Motorsports

Falken Motorsports relentless pace grant them 1-2 in NLS 6

Published

4 months ago

August 16, 2025

The No.3 Falken Motorsports Porsche of Klaus Bachler and Sven Müller have won the sixth race of the NLS (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie), with the sister No.4 in second after a dominant performance in a delayed race.

Qualifying was due to take place early in the morning, but heavy fog delayed it until 12:00 local time. The race then got underway at 14:00, with four and a half hours scheduled instead of six, due to the delay.

Fog still covered the track when the cars piled out onto the track, but not quite as bad as it had been earlier in the morning.

After 40 minutes of qualifying, Nico Menzel in the No.4 Falken Motorsports Porsche took pole position, after Dan Arrow in the No.48 Black Falcon Porsche held the top time for most of the session. He ended up second.

Then through a mix of more SP9 cars and Porsche Cup 2s (the highest of which in third overall), nine out of the top ten cars were Porsche 911s. The only exception was the No.50 SP9-AM Audi in ninth place.

It was a clean getaway for the pole sitter, and the rest of starting group one. The No.4 led away from the No.48, with the No.3 Falken car working its way past Cup 2 cars to get up to third overall.

In starting group two, the Cup 3 pole sitting car, the No.959 Porsche seemed to have an issue on the early part of the Nordschlife. Harley Haughton in that car had a high speed spin, hitting the barrier and eventually coming to a stop in the gravel, but got back going under its own steam after losing a large chunk of time.

The barrier Haughton hit was damaged, so a code 60 was deployed in that section of the track while the marshals worked on repairing it.

The No.3 car kept charging forward, Sven Müller right on the back of Dan Arrow in the No.48 for second place. Meanwhile the No.6 Ford Mustang had a good start, up from 15th on the grid to fourth by the end of lap 1.

Frank Stippler in that car quickly caught the back of the battle between the two Porsches. In front of these three cars the No.4 car of Dennis Marschall had built up a gap of over four seconds.

Müller kept having looks to get by Arrow, as Stippler did on Müller, but neither driver could find the momentum or space to complete the move on the tight Nordschlife. All three cars were separated by just half a second at points around the lap.

On lap 3, Stippler used all the grunt of his V8 to power past Müller on the almost five kilometer Döttinger Höhe straight.

As they crossed the line to start a new lap, Arrow tried to get past some slower traffic, but he tagged the No.123 BMW 325i sending that car spinning around. Arrow continued unscathed but the BMW had to pit with suspension damage.

On the early part of the Nordschlife on the same lap, Müller got caught in traffic and lost a massive chunk of time behind the two cars ahead. Meanwhile in all of the fighting and drama, Marschall had grown his lead out to nine seconds.

When the battle for second reached the Döttinger Höhe once again, Stippler used his Mustang’s superior straight line speed again to get into second place. Arrow tried to fight back at the beginning of the next lap, but he couldn’t quite find a gap past.

Arrow quickly fell into the clutches of Müller once again too, the Falken driver making quick work of the Dutchman, as he got caught up in traffic.

Stippler quickly began catch up to Marschall, bringing the gap down to just two and a half seconds a lap after he had gotten by Arrow. Seemingly his favourite move for the day, Stippler caught the No.4 on the Döttinger Höhe and flew past.

All of the top three pit on that lap, with Arrow continuing on for another lap. Müller gave way to Klaus Bachler, Stippler got out for Vincent Kolb and Marschall allowed Nico Menzel to get in.

In the pit stops however, the No.4 retook the lead. The HRT Ford crew must have had an issue, as the pit stops are done to a set time.

Due to the fact that Arrow stayed out an extra lap meant that his next pit stop would be longer than that of the other leaders, but later on in the race the No.48 would benefit from being able to do a shorter stint. Mike Stursberg got into that car for the next stint.

After the first stops, Menzel in the No.4 led from the No.3 sister car of Bachler. Kolb in the Mustang fell to third, with Stursberg in fourth after his longer stop. Notably, Kolb was dropping a lot of time to the Falken cars in front, losing over 10 seconds on lap 9.

Soon Bachler caught his teammate, the two Porsches battling it out for the lead of the race.

