Funny Car points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park on Sunday, defeating John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round of the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia Nationals.

Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the ninth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The results of the Top Fuel final are under review.

In the final round, Prock went 4.061 seconds at 318.02 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car, holding off Beckman at the finish line and picking up his third win of the season. Prock defeated Cruz Pedregon, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd to advance to the final round en route to his 15th career victory. Prock and team delivered a strong performance and it came at an ideal time after the reigning champ lost in the first round at the past two races.

It was also an emotional win for Prock, as the matchup between JFR teammates took place a year after legendary Funny Car driver John Force was involved in a massive crash at Virginia Motorsports Park. Prock won on that trying weekend a year ago and was thrilled to hand another trophy to Force with his boss in attendance on Sunday.

“A lot of emotion for sure. Getting to win last year, that was huge and being able to take the Wally to John as a team, that’s what we wanted to do again today, and I’m happy that we could go back-to-back and get the job done for him,” Prock said. “The trophy’s going home with him. I might have to hide it in his suitcase or something. He won’t take it off my hand, but it’s definitely going back with him. 

“He does so much for me, and he’s given me an opportunity in a lifetime to live my dream, so to win for him again today and be able to celebrate his health and have him back out at the racetrack and doing good and getting better every day means a lot for our team and all our partners and even NHRA. This sport is not the same without John Force. We’re very blessed to have him at the racetrack.”
 
Beckman moved back to second in points, reaching the finals for the third time this season and 75th time in his career after round wins against Jim Campbell, Paul Lee and Daniel Wilkerson. Prock leads his teammate by 60 points heading to the halfway mark of the season.

In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon crossed the finish line ahead of Justin Ashley, but the results are under review for a possible rules infraction on Langdon’s car. The final-round result is under review.

Gaige Herrera had to chase down Angie Smith in the finals in Pro Stock Motorcycle, but the points leader won for the second straight year at Virginia Motorsports Park with a run of 6.826 at 198.79 in the final round on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Smith left first on the back-to-back world champion, going 6.853 at 196.76, but Herrera had just enough to get past her at the finish line.

It gives Herrera his third win of the season and 24 in his career, with all of those coming since the start of the 2023 season. He continues to impress at every turn, defeating Ron Tornow, Steve Johnson and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis to reach the final round. The qualifying dominance hasn’t been there as of late, with Davis claiming the top spot at the last two races, but Herrera remains in control on raceday, stretching his points lead to 100 points over Matt Smith.

“I almost fumbled there in the final with my light,” Herrera said. “A 150-degree track is just insane but NHRA did a phenomenal job and Andrew [Hines, crew chief] had my bike consistent all day. Angie had a fast bike and I had a little doubt when I looked over before 1,000 foot and I saw her and thought ‘This is a little too close’ because the Buells always have the mph. So when I looked over, I saw I was actually pulling away from her (and) that was a good feeling.
 
“I’m having a lot of fun. Racing is all about competition, and that’s what I love, it’s what drives me and pushes me to do better than I can. I want to say I’m nervous racing Brayden and he always says he’s nervous racing me, just because of all this good success I’ve had.”

Smith reached the final round for the first time this season and 10th time in her career after defeating Dystany Spurlock, Matt Smith and Richard Gadson. 

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 26-29 with the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

This story was originally published on June 23, 2025.

Today, Spire Motorsports announced internationally-accomplished road racer Jordan Taylor will drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ LiUNA 150 at Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park. Gainbridge will serve as the team’s primary sponsor for the inaugural event.

Taylor, a four-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner, will make his first CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start with Spire Motorsports when the division returns to road-course racing in the heart of Connecticut’s scenic Northwest Hills.
 
The Orlando, Fla., native, brings a decorated road-racing pedigree to the No. 7 team and will look to parlay that into a strong result at the 1.53-mile, seven-turn venue.
  
