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Fact Check: Is Zane Smith Really Doing Better at Front Row Motorsports Than He Was at Spire Last Year?

After weathering a turbulent rookie campaign with Spire Motorsports that ended in a 30th-place finish in the standings, Zane Smith knows full well that breaking into the NASCAR Cup Series is no easy feat. Reflecting on that maiden voyage, which he bluntly described as a “bad luck year,” Smith now appears to have found more […]

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After weathering a turbulent rookie campaign with Spire Motorsports that ended in a 30th-place finish in the standings, Zane Smith knows full well that breaking into the NASCAR Cup Series is no easy feat. Reflecting on that maiden voyage, which he bluntly described as a “bad luck year,” Smith now appears to have found more stable footing in Year Two.

Ready for his run in Mexico, the Front Row Motorsports driver was asked to assess his season to date. “It’s been pretty fun. I’m probably having the most fun I’ve ever had throughout my racing career, and the last time I think I said that was in 2022 with FRM. It’s been great. Being able to get that pole was really cool. I feel like we’ve thrown away a lot of top 10s and possible top fives,” Smith said.

The numbers back him up. Through 15 races last year, Smith had just three top-20 finishes and failed to crack the top 10. This season, he’s flipped the script, scoring ten top-20s, including a pair of top-10s, showing clear signs of growth and consistency.

“I feel like we’re getting ourselves closer and closer to putting ourselves in contention for a race win on Sunday,” he noted. Smith didn’t sugarcoat the struggles of his rookie year but emphasized that he’s been chipping away, focused on execution, and maximizing every opportunity.

Having spent two prior years with FRM in the Truck Series, Smith added, “It’s been awesome being back at FRM and being teammates with two really close friends.”

His history with Front Row and the Ford camp runs deep. Smith recalled building special memories on the Truck side and now hopes to forge more on NASCAR’s biggest stage, this time, with a Sunday spotlight.

Yet the journey hasn’t come without heartbreak. After a grueling 2024, Spire Motorsports chose not to renew his contract. Instead, they signed Michael McDowell to a multi-year deal in May 2024 to pilot the #71, effectively closing the door on Smith’s return.

Caught in limbo during the offseason, Smith admitted, “It’s been an absolutely miserable three-four months, I’m just figuring out what’s next.” That uncertainty finally ended when Front Row Motorsports handed him a chance.

Now part of a refreshed FRM trio alongside Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson, Smith finds himself competing under a cloud of legal scrutiny. The team, currently locked in an antitrust battle with NASCAR, has been treading carefully after scoring an early legal win.

However, with the pendulum swinging back in NASCAR’s favor, and mounting pressure on 23XI Racing and FRM alike, the road ahead for Smith and his teammates could once again be lined with obstacles.



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Will the Racing Star Overcome the Pressure in Chicago?

Alex Bowman Faces Playoff Pressure Ahead of Chicago Race Showdown As the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for its 19th race of the season in Chicago, Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports finds himself on the edge of playoff qualification, feeling the heat as the competition intensifies. Currently sitting 39 points above the playoff elimination line, […]

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Alex Bowman Faces Playoff Pressure Ahead of Chicago Race Showdown

As the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for its 19th race of the season in Chicago, Alex Bowman from Hendrick Motorsports finds himself on the edge of playoff qualification, feeling the heat as the competition intensifies.

Currently sitting 39 points above the playoff elimination line, Bowman is treading a fine line, just two spots ahead of the cutoff with Bubba Wallace hot on his heels. Despite his 15th position on the playoff grid with 444 points, Bowman is yet to secure a win in the 2025 season, adding to the mounting pressure.

Acknowledging the challenging position he is in, Bowman expressed, “I don’t think we’re in an awesome spot in points obviously. A lot of opportunities for winners below the cut line coming up. So, certainly, you know that pressure is there but we’ve kind of done it to ourselves in a sense.”

