LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — Bubba Wallace sees NASCAR having all the momentum possible right now with different media partners.

Perfect timing then for NASCAR’s “In-season Challenge” to debut, right?

Well, Wallace forgot that was about to debut.

“For me to forget about it and remember how exciting it was when they announced, I think it’s going to be big for the fans to tune in and and give them a little bit more … you’re just invested more,” Wallace said.

Kyle Larson just tried his latest attempt at “the Double” of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. Count him among those who didn’t realize NASCAR’s new in-season competition had its field of 32 set after Sunday night’s Cup Series race at the Nashville Superspeedway.

“I just really haven’t seen anything promoted about it, so I think it’s easy to forget about it,” Larson said.

NASCAR announced this new in-season competition in May 2024, so drivers can be forgiven for being focused on the second half of the season.

The format is simple: 32 drivers race for seeding over the next three races starting at Michigan on Sunday and concluding at Pocono on June 22. Drivers are seeded by their best finish for the five-race competition starting at Atlanta.

Then it goes to single elimination with the field cut to 16 at Chicago, eight at Sonoma, four at Dover and the final two at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner gets $1 million, and that does get drivers’ attention as part of the new media rights deal that includes TNT.

“It’s going to be something fun that you pay attention to, and there’s good money on the line,” said Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champ. “So, you’ve just got to be really consistent throughout.”

Chris Buescher of RFK Racing is among those who didn’t realize this challenge is starting. He needs race victories after losing points for a penalty at Kansas in May. The prize is nice.

“That’s real money,” Buescher said. “But I don’t want that to change how we go to the race track. We need to figure out how to win races. There’s a lot more than that on the line at the end of the year.”

Three-time Cup Series champ Joey Logano compared this event’s prize to the money up for grabs in the All-Star Race and this new competition like a stage win.

“This is a little longer thing, but it’s a race within the race,” Logano said. “So you’re not willing to give up a lot to do that, right?”

Denny Hamlin was excited when the In-season Challenge was first announced. Then he saw the courses for this competition, and his enthusiasm dimmed with the number of road courses included.

“Truthfully, we’re going to get pretty lucky or have such a good draw that just things kind of work out,” Hamlin said. “I wish it was more conventional ovals, but I think that’s just the way the schedule works out. And it’s unfortunately not probably my prime part of the season.”

Brad Keselowski and his No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing went into Nashville at 32 — right on the line to be included in that chase for seeding. He hadn’t given the competition much thought focused on this season. But he thinks it will be fun once it starts.

“It’s good for the sport, good for our fans and it’s a competition,” Keselowski said. “If there’s competition, we want to win it. But that said, I think our heads down on one week at a time, in some ways one day at a time. … And it’s hard to look further ahead than that.”

Team Penske all set for the playoffs

With Ryan Blaney’s first victory of the season at Nashville Superspeedway, Team Penske now has its three drivers qualified for the NASCAR Cup playoffs even with Nashville the first race of the second half of this year.

Blaney, who hadn’t won since November, joined Austin Cindric, who won at Talladega, and three-time Cup Series champ Joey Logano, a winner at Texas. Josh Berry, whose Wood Brothers Racing team has a relationship with Team Penske, also won at Las Vegas.

Michael Nelson, president of Team Penske’s NASCAR operations, said it was nice to have that pressure off all the teams.

“It’s obviously pretty awesome to have a little bit of that pressure off for the guys,” Nelson said. “And again … it gives you a chance to go out and take some chances here and there and try to rack up a bunch of wins. So now we’re grateful to be at this point with our cars this time of year.”

Careful there Hocevar

Carson Hocevar matched his career-best finish driving from 26th to second at Nashville. The 22-year-old driver in his second Cup Series season with Spire Motorsports ticked off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with his aggressive style.

Hocevar clipped Stenhouse on Lap 106 of 300, sending him into the wall and out of the race. Stenhouse said Hocevar was overly aggressive and will talk to the young driver. Just not after the race.

“No,” Stenhouse said, “that costs too much money.”

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Buckle up as the Cook Out Summer Shootout returns to America’s Home for Racing for its 32nd thrilling season. This summer tradition is back and more jam-packed than ever, delivering high-speed racing, outrageous theme nights and interactive family fun every week for two straight months.

Each week, watch as more than 175 of the nation’s top grassroots racers hit the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway quarter-mile, putting on an adrenaline-pumping show under the lights. From bumper-to-bumper battles on the track to games, giveaways and surprises in the stands, every night offers something new for fans of all ages.

From rising young talents chasing their racing dreams to appearances from motorsports stars like Bubba Wallace, Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin and more, this summer’s action on the frontstretch quarter-mile is shaping up to be unforgettable.

The season’s green flag drops with a doubleheader on Monday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 10. Kick off the season right on Monday with the Cook Out Kickoff, presented by Cook Out. Swing by your nearest Cook Out, grab a fancy milkshake or a giant tea, and bring your cup to the gate for FREE admission to a full-throttle night of racing fun.