“I’m eager to join Spire Motorsports for the LiUNA 150,” said Taylor. “I have spoken with a few members of the team for a few years now, so it’s great things have finally come together. I know it’s going to be tough jumping into the series mid-season, but I know I am joining one of the top teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Our Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado will for sure be competitive, I just hope I can adapt to the truck quickly on the short weekend. Lime Rock Park is a track I know really well, but obviously all my experience around there is in much different types of cars, so I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”

Taylor currently competes full-time for Wayne Taylor Racing in the No. 40 Cadillac V-Series.R GTP entry in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series, where he and his co-drivers earned a podium finish in the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona and went on to capture victory at the 2024 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
 
The 34-year-old is a four-time IMSA WeatherTech champion, with titles in both the Prototype (2013, 2017) and GTLM (2020, 2021) categories. Taylor owns overall victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona (2017, 2019), 12 Hours of Sebring (2017, 2024) and Petit Le Mans (2014, 2018), along with a class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2015).
 
With his polished road-racing resume and crossover experience in NASCAR, Taylor has a feel for the sanctioning body’s heavier machines. He made his NASCAR debut in 2023, earning a single Cup Series start at Circuit of the Americas and competed in Xfinity Series events at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
 
“Jordan Taylor’s body of work speaks for itself,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “His accomplishments at the global level are more than impressive so we’re obviously thrilled to have Jordan drive our No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Silverado this weekend at Lime Rock Park. This is also a great opportunity to connect with our friends at Wayne Taylor Racing and shine a bit of a spotlight on the TWG Motorsports family. There is no doubt Wayne and Jordan set a very high standard when it comes to road racing and can only help us be better. Expectations are high and, collectively, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
 
The LiUNA 150 at Lime Rock Park will be televised live on FOX Saturday, June 28, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 15th of 25 races on the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will also be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Spire Motorsports PR

Two NASCAR Cup Series cars are set to undergo further inspection following post-race tech at Pocono Raceway.

The Great American Getaway 400 was won by Chase Briscoe in the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing, and the win and race results were made official when the series confirmed that no issues were found in post-race inspection.

However, in the report that confirmed the above, NASCAR also announced that the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet driven by Christopher Bell and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott are set for further inspection at their R&D Center this week.

“Post-race inspection was completed without issue, confirming Briscoe as the winner,” NASCAR wrote.

“The Nos. 9 and 20 cars will be brought back to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, for inspections.”

Bell drove the No. 20 to a 17th-place finish at Pocono on Sunday, with Elliott finishing fifth in the No. 9.

Interestingly, the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Elliott in the Xfinity Series on Saturday is also set for further inspection at the R&D Center this week, NASCAR has confirmed.

NASCAR HEADLINES: Jeff Gordon issues Kyle Larson verdict as Cup Series team hit with multiple penalties

Why does NASCAR inspect cars further post-race?

Although it does not happen every single week, cars being taken back to the R&D Center in North Carolina for further inspection is not something new.

In fact, it has happened multiple times this season already in the Cup Series, with differing results.

Chase Briscoe was disqualified from the Daytona 500 following his car being inspected further, for example, with the No. 19 found to have been in violation of Section 14.1 of the NASCAR rule book, which pertains to overall assembled vehicles rules, and Section 14.5.8, which deals with the spoiler. This was, however, later overturned at appeal.

Further inspection does not necessarily mean punishment, though, as evidenced by April’s race at Talladega, after which four Cup Series cars were inspected at the R&D Center and given the all-clear.

For the most part, the further inspections are for educational purposes, as outlined on NASCAR’s official website: “Sometimes, NASCAR will choose cars to take back to the R&D Center, but that’s more for engine education than anything else.”

READ MORE: NASCAR Cup Series star hit with devastating penalty at Pocono

Related

The European Commission has granted an unconditional approval to Liberty Media Corporation for the purchase of MotoGP rights owner Dorna Sports for a reported $4.4 billion.