With exactly three hours remaining the No.347 SP9-PRO car slowed on the Döttinger Höhe with a rear left puncture. The Toyo Tires Porsche cup car was the only car in its class, so they were just racing to get to the finish.

For the next handful of laps, the No.4 led the No.3 but just metres at points. Bachler couldn’t quite find a way past Menzel, but both drivers extended their lead over the Ford in third despite the battling. By the start of lap 14, they were almost 90 seconds ahead of the next runner.

After the two went side-by-side briefly, Menzel pulled out a two second gap in traffic. Elsewhere, everyone had settled into the race and the action had quietened down as we neared half distance.

They both pit again on the same lap too, both cars swapping out drivers once again. Marschall would take back over the lead No.4, and Müller would get back in the No.3. Kolb in the Ford followed them in too, well over 100 seconds back at this stage. Patrick Assenheimer got into that car for the first time today during the stop.

On lap 17 Müller finally made the move at the end of the Döttinger, taking the lead from Marschall.

With just under two hours to go, the No.48 Porsche received a penalty lap for the earlier collision with the BMW. This involved going around the outside of turn 2 at a set speed, losing them around 10 seconds. They still sat in fourth afterwards.

The No.160 had drama on the Döttinger, with the diffuser coming loose and discarding itself in the middle of the track. That car came straight into the pits for repairs.

The No.4 car took its third pit stop a lap earlier than the sister car, because of that they took the lead of the race. Pitting a lap earlier allowed them to take a shorter pit stop, although they would possibly have to do an extra stop to get to the end of the race.

The No.6 Ford had a slower stop for their third one, with the HRT crew changing the front left brake pads. A highly unusual change for a shorter race, but they still held third place.

With under an hour left to go, Menzel in the No.4 got held up by traffic and almost lost the lead to the sister car. Bachler was just unable to get by, and the lead Falken car quickly grew the gap back out.

With 15 minutes to go there was a battle for the lead in the Cup 3 class, with the No.962 leading the No.940. Meanwhile, both of the leading Porsches pit, the No.4 a lap before the No.3. The No.3 came out ahead of its sister car, Bachler ahead of Menzel with just one lap to go.

The No.940 made the move for the lead in Cup 3 on the final lap, after setting the classes fastest lap on the penultimate lap. However, they got a late penalty that ruined their chances of a win in class.

Menzel wasn’t quite able to catch the sister car, so it was the No.3 Porsche that won in the end after a dominant race from both Falken cars. The No.6 Ford came home third, ahead of the No.48 Porsche.

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Motorsports

Vineland Trash and Recycling Collection Fee Set to Increase

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

For the first time in five years, Vineland will be raising its trash and recycling collection fee from $24.00 per month to $28.00 per month. This decision comes after careful consideration of steadily increasing operational costs, including rising labor, insurance, and maintenance costs, along with three consecutive years of landfill tipping fee increases.

While the city has worked diligently to absorb these expenses and avoid passing them on to residents, the persistent impact of inflation on operating costs makes it no longer possible to do so without jeopardizing service quality.

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Motorsports

Kenny Brightbill Tribute To Be Part Of 39th Annual Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Show – Speedway Digest

Published

11 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Kenny Brightbill, a member of six different Motorsports Hall of Fames, will be a special guest at the 39th Annual Pioneer Pole Buildings (PPB) Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show presented by Can-Am, returning to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, on Friday, January 23 (2 PM – 9 PM), and Saturday, January 24 (10 AM – 7 PM), 2026.

A special tribute honoring the 77-year-old Brightbill will be featured at the show and will include the iconic Pinto No. 19 Modified that the Sinking Springs, PA, native built and drove to many of his 426 career victories — including 135 at his home track, the Reading Fairgrounds. The original car has been fully restored to its racing-day condition and is part of John Mason’s extensive collection.

The tribute area will also feature a 30-foot backdrop wall showcasing photos from Brightbill’s remarkable 57-year racing career, highlighting his success in Modifieds, Late Models, Sprint Cars, SpeedSTRs, and appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Brightbill will join Steve Post on stage both days of the show, along with several special guests, to share memorable stories from his career. He will also be available for autographs and photos, including signing a commemorative poster being produced for the event.

