The 79th annual Jefferson County Fair will offer plenty of familiar favorites, like live music; food and craft vendors; carnival rides and four motorsport events.

The four-day festival is set for Thursday through Sunday, July 17-20, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Hwy. 21, in Hillsboro. The Fair hours are 5-11 p.m. July 17; 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 18; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 19; 3-9 p.m. July 20.

Admission is free for children 10 and younger and for active military members. Admission costs $15 for adults and provides the ticketholder with access to all events, including those held at the arena, pavilions and Civic Club buildings and grounds.

Special passes are available for $50 and include four tickets that may be used in different ways. One person could use the pass to attend all four nights, two people could use it for two nights or four people could use it for one night. The special pass must be purchased before noon on July 16. To purchase tickets, go to jeffersoncountyfair.net and at the top of the page, click on “events” then “event tickets.”

“There is an advantage to buying the tickets online,” Fair chairman Randy Starkey said. “The (ticket) line does get long, especially on Friday and Saturday; those are our biggest nights.”

Parking will be available onsite and at the Hillsboro Intermediate School and Hillsboro High School lots. Shuttle services will offer rides to and from the Fair on July 18 and July 19.

Pig races will return to the Fair this year and will be held every two hours by the barns. The races will take place all four days.

“We had (the races) for the first time last year, and those were a big hit,” Starkey said. “They set up an oval racetrack, and it’s a lot like a horse race.”

A carnival midway will offer rides all four days of the festival. Single-day, unlimited-ride armbands will cost $28 (plus a $1.25 surcharge) in advance or $36 onsite. To purchase armbands in advance, go to wadeshows.com and click on “find an event” and then scroll down to “Jefferson County Fair.” Individual tickets also are available online and onsite.

A variety of vendors will be on hand at this year’s Fair, including food vendors, crafters, military personnel, veterans and business representatives.

Starkey said the Fairgrounds have seen some big changes since last year.

“We laid a whole lot of asphalt around the walkway around the outside of the vendor area,” Starkey said.

He said two large sections of bleachers have been added, too.

Music

This year’s live music will feature country singer and songwriter Tyler Farr, set to headline the Budweiser Main Stage at 9 p.m. on July 18. At 7:30 p.m., country artist Ward Davis will open for Farr.

Other artists performing throughout the weekend include Scottie Kemp, the Lick Creek band and the Borderline band, all at the RWZ Pavilion. Many other artists are scheduled to perform on the Arnold Ready Mix Patio throughout the Fair.

VIP seating tickets for Farr’s performance may be purchased for $30. Those tickets will be sold first-come-first served and includes Fair entry.

Motorsports, other activities

A variety of motorsports will also return to the STL Diesel Arena this year, including Surdyke motocross at 7 p.m. on July 17; Surdyke SXS/ATV at 7 p.m. on July 18; a truck and tractor pull at 6 p.m. on July 19; and a demolition (demo) derby at 5 p.m. on July 20.

Kid’s Day at this year’s Fair will be from 3-6 p.m. on July 20. Some of the activities will include water play, games, face painting and crafts. Discounted carnival rides will also be available for children during the Kid’s Day hours.

A petting zoo will feature the Wildlife Command Center, camel rides and a butterfly aviary.

The livestock market show and auction will also return to the Fair this year. The market show will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Farm Bureau Barn on the Fairgrounds. The auction will feature cattle, hogs, goats and sheep. The auction and buyer dinner will begin at 5 p.m. For more information about registration, visit the Jefferson County Livestock Show Association Facebook page.

Starkey said this year’s profits will be used to continue giving back to the community through events, scholarships, donations to other community organizations, infrastructure improvements and more.

No pets, coolers or weapons are allowed at the Fair. Outside food and beverages are also prohibited.

For more information about the Fair, visit jeffersoncountyfair.net or call the Hillsboro Community Civic Club office at 636-797-3900 or check the Jefferson County Fair Facebook page.

Nine musical acts to perform at Fair

The Jefferson County Fair, set for Thursday through Sunday, July 17-20, will feature nine musical acts, with five returning after performing last year.

The performances will be held at either the Budweiser Main Stage, the RWZ Pavilion or the Arnold Ready Mix Patio at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Hwy. 21, in Hillsboro.

Admission to the concerts is free with a purchased ticket to the Fair. Tickets are free for children 10 and younger and for active military members. Admission costs $15 for adults and provides the ticketholder with access to all events, including those at the arena, pavilions and Hillsboro Community Civic Club buildings and grounds.