Popular for owning Formula One, Liberty Media is a renowned player in the sports, media, and entertainment sector. It will acquire 84 percent of Dorna, while the remaining 16 percent will be retained by the MotoGP management. The deal is expected to be concluded by July 3, 2025.

The acquisition of MotoGP means the premier class of motorcycle racing, and F1 will now be under the same ownership. Liberty Media’s high-profile takeover of MotoGP came under scrutiny from the European Union towards the end of 2024. An investigation was conducted to assess the deal’s potential impact on broadcasters and streaming platforms, since both forms of motorsports fall under a single ownership umbrella.

The deal was expected to close last year, but the investigation for potential anti-competitive effects caused delays, and a purchase of MotoGP was possible only after Liberty Media received official approval.

While the deal’s impact on MotoGP cannot be assessed, one can only anticipate an upward trajectory, considering the way F1 has grown globally, especially in the American market since its acquisition by Liberty Media in 2017.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, who will continue to manage the two-wheeled sport, looks forward to accelerating MotoGP’s growth. He said in a statement:

“We are very happy that the European Commission has approved the transaction. This is an important milestone confirming the even brighter future that lies ahead for MotoGP.

“MotoGP is one of the most thrilling sports on Earth, and we look forward to accelerating the sport’s growth and expanding its reach to even more fans around the world. Liberty is the best possible partner for our sport and the entire MotoGP community, and we are excited to create even greater value for our fans, commercial partners and everyone competing.”

Liberty Media President and CEO, Derek Chang added:

“Today’s approval from the European Commission marks the final condition to closing Liberty’s acquisition of MotoGP. We are thrilled to officially commence Liberty’s partnership with Carmelo and his excellent management team.

“MotoGP is a highly attractive premium sports asset with incredible racing, a passionate fanbase and a strong cash flow profile. We believe the sport and brand have significant growth potential, which we will look to realize through deepening the connection with the core fan base and expanding to a wider global audience.”

Kyle Busch is without a win in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2019, and fellow former Joe Gibbs Racing star Carl Edwards is surprised by the struggles of his former teammate

Carl Edwards, a NASCAR legend in his own right, has been caught off guard since returning from his hiatus by Kyle Busch’s ongoing difficulties in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Busch is currently caught in a winless rut, marking 74 races without a victory following a 20th-place finish at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. He recently admitted feeling “like a broken record” and confessed to a rookie error as he showed his true colors when among 12 stars penalized at a recent race.

Edwards reflects on a stark contrast from the formidable performances he witnessed from Busch, his one-time teammate until he walked away from the sport after accusing NASCAR of manipulating a race that cost him the 2016 championship title.

At age 40, Busch, a veteran and two-time Cup Series champion, languishes at 19th in the series standings, a shadow of the “stone-cold killer” reputation he once held among competitors. Edwards, who boasts 28 career victories in the Cup Series, is now part of Amazon Prime Video’s team and at The Great American Getaway 400 in Pocono he expressed his surprise at Busch’s unexpected slump.

READ MORE: Bubba Wallace risks wrath of NASCAR with dangerous act after scary crashREAD MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. sounds warning as Carl Edwards predicts NASCAR champion

Edwards reminisced, saying: “Very strange for me to come back to this sport after being gone so long and to see Kyle Busch struggling, right?

“In my time in this sport, Kyle Busch, literally, was the guy to beat. I got to be his teammate for a while, got to see inside a little bit of how Kyle Busch operates

“He is a stone-cold killer on the race track. This guy is amazing. So to be able to handle this part of his career the way he is, I think it shows a maturation and I’m just hoping he can come out on the other side of this and do it for us old guys,” Edwards shared.

“He just needs to conjure up some of that Kyle Busch magic. I’ve been behind him and watched Kyle Busch pull off feats that leave me scratching my head.

“He’s shown he can work wonders in a race car, and I really hope he can reclaim that magic.”

Following a disappointing performance at Pocono, Busch now sets his sights on the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway this Sunday. Not only does this race present another opportunity to break his winless streak, but it also marks the beginning of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge with a $1 million prize.