Then don’t miss Tuesday’s Media Mayhem, presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports, where local media personalities trade their microphones for helmets in a high-stakes school bus slobberknocker. Will your favorite newscaster cross the finish line first? Come find out — get the inside scoop live from the track!

Whether it’s dressing up in your best cowboy hat or watching fireworks burst over the track, each night brings a one-of-a-kind experience. Here’s the full lineup for this season’s Cook Out Summer Shootout:

Monday, June 9: Cook Out Kickoff presented by Cook Out

• FREE entry with a Cook Out cup

Tuesday, June 10: Media Mayhem presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports

• Local media personalities face off in a school bus scramble

Tuesday, June 17: Laps and Lassos presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports

• Dress up in your best western gear, get $5 off

Tuesday, June 24: NASCAR Night presented by NASCAR Hall of Fame

• Wear your favorite NASCAR driver gear, get $5 off

Tuesday, June 30: Night of Games presented by Bojangles

• The 100th person through the gate gets a BIG prize

Monday, July 1: Red, White and Vrooms presented by Pro FABrication Headers & Exhaust

• First responders and military personnel get in FREE
• $15 ticket – includes post-race firework show & driver autograph session

Tuesday, July 8: Lug Nut’s Birthday Party

• Bring a toy donation for Lug Nut, and get in FREE

Tuesday, July 15: Camping Night presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports

• Boys & Girls Scouts in uniform get in FREE

Tuesday, July 22: Speedway Sports Night presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports

• Rep your favorite team, get $5 off

Tuesday, July 29: Champions Night presented by DSM Luxury Motorsports

• Round 2 of the school bus smackdown
• Buy a Round 10 ticket for a chance to win four FREE tickets to the Cook Out Monster Truck Bash!
• $15 ticket – includes post-race firework show & driver autograph session

DRIVE OUT HUNGER:

All summer long, fans who bring a canned food donation to the gate will receive $2 off their ticket. Donations will directly benefit local Blessing Boxes.

ABOUT COOK OUT SUMMER SHOOTOUT:

Celebrating its 32nd season, the Cook Out Summer Shootout is a 10-race showcase of speed, featuring eight racing divisions of Legend Cars and Bandoleros. Races are held each Tuesday night under the lights with championship points on the line all summer long.

TICKETS:

Tickets are $10; kids 12 and under get in FREE. For tickets, schedules and more details about all the happenings at Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit www.charlottemotorspeedeay.com/tickets.

KEEP TRACK:

Follow all the thrilling Cook Out Summer Shootout action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook and Instagram.

CMS PR

 Public ticket sales began today (June 2) at 10 a.m. PT for all multi-day tickets for two major August race events at Portland International Raceway (PIR) – the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland, featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and Pacific Office Automation 147, headlined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series. 

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, featuring the stars and cars of the Indianapolis 500, returns to the Rose City on Aug. 8-10, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ fourth annual event at PIR on Aug. 29-30 over Labor Day weekend. With both major motorsport events slated to bring high-speed thrills to Pacific Northwest race fans in the same month, August is ‘Speed Month’ at the historic 12-turn permanent road course. 

As of this morning, multi-day Grandstand seats, General Admission tickets and parking passes are available for purchase for both action-packed weekends. Single-day tickets will be released later in the summer for both events. 

“Portland International Raceway is the place to be for race fans in the Pacific Northwest this August. ‘Speed Month’ will be action-packed in Portland with the thrilling NTT INDYCAR SERIES, fender-bending NASCAR Xfinity Series and much more,” said Jerry Jensen, vice president and general manager of Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which owns and operates the event at PIR. “Now is the time for fans to select their preferred spots at PIR with multi-day tickets available for both exciting weekends!” 

Grandstand seats are available at multiple price points for both events with 3-Day Grandstand seats at the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland starting at $85 and 2-Day Grandstand tickets starting at $80 for the Pacific Office Automation 147. Both events offer weekend General Admission tickets for $75.

For the NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend only, fans can also purchase Pit and Paddock passes, plus Champions Club and Champions Club+ options to further enhance the race weekend experience. For a limited time while supplies last, the Champions Club membership includes an NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock Pass and offers premium access and exclusive benefits such as a personalized event credential, pre-race grid walk and more. Champions Club+ includes all the above benefits plus a Pit Pass which provides access to pitlane during practice and qualifying sessions. A Paddock Pass offers entry to “the locker room of motorsports” to get up close to the drivers, cars and teams throughout the weekend.

Both events offer a tremendous family value. Children 12 and under receive free General Admission when attending either event with a ticketed adult. Additionally, Rookie Racers memberships are on sale offering unique, behind-the-scenes experiences for kids ages 5-12. 

All ticket pricing and options, including parking passes and RV Club spaces, are posted online at RacePortland.com. Both events feature no fees on order processing for online orders. Stay up to speed on these premier Portland events on social media all year long by following #PortlandGP and #NASCARPortland or by signing up for the E-Club on the website. 