Career accomplishments include winning $50,000-to-win races on the mile tracks at Syracuse, NY, and Nazareth, PA, as well as capturing the Mr. DIRT Track USA title race at New York’s Lebanon Valley Speedway. His dirt Modified career also included 200-lap victories at Reading; New York’s Orange County, Fonda, Fulton, and Weedsport; and New Jersey’s Flemington and Bridgeport Speedways.

Over the past three years, the PPB Motorsports Show has honored legendary figures including Billy “The Kid” Pauch, famed sprint car owner Bob Weikert, and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham. For the first time in show history, two tribute displays will be featured in 2026.

It was previously announced that NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Geoff Bodine will also be honored for his accomplishments in asphalt Modifieds and at NASCAR’s highest level, including his victory in the 1986 Daytona 500.

Friday evening will be highlighted by the Aqua Duck Water Transport–sponsored Ms. Motorsports Competition at 8 PM, with $2,500 awarded to the winner. Applications are available now on the show’s website.

Saturday afternoon will spotlight the younger generation with the Little Miss Motorsports Competition and the annual RAACE Foundation Big Wheel Races, both long-standing family favorites.

Pioneer Pole Buildings, based in Schuylkill Haven, PA, will serve as the title sponsor for the 15th consecutive year. Their expansive exhibit will once again welcome attendees at the show entrance, featuring company displays, PPB-sponsored race cars, and autograph sessions with many of their drivers.

The 2026 edition of the show will again offer a wide variety of attractions for racers and fans, including the Hard Core Racer Section with dozens of race cars on display; exhibits from speedways and racing series; collectibles and memorabilia vendors; and a schedule of free racer seminars.

For information on exhibit space, visit motorsportstradeshow.com, email [email protected] or call Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618 before the event space sells out.

Special host hotel rates are available at the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn of Valley Forge/Oaks, both located on the Expo Center property. On Friday night, following the close of the show, the Hilton Garden Inn bar and banquet room will host the official Motorsports After Party, open to racers, fans, and exhibitors.

AARN PR

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Motorsports

Kyle Larson opens door to 24 Hours of Daytona comeback – Motorsport – Sports

Published

11 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has a laundry list of racing achievements across a plethora of series, including 32 Cup Series wins, 17 O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series wins, four Craftsman Truck Series wins, and two attempts at “Double Duty” between the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

However, one of his most prestigious wins arguably came in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona three times from 2014 through 2016, winning the title, and with it a Rolex, in 2015 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Larson won in the Ford Riley DP alongside co-drivers Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan — both of whom are IndyCar champions — and Jamie McMurray, a fellow NASCAR Cup Series race winner.

Larson has yet to return to the wonderful world of the SportsCar Championship, having focused on NASCAR, his Sprint Car series, High Limit Racing, and occasional Midget races over the past decade.

However, now with his children quickly growing up and forging their own racing careers, Larson suggested it may be time to revisit IMSA. Should he do so, he may end up facing a familiar competitor in Connor Zilisch, who is set to compete in the race in 2026.

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“I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I would do it again,” he said on the ‘Dinner with Racers’ podcast. “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.

“And the offseasons have only gotten busier. There’s more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot and I, kind of, want time off.

“But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.

“And have my family there with me again because Owen, I think, was just born the year we won it and he’s gonna be 11 now this year. So have my kids a part of it would be cool.”

Larson and his wife, Katelyn Sweet, now have three children, Owen, Audrey, and Cooper, with both Owen and Audrey having followed in their dad’s footsteps in beginning to forge their own racing careers of late.

But while Larson later reiterated that he would “definitely” want to give it another shot, he’d understandably “want to be in the best car.”

He went on to add, “It ranks really high on my list of wins for sure. It’s such a unique win too, I’m the fourth string guy on the team, probably back then, but I just remember I’ve never won a race with a teammate, so it’s a really special, unique sort of win.”

While Larson’s NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports, has yet to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Chip Ganassi remains a constant in the series, although it has yet to win again at Daytona in the renamed Grand Touring Prototype class.

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Motorsports

5 possible additions to the Daytona 500 lineup (to guarantee disappointment)

Published

12 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Early in the NASCAR Cup Series offseason, JR Motorsports confirmed that they plan to make another attempt at the Daytona 500 after successfully qualifying in their first attempt this past February.