Struggling in the past months with multiple finishes outside the top 25, including recent setbacks like engine failure and crashes, Bowman is well aware of the need to step up his game to secure his spot in the playoffs.

Despite the hurdles, Bowman remains optimistic, stating, “So we just need to keep running how we should and the rest will take care of itself.”

With the Grant Park 165 race on the horizon, scheduled to kick off at 2:25 pm ET on Sunday, Bowman is gearing up to prove his mettle on the track. Qualifying rounds will commence on Saturday at 1 pm ET, setting the stage for an adrenaline-pumping showdown.

Known for his prowess on road courses, Bowman has showcased his skills with six top-10 finishes in the last ten races. His impressive fourth-place finish at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez further solidified his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on such tracks.

Reflecting on his performance on road courses, Bowman shared, “I feel like I’ve struggled at Watkins Glen for a long time, but been pretty successful at the rest of the road courses. So yeah, it’s just kind of hit miss.”

Recently bouncing back from a string of disappointing results, including a third-place finish at EchoPark Speedway, Bowman is determined to maintain his momentum and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

With nine top-10 finishes, four top-5s, and two pole positions under his belt in the current season, Bowman is poised for a thrilling showdown in Chicago, where the stakes are higher than ever.



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Denny Hamlin proposes bizarre twist on NASCAR street course racing

The concept of street racing in NASCAR is still fairly new. But after almost three years of racing in Chicago, Denny Hamlin has a proposal. The 23XI Racing owner and JGR driver thinks that there is a way to bring oval racing to street racing. We’re going to call it street racing with oval characteristics. […]

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The concept of street racing in NASCAR is still fairly new. But after almost three years of racing in Chicago, Denny Hamlin has a proposal. The 23XI Racing owner and JGR driver thinks that there is a way to bring oval racing to street racing.

We’re going to call it street racing with oval characteristics. You can’t really bank the corners of a city street. But that would be really cool to try. But there are flat ovals all over the country.

While speaking to the media today in Chicago, Denny Hamlin had an…interesting idea. An oval-ish race on city streets.

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic reports that Hamlin proposed a “street oval” for a future race. “All we need is acceleration, heavy braking points, and turns – and we’ll find a way to make a show out of that.”

A wild idea, but maybe not that wild? If you could manage to make a half-mile, rectangular oval, I think you could see good racing on city streets. The turns and braking points would have to be very specific to create passing opportunities.

It is almost like a Cronenbergian mix of the LA Coliseum race and the Chicago Street Race. While NASCAR is pushing the limits on what can be done in the sport, why not try to marry the traditional with the new-school?

Denny Hamlin won the pole for Chicago in 2023

Remember in 2023 when Denny Hamlin strangely won three road course pole awards in the Cup Series? Sonoma, Chicago Street, and Watkins Glen all went to Hamlin. Not known for his road course prowess, the JGR driver only produced one top-10 from those three poles.

This weekend, the pressure is kind of off Hamlin. No one expects him to win this race. So, what if he goes out there and contends? Whatever decent result and points he can get out of this weekend will be a bit of a bonus.

Denny Hamlin has three wins this season and has shown a ton of speed at most tracks. Chicago and Sonoma back to back aren’t the best two weekends for Hamlin and his team. That doesn’t mean they have to lie over and accept a bad finish. There are ways to maximize these weekends for a team like the 11.

Between racing, 23XI ownership, the lawsuit, and coming up with new street race ideas, Hamlin has a lot going on. Oh yeah, and a newborn at home. Where does he have time to think of things like…rectangular ovals?



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Shane van Gisbergen eyes another big weekend

The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course. The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back pocket — […]

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The first time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of the favorites on the downtown street course.

The third time is a different situation for van Gisbergen once again. This time, he has a second Cup Series victory in his back pocket — providing some flexibility for the 36-year-old New Zealand native as he prepares for the playoffs.