Special passes are available for $50 and include four tickets that may be used in different ways. For example, one person could use the pass to attend all four nights, two people could use it for two nights or four people could use it for one night. The special pass must be purchased before noon on July 16. To purchase tickets, go to jeffersoncountyfair.net and at the top of the page, click on “events” then “event tickets.”

VIP seating tickets for Farr’s performance cost $30. Those tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis and includes Fair entry.

Parking will be available onsite and at the Hillsboro Intermediate School and Hillsboro High School lots. A free shuttle service will offer rides to and from the Fair on July 18 and July 19.

Tyler Farr

Country singer/songwriter Tyler Farr is set to headline the Budweiser Main Stage at 9 p.m. July 18.

The Missouri native released his debut album, “Redneck Crazy,” in 2013, which landed at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums and No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. Since then, Farr’s success has continued, and he has toured with big-name country artists like Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Combs, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice.

Rolling Stone described Farr as “a no-frills musician who pours his drinks as hard as he pours his heart into his songs.”

In 2019, Farr was the first artist to be signed under Jason Aldean’s record label, Night Train Records, a part of Broken Bow Records (BBR).

Farr’s second EP was released in 2023 and includes a song featuring Grammy-nominated artist Jelly Roll.

Farr’s most recent single, “My Town Too,” has an upbeat modern country sound, showcasing an opera-trained voice. His other most recent song, “Coming to a Bar Near You,” is a soulful country ballad.

Ward Davis

Country singer-songwriter Ward Davis will open for Farr at 7:30 p.m. July 18 on the Budweiser Main Stage.

Originally from Arkansas, Davis moved to Nashville in the early 2000s to pursue his music career. Since then, he has worked with country stars like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Clint Black. Davis has also worked with country artist Cody Jinks and has been featured on some of Jinks’ albums. Davis also has co-written and toured with Jinks.

Some of Davis’ most popular works include songs like “Another Bad Apple,” “Get to Work Whiskey” and “Time to Move On.” His most recent album release, “The Bordello Sessions,” features live recordings of his set at Blue Heaven Restaurant and Bar in Key West, Fla.

RWZ Pavilion

Scottie Kemp, the Lick Creek band and the Borderline band are scheduled to perform at the RWZ Pavilion during the Fair.

■ Scottie Kemp, a solo singer and songwriter who specializes in country, classic rock and blues, will return to the Fair this year at 9 p.m. on July 17. Kemp is familiar to Jefferson Countians, performing at this year’s Jefferson County Rodeo and often playing at the El Mariachi restaurant in House Springs.

■ Lick Creek will also return to the Fair this year at 10:30 p.m. July 18. Founded in 2013, this six-member band from Springfield, Ill., comprises Clint Brockmeyer on lead guitar, harmonica and mandolin; Ryan King on lead guitar, banjo and mandolin; Jimmy Cloney on bass and vocals; Maddie Brown on guitar and lead vocals; Bob Bryant on drums; and Lance Stone on lead vocals. Pat Keating, owner of the Boondocks night club in Springfield, said the band is “One of the hottest country bands to come out of central Illinois.” Keating also said the band has a unique style and high energy, according to the band’s website.

■ The Borderline band, another returning band, is a six-member country rock group and will perform at 9 p.m. on July 19. Formed in the late 1990s, this St. Louis-based band has performed with country stars Trace Atkins, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and even this year’s Fair headliner, Tyler Farr. The band plays a variety of music, like today’s country hits, classic country hits and familiar classic rock tunes.

Patio

The patio lineup this year will include Scottie Kemp, Bill Scott, Dawn Turlington, 90 Proof Acoustics and Selena Robertson.

■ Singer and songwriter Scottie Kemp is set to play the patio at 5 p.m. July 17 and July 18.

■ Bill Scott is another performer returning to the Fair this year and is scheduled to play at 4 p.m. on July 19. Scott specializes in country music and sings many hits by popular artists.

■ Dawn Turlington will play the patio at 7 p.m. July 19. She sings many types of music, from show tunes, jazz standards, pop and even Top 40 hits. According to the La De Da Entertainment website, Turlington has a wide vocal range and is one of the most versatile female singers in the St. Louis area. She is often called to sing the national anthem for the St. Louis Blues Hockey organization.

■ The 90 Proof Acoustics duo will perform at 3 p.m. on July 20. The duo consists of Buddy Shadowens and Garr DeRousse, musicians from Festus who will play a mix of acoustic country and southern rock.