Busch, seeded No. 16, will go head-to-head with Brad Keselowski, with the driver who finishes higher at Atlanta advancing to the round of 16.

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series return to the newly-rebranded EchoPark Speedway (formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway) for their second trip of the 2025 season.

Additionally, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will take on the Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut.

NASCAR Cup Series’ Quaker State 400

• Saturday, June 28
  • 7 p.m. (All times Eastern)
• 260 laps
  • Stages end on laps 60, 160, 260
• TNT (stream on Max), Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
• Last year’s winner: Joey Logano

For the third time this year, the NASCAR Cup Series will feature a full field with 36 chartered entries and four open entries:

• Corey LaJoie, No. 01 Rick Ware Racing Ford
  • LaJoie’s fourth start of 2025
• David Starr, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
  • Starr’s first start of 2025
• B.J. McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
  • McLeod’s third start as a driver of 2025
• Connor Zilisch, No. 87 Trackhouse Racing
  • Zilisch’s third start of 2025

Odds for NASCAR Cup Series at EchoPark Speedway Atlanta 2025

The Penske trio of Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric and Joey Logano lead the odds-on favorites for the NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway Atlanta, per Caesar’s Sportsbook. Here are the odds for the Quaker State 400:

• Ryan Blaney +750
• Austin Cindric, Joey Logano +850
• Kyle Busch +1050
• Christopher Bell, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson +1600
• Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin +2000
• Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace +2200
• Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez +2500
• Chase Briscoe +3000
• Josh Berry +3500
• Michael McDowell +3800
• Ty Gibbs, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +4000
• Erik Jones, Connor Zilisch +4500
• A.J. Allmendinger, Austin Dillon, Ryan Preece +5000
• Noah Gragson, Corey LaJoie +5500
• Justin Haley, John Hunter Nemechek +6000
• Zane Smith +7000
• Cole Custer +7500
• Riley Herbst +8000
• Ty Dillon +1000
• Shane Van Gisbergen +12500
• Cody Ware +25000
• B.J. McLeod +35000
• David Starr +50000

NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Focused Health 250

• Friday, June 27
  • 7 p.m. (All times Eastern)
• 163 laps
  • Stages end on laps 45, 90, 163
• CW, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
• Last year’s winner: Austin Hill

Austin Hill will be looking to capture his sixth checkered flag at EchoPark Speedway and his fifth in the last six races at Atlanta.

In total, 38 drivers are entered for the race. Notable entries include:

• Nick Leitz: No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing
• Garrett Smithley: No. 14 for SS-Green Light Racing
• Aric Almirola: No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing
• Patrick Staropoli: No. 24 for Sam Hunt Racing
• Katherine Legge: No. 32 for Jordan Anderson Racing
• Joey Gase: No. 35 for Joey Gase Motorsports
• Mason Massey: No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing
• Mason Maggio: No. 53 for Joey Gase Racing
• Leland Honeyman Jr.: No. 70 for Cope Family Racing
• C.J. McLaughlin: No. 91 for DGM Racing

Odds for NASCAR Xfinity Series at EchoPark Speedway Atlanta 2025

Coming soon.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Focused LiUNA 150 at Lime Rock Park

• Saturday, June 28
  • 1 p.m. (All times Eastern)
• 100 laps
  • Stages end on laps 35, 70, 100
• FOX, Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

Every driver will make the inaugural race at Lime Rock Park with 35 trucks entered. Notable entries include:

• Brent Crews: No. 1 for TRICON Garage
• William Lambros: No. 2 for Josh Reaume
• Thomas Annunziata: No. 07 for Spire Motorsports
• Jordan Taylor: No. 7 for Spire Motorsports
• Dale Quarterly: No. 32
• Wesley Slimp: No. 62 for Halmar-Friesen Racing (Stewart Friesen)

Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.

From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book “All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story” with racer Geoff Bodine.

Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.

You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.