket Challenge. Hamlin’s Bracket Challenge pitted drivers against each other over a five-race period, and fans were allowed to submit their predictions. The winning entrant received an RTIC Outdoors bundle and Dirty Mo Media swag. Hamlin and 23XI Racing are already in court with […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Before there was the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, there was Denny Hamlin‘s Bracket Challenge. Hamlin’s Bracket Challenge pitted drivers against each other over a five-race period, and fans were allowed to submit their predictions.

The winning entrant received an RTIC Outdoors bundle and Dirty Mo Media swag. Hamlin and 23XI Racing are already in court with NASCAR after declining to sign the charter agreement last fall. Earnhardt jokingly pointed out on this week’s “Dale Jr. Download” that Hamlin has another issue to bring against the sanctioning body after they came up with a near carbon copy of his original bracket idea.

“There’s people out there that think the bracket is stupid. … I don’t understand why you would go, ‘Ah, this is dumb. We ain’t college basketball.’ We created this bracket. Denny Hamlin created this idea and said, ‘This would be fun,’ and we did it. We put it on a website. All the people who follow Dirty Mo Media, we had like 20,000 people sign up and do it. It’s fun as hell,” Earnhardt said. “NASCAR took the idea, carbon copy enough that I think Denny oughta be like, ‘Hey, man.’ They’re already in court. Tack that one in the end.

“The bracket’s cool. If you’re not into it, just don’t say sh*t. Sit over there and enjoy what you enjoy about racing and NASCAR. But I think it’s fun as hell.”

NASCAR In-Season Challenge: Zero perfect brackets remain after Round 1

For the In-Season Challenge, there was a $1 million prize for anyone who guessed a perfect bracket. Zero brackets remain after Round 1. Hamlin, the No. 1 seed, was knocked out by No. 32 seed Ty Dillon. It was one of several stunning upsets at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta this past Saturday.

Hamlin certainly helped lay the groundwork for the NASCAR In-Season Challenge. He anticipates his $1 million royalty any day now.

“This is such a win for our sport and drivers,” Hamlin wrote on X last year after NASCAR announced the tournament. “Many story lines will made [sic] during this 5 week period. I will collect by 1M royalty next season.”

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Motorsports

Joey Logano out to ‘prove’ himself despite NASCAR championships, accolades

A three-time champion, 37-time Cup Series race winner, Daytona 500 winner – what else is there for Joey Logano to achieve? At 35 years old, Sliced Bread has grown up and in many ways fulfilled the high expectations placed on him at an early age. The thing is, he’s not done yet. Joey Logano might […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Joey Logano might be the next driver after Denny Hamlin to win 60 career races. He has a long way to go, but if Logano ended his career today, he would be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

During his media availability in Chicago, Logano was asked, essentially, what keeps him motivated. He was the youngest driver to win and achieve many accolades in the sport. He has won championships, races, and a crown jewel. Logano has multiple All-Star and Clash wins. In 2023, he was named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list.

So, what keeps him going? Joey Logano answered earlier today.

“I mean, I honestly feel like I have to prove myself every day. I always say, man, ‘What you did yesterday is yesterday?’ Right? Tell me what you’re gonna do tomorrow, that’s the important stuff,” Logano said. “You know, the history books and people’s memories are short, right? And people say, I say too, ‘You’re only as good as your last race,’ and it really feels that way a lot of times. Yeah, it’s been, I’ve had a great career, you’re right. A lot of great accomplishments, a lot of cool moments. Have I hit all the markers that I set out to hit? No, no, I haven’t. So, I still got plenty to go out there and want to achieve for sure.”

To Joey Logano’s point, there is much for him to achieve. Becoming a 4-time champion would put him in an elite club with only four other drivers in NASCAR’s history. Perhaps one of the most hated and undervalued greats, Logano has a record that leaps off the page compared to his peers.

However, he only has one crown jewel win. He has never won a Southern 500, Brickyard 400, or a Coca-Cola 600. With one win this season coming off his championship in 2024, Logano is hoping another late-season boost carries him to another Championship 4. From there, anything can happen.

Joey Logano has accomplished more than most. Yet, he still has more to prove, and plenty of years to do it.

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