■ Singer Selena Robertson will perform at the Fair for the first time this year at 6 p.m. on July 20.

Fair will feature several motorsport events

The Jefferson County Fair will feature a variety of motorsport events for guests to enjoy this year. The Fair will run from Thursday through Sunday, July 17-20. Each motorsport event will be held in the STL Diesel Arena at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Hwy. 21, in Hillsboro.

Motocross

The Jeffco MX Classic, a motocross race presented by Surdyke Motorsports in the Festus area is set for 7 p.m. July 17 on the STL Diesel Arena.

This year’s competition will include 20 classes, and five of those will offer a cash payout. Other winners will receive a commemorative plaque.

“Depending on how many people sign up in different (classes), as we’re doing the racing, we may combine a couple,” said Matt Surdyke, president of Surdyke Motorsports. “So it won’t necessarily be that many individual races, but it’s one of those things you have to play by ear the night of and just see.”

Early registration costs $30, and registration on the day of the event is $35. It costs $10 to get access to the pit.

Early registration for riders is available until July 16 at Surdyke Motorsports, 1305 Hwy. 61, or at surdykemotorsports.com. Registration the day of the event is from 4-6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds and practice is at 6 p.m., an hour before the event begins.

To participate, riders must have basic safety equipment, such as a helmet, boots, goggles and a long shirt and pants.

“You should wear gloves and all that,” Surdyke said. “At the Fair races, you sometimes get a local kid who’s been riding around in his backyard, and he doesn’t have all the expensive gear, but he’s got the basics.”

Any rider younger than 18 will need a parental signature to participate.

Each registered rider will be entered for the chance to win a $250 gift card to Surdyke Motorsports, with one winner on Thursday and another on Friday.

For more information, call Surdyke at 636-931-9166 or email marketing@surdykemotorsports.com.

SXS and ATV Race

The SXS (side-by-side) and ATV racing events presented by Surdyke will be held at 7 p.m. July 18 in the STL Diesel Arena.

“We do usually, like, eight classes for that one, a couple of them being four-wheelers, ATV, and two that are specifically four-wheeler,” Surdyke said. “The youth class can be four-wheeler or ATV, and then we have five side-by-side classes.”

Early registration costs $30, and registration on the day of is $35. Access to the pit costs $10. Registration the day of the event is from 4-6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds, and practice is at 6 p.m.

To participate in the events, riders will need to follow a set of safety requirements and wear some protective gear.

“Not near as much (equipment as motocross) – a helmet really is the basic,” Surdyke said. “On ATV, it’s helmet and boots and long pants, but on the side-by-side, because you’re in a full cage, I think a helmet and eye protection.”

Any rider under the age of 18 needs a parental signature to participate. Races will be divided up by age ranges.

This year winners will receive a commemorative plaque.

Each registered rider will be entered in a drawing to win a $250 gift card to Surdyke Motorsports, with one winner on July 17 and on July 18.

“Fair racing is always fun to watch because at least half of the guys who sign up are people who don’t race regularly, so that adds a level of excitement to it,” Surdyke said. “My favorite race of all of them is the little 3- to 5-year-olds who are out there. In their minds, they’re going 1,000 miles an hour.”

For more information, call Surdyke at 636-931-9166 or email marketing@surdykemotorsports.com.

Truck and Tractor Pull

The Truck and Tractor Pull, organized by the Eastern Missouri Truck Pullers and Xcaliber Pulling Association, will start at 6 p.m. on July 19 in the STL Diesel Arena.

EMTP will have gas and diesel classes, including street stock gas, small block gas, hot stock gas, pro street gas, pro stock gas, true stock diesel, hot stock diesel, work stock diesel and 2.6 smooth bore diesel.

That organization will hold technical inspections from 3:30-5:30 p.m. followed by registration from 4-6 p.m. A driver meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

To register for truck pulling, you must be 16 or older with a valid driver’s license; those younger than 18 must have parental consent and a signed waiver.

The cost to get a “hook” and participate in those events is $40 for EMTP non-members and $30 for members.

“If (people) have a stock vehicle and would like to pull, they just have to be there in time to get their vehicle checked and qualify, and they will be allowed to pull,” said Dwight Terry, owner of EMTP.

For the tractor pull, the Xcaliber Pulling Association classes will include 9000 Pro Farm and 5800 Modified.

Registration will be held a few hours prior to the event. Once someone is registered, then the inspection will be held.

Participants must pay $160 for a one-day membership if they are not already Xcaliber members.