“We’re in a nice position now having won a race,” van Gisbergen said Friday. “And it may change our strategy. If we’re in a position to get a playoff point, we’ll probably try and get that, but that’ll put us deep in the field for the next stage.

“So, yeah, there’s a bit of a toss-up there what we’re going to do, but it’s a nice position to be in.”

Sure is.

Just two years ago, van Gisbergen — a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars — put on a dazzling show in a rainy first edition of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago experiment. Making the most of his extensive street racing experience, he became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

He won Chicago’s Xfinity Series race last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.

“You know, I have great memories here,” van Gisbergen said. “This place has changed my life, so I’m going to have special memories of this place forever.”

Van Gisbergen’s success in Chicago led to a full-time Cup ride with Trackhouse Racing. But the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet is learning his way around NASCAR, and he got off to a slow start this season.

While oval tracks remain a challenge, he certainly hasn’t forgotten his roots on street and road courses. He posted his second Cup win last month at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

Van Gisbergen is scheduled to compete in both Chicago races this weekend. Next up for NASCAR is another road course at Sonoma Raceway, providing an opportunity to move up from No. 32 in the Cup standings and build some momentum.

“Road courses are just a bonus for us,” he said. “We know we’re going to be good and we can just focus on trying to get results there.”

NASCAR Chicago Street Race puts city — in a seemingly endless loop through the Loop — back on national stage

Even after two years, the downtown Chicago street course remains a tricky proposition. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile track is narrow and bumpy in spots — to go along with manhole covers and transitions from concrete to asphalt and back — and there is little room for error in some areas. Rain affected the action in each of the first two weekends, and there could be more showers Sunday.

Patience is sometimes the best approach, but that goes only so far in NASCAR.

“It’s easy to say that until Shane is out there a second faster than you and you have to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations,” said Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion.

When it comes to van Gisbergen on road courses, Logano said the rest of the Cup Series is “in a way, playing catch-up.” Van Gisbergen said he feels the same way about ovals.

“These guys have been doing left-handers since they were 10 years old,” van Gisbergen said. “You know, they’re two completely different sports, and although there has been road racing in NASCAR forever, it’s not that much.

“So, yeah, just the experience levels are different in what we do. And I feel like, yes, they’ve definitely gotten a lot better since the first one on this track, for sure.”



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Time, TV schedule for Cup Series

The NASCAR Cup Series opens the Chicago street race weekend with practice and qualifying on July 5 ahead of the Grant Park 165. The 2.2-mile temporary course has produced some chaotic racing over the last few seasons, including the win by Shane van Gisbergen in 2023 and Alex Bowman’s victory as darkness fell last year. […]

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The NASCAR Cup Series opens the Chicago street race weekend with practice and qualifying on July 5 ahead of the Grant Park 165.

The 2.2-mile temporary course has produced some chaotic racing over the last few seasons, including the win by Shane van Gisbergen in 2023 and Alex Bowman’s victory as darkness fell last year.

SVG will be the overwhelming favorite this weekend, but Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and others will have a say in the race on July 6.

Here is what you need to know about NASCAR Cup qualifying at Chicago.

  • Qualifying time: 1 p.m. CT Saturday (practice begins at Noon)
  • TV: truTV | Radio: SiriusXM and MRN
  • Streaming: Watch FREE on Fubo; NASCAR.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)
  • Track: Chicago street course (1.54-mile oval) in downtown Chicago, Illinois



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Caio Collet Eyes Another Mid-Ohio Pole After Leading Practice

INDYCAR Caio Collet continued his strong form this season and at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday morning by leading pre-qualifying practice for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. 2024 series Rookie of the Year Collet, winner of the most recent race this season at Road America, earned his first career pole […]

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INDYCAR

Caio Collet continued his strong form this season and at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday morning by leading pre-qualifying practice for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

2024 series Rookie of the Year Collet, winner of the most recent race this season at Road America, earned his first career pole and victory in the INDYCAR development series last July at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course north of Columbus, Ohio. His best lap this morning was 1 minute, 10.0372 seconds in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car. That’s quicker than the track-record lap of 1:10.2879 he set to win pole last July, but track records only can be set in qualifying or the race.