For the second year in a row, Justin Allgaier is set to pilot the No. 40 Chevrolet. He finished in an impressive ninth place in the team’s first ever Cup appearance in 2025.

A week ago, it was then announced that Jimmie Johnson is also set to return for another shot at the “Great American Race”, a race he’s won twice, after recording his best finish in any Cup race since 2017 with his third place effort in 2025. For the fourth straight year, he is set to drive the No. 84 entry for the Legacy Motor Club team he co-owns.

Johnson is widely expected to get the world-class driver provisional, which is the same provisional that locked Helio Castroneves into the 2025 race for Trackhouse Racing after he was unable to successfully qualify on speed or Duel result. It led to the Daytona 500 field consisting of exactly 41 cars for the first time since 1993.

According to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Live Fast Motorsports have also confirmed that team co-owner B.J. McLeod is set to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet. The team have yet to qualify for the race since selling their charter after the 2023 season, despite McLeod’s attempts in 2024 and 2025.

All of these confirmations mean that there are already three non-chartered (open) cars on the entry list even before the calendar turns to 2026. And with just four total (five if Johnson gets the provisional and doesn’t qualify) spots open alongside the 36 chartered cars, there will likely once again be several drivers who fail to qualify.

Who else could be added to the entry list? Here are five strong candidates.

Garage 66

Some sources have already reported that Garage 66’s Daytona 500 entry is confirmed, with Casey Mears expected to drive the No. 66 Ford. Mears returned to the Cup Series for the first time since 2019 in 2025, though he hasn’t run the Daytona 500 since 2019.

Garage 66, formerly MBM Motorsports, haven’t successfully qualified for the race since 2020, with a total of five DNQs since then.

23XI Racing

23XI Racing have not fielded an extra Daytona 500 entry since Travis Pastrana ran the race in 2023, but that is expected to change as they continue to put together a partial schedule for development driver Corey Heim, who is somehow still without a full-time ride in any national series for 2026, in the No. 67 Toyota.

The 2025 Truck Series champion ran four races for the team this past year, and he twice finished higher than all three of the team’s full-time drivers.

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing are another team that haven’t fielded an extra Daytona 500 in quite a few years (2019), but that is expected to change in a month and a half.

Xfinity (O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series superspeedway ace Austin Hill, who tried but failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in 2023 with Beard Motorsports, is expected to get the nod to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet in 2026, after running two superspeedway Cup series for Richard Childress’ team toward the end of the 2025 campaign.

Beard Motorsports

Speaking of Beard Motorsports, they have regularly competed in Cup Series superspeedway races, including the Daytona 500, every year since 2017, and that isn’t expected to change in February.

Anthony Alfredo drove the No. 62 Chevrolet for the team in both 2024 and 2025, though he failed to qualify for the race in 2025. Beard Motorsports have never failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in back-to-back years, however. Will Alfredo return, or could newly crowned Xfinity Series champion Jesse Love, who also ran two races in the No. 62 car this past year, get his first crack at Daytona?

NY Racing Team

The team that returned to the Daytona 500 for the first time in 2015 with the late Greg Biffle behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet in 2022 are expected to be back again, despite failing to qualify with J.J. Yeley in both 2024 and 2025.

It would be quite the story if Yeley, or whoever drives the car, can get into the race for the first time since Biffle’s final Daytona 500 appearance.

Possible but not expected: No. 91 Trackhouse Chevrolet, No. 01/No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford, No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet, No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota

All things considered, it’s looking like there will be eight drivers going for four (or possibly) five spots, meaning that at least three will be going home disappointed after failing to qualify.

Daytona 500 qualifying is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, followed by the Duel qualiyfing races on Thursday, February 12. The 68th running of the “Great American Race” itself is set to be shown live on Fox from Daytona International Speedway starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15.

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Motorsports

K1 Speed champions get new route into Porsche series

Published

13 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Porsche Motorsport North America is adding an indoor-karting pipeline to its driver development ladder through a new multi-year partnership with K1 Speed, the companies announced. The agreement is aimed at turning K1’s points-based monthly racing structure into a more direct on-ramp for standout drivers to reach Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.