“It’s basically like a membership for the day so they’re covered under the insurance,” Xcaliber Pulling president Bobby Crawford said. “They have to pay a hook fee also, depending on what class they’re in.”

The hook fee is $30 for all classes, except the 1/4 class, which costs $40.

“That’s kind of our big class,” Crawford said.

For more information about the truck pulls and safety requirements, visit easternmissouritruckpullers.com/rules or call Dwight Terry at 314-262-4008.

For more information on the tractor pulls and safety requirements visit xcaliberpullingassociation.com.

Demo Derby

The Full Throttle Demo Derby is scheduled for 5 p.m. July 20 in the STL Diesel Arena.

Several classes and a special kids’ section will be held this year. The classes include super stock, stock, mini street stock and modified mini street stock for those 16 and older. The youth street class is for kids ages 12-15, and the kids’ power wheels derby will include two classes for kids – 3-5 and 6-9.

A prize will be awarded to each of the top three winners in each class. In the modified mini class, there will be one winner who will receive $1,000 if more than 15 cars participate in each class. Each kid’s power wheel derby participant will also receive a goodie bag.

Fair chairman Randy Starkey said organizers will expect 40 cars to participate this year.

Drivers and riders will be charged $45 to participate. Admission to get into the pit is $25. Admission is free for children 9 or younger.

A mandatory inspection for the event will be held from noon to 4 p.m.

The team post said the sprint car driver was in a wheelchair as he was tossed by security at Sonoma Raceway during the NASCAR race; Sending him back to the hospital

Chase Johnson is a sprint car driver that was severely injured in a sprint car crash. He suffered multiple vertebrae fractures in the incident on August 2nd, 2024.

The crash at Silver Dollar Speedway landed the driver in a wheelchair.

He’s been in recovery ever since. Last year he shared an update from the hospital, “It’s been a tough road to get to this point, the most pain I’ve ever experienced in my whole life. Didn’t know that pain could be this hard, but I’ve been working really, really hard to get better.”

On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series raced at Sonoma Raceway. Chase Johnson was there and according to a now deleted Facebook post from the Chase Johnson Racing page, there was an altercation between Chase and security at the track.

According to the post, that altercation sent Chase to the hospital:

Chase Johnson Racing shared the following:

“Sunday, July 13th at the NASCAR race at Sonoma Raceway, Chase was physically assaulted and hurt by this security guard on pit row,” the team opened via a now deleted social media post.

“Chase was physically pushed hard enough to flip him and his wheelchair completely backwards and upside down. When his head hit the concrete, he lost consciousness for about 15 seconds.”

“We spent the next hour in the med center at the racetrack, then went directly to the hospital after that, where he was at until early Monday morning.”

The story

“Here is the story: Chase and Hayley were leaving the race track headed back to the truck that was parked at the handicap parking lot which is in a completely different area than the normal parking lots.”

“The security guard at the top of the pit row gave them direction to go down pit road towards turn 11 to exit. They finally made it all the way down to the end of pit road to the exit where another security guard was at.”

“He then for some reason said we needed credentials to exit. We showed him the appropriate credentials.”

“At the same time, individuals with the same credentials were allowed by at this same moment. We asked him multiple times to call his supervisor. We tried to explain that was are parked in the handicap parking lot not the normal parking lot.”

“He also went on to tell us that another ‘crippled’ that was worse than I was, had to turn around and go back the other way. After this point, he said he wasn’t going to get his supervisor and told Chase he wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Immediately after those words he shoved Chase backwards with his hands on his chest. He flew backwards with his hands on his chest.”

“He flew backwards with the chair. It was a hard enough push to completely flip the wheelchair over the wheelie bars/tip bars. He hit his head on the ground, along with his neck, back and shoulders.”

Chase Johnson went to the hospital

“Chase woke up on the ground with Hayley in a panic holding his head. The crowd of people and other witnesses around were shocked and in panic trying to get help and medical attention.”

“The NASCAR medical team and some other officials came over, checked out Chase. They helped him back into his chair. Then, they took him to the Med Center and they suggested that he should go to the hospital.”

“We went to Kaiser in Santa Rosa, spent a little over eight hours there. Chase had CT scans on his head, neck and back. In the CT scan, they found a 5mm crack on C1.”

“This then prompted a MRI, which resulted in showing spinal swelling to the C6 and T2 areas on the spinal cord. The doctors had a difficult time determining if these injuries were part of Chase’s initial injury or if these were new.”

“He was released early Monday morning, and was recommended to wear a neck collar to the next couple weeks or until he feels better.”