SEE: Practice Results

“It was a good practice,” Collet said. “Both the new-tire run and the push run, we were quite competitive. We got a good lap in, and I’m happy with that. Hopefully we can do a little improvement for qualifying and get the track record again.”

Up next is qualifying at 1:30 p.m. today, with the 35-lap race starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network will broadcast both sessions.

Championship leader Dennis Hauger was second for the second consecutive session this weekend, this time with a top lap of 1:10.0501 in the No. 28 Nammo car of Andretti Global. Callum Hedge also held station in third in the No. 17 Abel Motorsports entry, this time improving to 1:10:1586.

Just .1214 of a second separated Collet, Hauger and Hedge.

Salvador de Alba also stayed in fourth, dropping his time to 1:10.3364 in the No. 27 Grupo Indi machine of Andretti Global. Ricardo Escotto rounded out the top five at 1:10.5149 in the No. 3 Frank’s Red Hot car of Andretti – Cape Motorsport.

Lochie Hughes, leader of Friday’s practice, was sixth at 1:10.6199 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car of Andretti Global.

A red flag interrupted the 45-minute session just as it was reaching its crescendo with nearly every driver simulating qualifying runs on new Firestone tires. Nolan Allaer spun off course and backed into the tire barrier in Turn 9 in his No. 11 HMD Motorsports car, triggering a red flag with slightly more than five minutes left.

The track returned to green-flag conditions with only a minute remaining, leaving little time for more work.




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NASCAR Chicago qualifying live results: Cup Series starting lineup

The NASCAR Cup Series sets the lineup for the Grant Park 165 with qualifying on July 5 from the Chicago street course. NASCAR is back at the temporary street course for the third straight season and hoping for a little weather luck this year. 41 drivers are entered for 40 spots, so there will be […]

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The NASCAR Cup Series sets the lineup for the Grant Park 165 with qualifying on July 5 from the Chicago street course.

NASCAR is back at the temporary street course for the third straight season and hoping for a little weather luck this year.

41 drivers are entered for 40 spots, so there will be one DNQ on Saturday in a very rare occurrence these days in the Cup Series.

Shane van Gisbergen was the inaugural winner in 2023 and will be the favorite this weekend, especially coming off of the dominant win at Mexico City last month.

Qualifying is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT. Follow the action with our live updates.

Refresh starting at 1 p.m. Central for qualifying updates.

William Byron gets into the wall and has pretty significant damage to the left rear. He will lead the first practice group on the leaderboard, but that hit will require repairs.

Denny Hamlin has a major terminal issue in his race car as he gets warmed up to open practice, and he’s done for the day. Hamlin is out of the car, and the car is being towed back to the garage. Maybe an engine failure?

Hamlin tells TNT Sports that “the bottom blew out” as he was getting going on his warmup lap.

Hamlin will be at the back tomorrow as he won’t be able to qualify today.

Practice is about to begin in Chicago. One of the open, non-charter cars will miss the field, among this group:

  • Austin Hill
  • Will Brown
  • Josh Bilicki
  • Corey Heim
  • Katherine Legge
  • Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
  • Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
  • Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
  • Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
  • Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
  • Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
  • Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
  • Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
  • Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
  • Will Brown, No. 13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
  • AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
  • Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
  • Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
  • Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
  • Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
  • Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
  • Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
  • William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
  • Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
  • Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
  • Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
  • Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
  • John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
  • Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
  • Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
  • Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
  • Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
  • Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
  • Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
  • Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Katherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
  • Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
  • Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
  • Qualifying time: 1 p.m. CT Saturday (practice begins at Noon)
  • TV: truTV | Radio: SiriusXM and PRN
  • Streaming: Watch FREE on Fubo; NASCAR.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)
  • Track: Chicago street course (1.54-mile oval) in downtown Chicago, Illinois



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