The arrangement has a public-facing branding component and a competitive incentive. Porsche Motorsport branding will be displayed across all 72 K1 Speed karting centers in the United States, while K1 Speed decals will appear on the front bumper of cars competing in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

At the sporting level, the companies plan to select two drivers from among the top racers who reach K1 Speed’s national competition, one from the teen class and one from the adult class. For those two drivers, the entry fee for a future season in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or USA West will be waived, according to the announcement.

‟K1 Speed hosts thousands of motorsports enthusiasts each year and all of us at PMNA look forward to connecting with them,” Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, said. ‟Whether they are casual fans of motorsport or are searching for a path into professional racing, we are excited to introduce them all to the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and the opportunities that it offers.”

K1 Speed said its arrive-and-drive model and monthly race series create an accessible starting point, with points earned locally and top finishers advancing to state and then national-level competition. ‟It’s an immense honor for K1 to partner with Porsche Motorsport North America to provide up-and-coming American racers with an extraordinary opportunity,” said David Danglard, CEO and Founder of K1 Speed and K1 Circuit. ‟We built K1 on the belief that future champions start here, and this partnership with Porsche creates a pathway to take them from our indoor tracks to the country’s greatest circuits.”

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Motorsports

The Longest NASCAR Team Losing Streaks Entering the 2026 Season

Published

14 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What’s Happening?

Despite fielding two, three, and even four cars throughout a NASCAR season, teams competing in the sport’s highest level can fall into a winless drought. Some of these teams have long histories, while others are just getting started. Here are the longest team losing streaks in NASCAR entering the 2026 season.

To qualify for this list, you must be a NASCAR Cup Series team competing full-time in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and have won a race during your time in the sport.
Teams will be added to this list on a week-to-week basis based on the time since their most recent win. Teams that have not won in 35 or fewer races will not be featured on this list, but will be added should they fail to win race 36.
Teams like Legacy Motor Club (formerly Petty GMS Racing) and Hyak Motorsports (formerly JTG-Daugherty Racing) will be featured on this list, with the most recent wins in their organization’s history used as their most recent win.

41 Races – Hyak Motorsports

Last Win: 2024 YellaWood 500

In 2025, new ownership reshaped what was once JTG-Daugherty Racing into HYAK Motorsports. Though the team had a new look, it maintained its driver, 2023 Daytona 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr, alongside the Iconic No. 47. Unfortunately, the team was unable to find victory lane for the first time since 2022, finishing no better than fifth.

44 Races – RFK Racing

Last Win: 2024 Go Bowling at the Glen

RFK Racing had a tough 2025 season, failing to find victory lane for the first time since 2021, while fielding three full-time entries for the first time since Roush-Fenway Racing did so in 2016. While they may not have won a race, the team’s three-car roster showed promise, with hopes that a successful campaign in 2026 could result in a return to form.

76 Races – Kaulig Racing

Last Win: 2023 Bank of America ROVAL 400

Kaulig Racing fielded two full-time drivers for the first time since 2023 last season, and despite the return of the team’s winningest driver, A.J. Allmendinger, the two-car operation failed to win a race for a second year in a row. This year, the team is in limbo as they prepare for a deeper relationship with a new OEM in the coming years.

84 Races – Front Row Motorsports

Last Win: 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

This past season will be remembered as a year of transition for Front Row Motorsports, which reshuffled its deck after losing Michael McDowell after the 2024 season. The team moved veteran Todd Gilliland to the No. 34, pushing a returning Zane Smith into the No. 38, and expanded to a new car, the No. 4, with Noah Gragson. This inconsistency showed on track, with the team missing out on a win for the second straight season.

117 Races – Legacy Motor Club

Last Win: 2022 Cook Out Southern 500

Despite all the hardships the team has endured since Petty GMS reformed into Legacy Motors Club, LMC had a banner year for both of its entries in the NASCAR Cup Series. Though they did not win a race, the team found themselves sitting just outside the gates at Darlington with both their drivers finishing in the top five.

234 Races – Spire Motorsports

Last Win: 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Spire Motorsports is continuing its search to find victory lane as a multi-car operation, and extended its lengthy losing streak to six seasons. Even then, most fans forget that the win with Justin Haley happened, as the team has evolved into a competitive team with a development program since that race in 2019.

This list will be updated race to race as the season continues.

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