“Chase’s wheelchair also has damage. The back rest is broken along with the back of the chair now scratched from the pavement.”

“The Sonoma County Sheriff was there at Sonoma Raceway and ended up taking him to the Sonoma County jail.”

The post above from CJR has since been deleted.

Links

Chase Johnson Racing

The Motorcycle Industry Council announced on July 11 the appointment of Henrique Martins as director of electric vehicle policy and infrastructure.

With over 25 years of experience in regulatory compliance, certification, and homologation, Martins has worked with major automakers and startups worldwide, leading efforts in EV policy development, certification of motorcycles and off-road vehicles, and regulatory alignment.

Martins held leadership roles at Automobili Pininfarina, Mahindra Automotive North America, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. He oversaw spearheading initiatives related to battery safety, global standards, and EV charging infrastructure. Most recently, Martins served as vice president of certification, homologation, and compliance at Quantron US, leading the certification of zero-emission trucks and buses across North and South America and Europe.

Martins contributed regulatory expertise to emerging technology platforms focused on compliance strategy and policy trends. His work has taken him across the globe, including extended engagements in Europe, China, India, Australia, and South America, giving him a uniquely international perspective on the challenges and opportunities in EV policy and innovation.

“I’m thrilled to join the Motorcycle Industry Council, along with the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, at such a pivotal moment for the future of powersports and mobility. This role brings together so many of the things I care about: powersports, protecting the environment and promoting access to the outdoors, and shaping policies that promote innovation, safety, and sustainability.” — Henrique Martins

Martins holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and has completed additional technical training at the University of Michigan. He has authored technical papers and presented them at international conferences, including those hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Registration is officially open for the 2025 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, the world’s largest and most influential gathering for motorsports professionals. Set to take place December 11–13 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the event will bring together thousands of racing industry members for three days of innovation, networking, and business growth. Attendees can register now at PRI2025.com/Attend.

More than 1,000 exhibiting companies will showcase cutting-edge products, services, and technologies—from race parts and machinery to simulation tools, trailers, and more—making the PRI Show the ultimate destination for motorsports professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve.

“Motorsports is a powerful economic engine, and the PRI Show is where that impact becomes tangible—where the industry gathers to innovate, collaborate, and drive the business of racing forward,” said PRI President Michael Good. “As we open registration for 2025, we’re proud to continue building a platform that fuels growth and opportunity across every segment of the motorsports community.”

Racing drives jobs, wages, and revenue in every corner of the country, a point proven by the recently released PRI Motorsports Economic Impact Study. The landmark study found that the motorsports industry contributes more than $69.2 billion in annual economic impact to the American economy, supports more than 318,000 American jobs, and generates more than $22.1 billion in wages and benefits.

The PRI Show plays a critical role in sustaining that momentum – serving as a central hub where businesses across the motorsports ecosystem come together to showcase innovation, forge partnerships, and strengthen the industry’s economic foundation.

The 2025 PRI Show will feature exclusive experiences and activations designed to deliver unmatched value to attendees, including:

• Grand Opening Breakfast – The traditional kickoff to the Show, held Thursday morning before the exhibit halls open.

• Featured Products Showcase – A curated display of the newest and most in-demand motorsports products.

• PRI Education Program – A robust lineup of seminars offering insights, strategies, and solutions for today’s racing businesses.

• TOPS HQ – A dedicated lounge and workspace for track operators, promoters, and sanctioning bodies to connect and collaborate.

• Trailer Exhibit Area – A side-by-side comparison zone for the latest race trailers, haulers, and motorhomes.

• Sim Racing Arena – A fully immersive experience into the fast-growing world of sim racing.

• PRI Paddock – The place to get helpful information about the Show and see the famous hanging race car.

• Machinery Row – Live demonstrations of precision machining equipment in action.

• PRI Full Throttle Social – A reimagined industry networking event that brings the entire PRI Show motorsports community together to celebrate the first day of the Show.

“The 2025 PRI Show will deliver an unmatched experience for racing professionals at every level,” said PRI Show Director Karin Davidson. “From hands-on product demos and immersive activations to targeted networking spaces and world-class education, this year’s Show is designed to help attendees discover new opportunities, make meaningful connections, and leave inspired to take their businesses to the next level.”

The PRI Show draws attendees from all 50 states and around the globe, including race teams, retailers, engine builders, fabricators, media, and more. Early registration ensures attendees receive their credentials in advance—starting in October—saving time and avoiding lines at the Show.
To register, book hotel accommodations, and learn more about the 2025 PRI Show, visit PRI2025.com/Attend.