PIR PR

Atlanta Motor Speedway looks to be setting up for something big. According to Joseph Srigley of TobyChristie.com, the racetrack will be making a “major news announcement” at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, track general manager Brandon Hutchinson and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be present for the announcement. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing and Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing will also be in attendance.

While the official reveal will come in less than 24 hours, the expectation is that Atlanta will be undergoing a name change. This past weekend, a fan on Reddit (u/Positive_Action_7539) posted a picture of the grandstands. Where it would normally say “Atlanta Motor Speedway,” it now says “EchoPark Speedway.”

Corey LaJoie will attempt to make nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts for Spire Motorsports, the team announced June 2.

LaJoie will run the No. 07 in all nine events.

LaJoie will debut with the team this Saturday (June 7) at Michigan International Speedway. The rest of his schedule includes Richmond Raceway (Aug 15), Darlington Raceway on Aug. 30, Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 11, New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 20, Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 3, Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 17, Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24 and Phoenix Raceway on Oct. 31.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the seat and chasing some NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins,” LaJoie said in a team release. “I put in a lot of work in the early days to help shape Spire Motorsports, and I still have some friends that have been there since day one, so it’ll be good to see them. The No. 07 team has been bringing some fast trucks to the track this year and are looking for a spot in the owner’s playoffs.

”It’ll be nice to have some consistency with the team to get acclimated to these vehicles, chase some wins and hopefully, a Craftsman Truck Series owner’s championship.”

NASCAR Michigan Entry Lists

LaJoie, a former Cup driver for Spire through last season, has driven for the team’s Truck Series program three times prior, with his best result being a 16th-place finish at Darlington in 2023.

“While discussing our best path to bring Spire our first Craftsman Truck Series championship and describing what we needed in a driver, the driver we were all talking about without saying his name was Corey LaJoie,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “So, when I ran into Corey in the motorhome lot one morning earlier this spring, I asked him what he thought about coming home and doing this. He is synonymous with what we’ve built here over the last few years and deserves this opportunity.

”I’m looking forward to getting him in the truck at Michigan to work out some kinks and start getting a game plan together for the playoffs.”

In 2025, LaJoie has run part-time for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. His best result so far for the team after three starts is 22nd in the Daytona 500.

Spire’s No. 07 truck currently sits ninth in Truck Series owner points and has seen eight drivers behind the wheel so far. The truck has one win courtesy of Kyle Larson at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Portland International raceway this summer along with other major reces. (Courtesy photo submitred by Green Savoree)

August is set to be a very busy ‘Speed Month’ in Portland. Race fans will celebrate the return of the NTT INDYCAR BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland on August 8-10 and then the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pacific Office Automation 147 just two weeks later on August 29-30.

Initial ticket sales for both events launched at 10 am on Monday, June 2. The sale includes multi-day Grandstand seats, General Admission tickets and parking passes for both events. Single-day tickets will be released later in the summer.

This year’s event will be the fourth race in Portland for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, featuring the stars and cars of the Indianapolis 500. Last year’s race was won by Australian driver Will Power, with Alex Palou of Spain finishing in second place. However, Palou has been on a strong winning streak, claiming five victories in the first seven INDYCAR races this year. Power has yet to win a race this year, so we can expect a tight race between the two champions.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series is also returning for the fourth time, and last year’s standout driver Justin Allgaier ultimately claimed the driver’s championship for 2024. He’s back again this year, leading the driver points race with three wins and 10 top five finishes in 14 races.

“Portland International Raceway is the place to be for race fans in the Pacific Northwest this August. Speed Month will be action-packed in Portland with the thrilling NTT INDYCAR SERIES, fender-bending NASCAR Xfinity Series and much more,” said Jerry Jensen, vice president and general manager of Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which owns and operates the event at PIR. “Now is the time for fans to select their preferred spots at PIR with multi-day tickets available for both exciting weekends.”

Grandstand seats are available at multiple price points for both events with 3-Day Grandstand seats at the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland starting at $85 and 2-Day Grandstand tickets starting at $80 for the Pacific Office Automation 147. Both events offer weekend General Admission tickets for $75.

For the NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend only, fans can also purchase Pit and Paddock passes, plus Champions Club and Champions Club+ options to further enhance the race weekend experience. For a limited time while supplies last, the Champions Club membership includes an NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock Pass and offers premium access and exclusive benefits such as a personalized event credential, pre-race grid walk and more. Champions Club+ includes all the above benefits plus a Pit Pass which provides access to pitlane during practice and qualifying sessions. A Paddock Pass offers entry to “the locker room of motorsports” to get up close to the drivers, cars and teams throughout the weekend.

Both events offer a special value for families. Children 12 and under receive free General Admission when attending either event with a ticketed adult. Additionally, Rookie Racers memberships are on sale offering unique, behind-the-scenes experiences for kids ages 5-12.

All ticket pricing and options, including parking passes and RV Club spaces, are available online at RacePortland.com. Both events feature no fees on order processing for online orders. You can stay up to speed on these premier Portland events on social media all year long by following #PortlandGP and #NASCARPortland or by signing up for the E-Club on the website.