About Performance Racing Industry: Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports racers, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies, and businesses through legislative advocacy, its monthly magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade event—the PRI Show. The motorsports industry contributes $69.2 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports over 318,000 American jobs, and generates more than $22.1 billion in wages and benefits. Learn more at PerformanceRacing.com.

Chris Knight

Chris Knight has served as a senior staff writer and news editor for CATCHFENCE.com since 2001.
In his 20-plus years with CATCHFENCE.com, he has covered NASCAR’s top three national series, often breaking news and providing exclusive at-track content, including in-depth race weekend coverage. He also offers insider coverage of the entire Motorsports platform, including the ARCA Menards Series.
In 2022, Knight became co-owner of CATCHFENCE.com.
In addition to his active duties at CATCHFENCE.com and other Motorsports-related endeavors, he is also a frequent contributor to SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Knighter01 or on Instagram, Snapchat, or Threads at @TheKnighter01. He can be reached by email at [email protected].

Imagine you are a NASCAR team owner today with a multi-car organization, and some of your cars are currently out of the playoffs with six races remaining in the regular season. You’ve watched as Shane van Gisbergen has won three road course races in a month to leap your cars in the standings, get his team into the playoffs, and prepare to cash in on the accompanying extra money he’ll get from finishing in the top 16 of the Cup Series points.

Heck, the guy is third in the playoff standings as a rookie. He’s tied for the series lead in wins this year! So what do you do as an owner? Would you be able to avoid being a prisoner of the moment? Because it sure would be tempting to allow van Gisbergen’s success to change the calculation for how you run a race team.

Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, always with a mind on being the “disruptor,” surely has done it this time. He figured out a way to game the NASCAR playoff system in a way no one else has.

While we knew there was an opportunity for a road course ringer to win their way into the playoffs — AJ Allmendinger has long been proof of that — no road racer with this type of dominance has come along until now. You can say it’s the perfect combination of van Gisbergen’s background (touring cars in Australia which are a distant cousin to NASCAR’s Next Gen) and timing (the Next Gen is a spec car, which gives van Gisbergen equal equipment to his competitors).

But van Gisbergen hasn’t just won a single race. He’s won three. And no matter what playoff format NASCAR comes up with, there’s always going to be a spot in the field for multi-time race winners.

From winless to one of the top seeds in the #NASCARPlayoffs.

Talk about a swing for @shanevg97! pic.twitter.com/Fm3P3bFqaT

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 14, 2025

Even if they shrunk the field to 12 drivers, he’d be in. And back in the traditional 10-race Chase, NASCAR tweaked the format to allow for a “wild card” spot (the highest driver outside the points with the most wins). So van Gisbergen, with three wins, is a playoff driver no matter how you slice it.

If you don’t think teams notice this, you’re lying to yourself.

“This is showing the relevance of mastering (road course) races (in) NASCAR,” former open-wheel and NASCAR driver Max Papis posted Sunday night on X. “This will open (the) door to a variety of racers that might never had a (shot) at it.”

That’s how it always works in NASCAR. A short-track racer finds success in the Cup Series, and suddenly that’s the hot area to look for prospects. An open-wheel driver successfully makes the transition and then team owners give someone else a try. Sprint car drivers show their adapability to stock cars and suddenly everyone races to find the next star from the dirt world.

Maybe now Supercars drivers are the answer. Except it’s not that simple, and it doesn’t give van Gisbergen the proper credit for what he’s achived.

Instead of just assuming it’s all because of his background or experience level, why not point to his unbelievable skill? The bottom line is team owners can hire other drivers in a similar mold, but there might be only one SVG.

Playoff field forecast

Because of the opportunity for drivers like van Gisbergen — who was outside the top 32 in points last month and missed the cut for the In-Season Challenge bracket — to get into the playoffs win a single victory, road course races have lately been viewed as “wild card” events similar to superspeedways.

Except … nah. Not anymore, with van Gisbergen such a heavy favorite. The playoff-bubble drivers are quite fortunate that he has won three in a row, because it has prevented someone like a Michael McDowell or Ty Gibbs from nabbing a spot and moving the cutoff line upward.

Check out the bubble now: Tyler Reddick is 149 points up on the cutoff and is the only “safe” driver on points. Chris Buescher (+34), Alex Bowman (+32) and Bubba Wallace (+3) could all see their tentative spots wiped away if there were new winners from outside the top 16.

But how many more winners will there be? Let’s rank the final six regular-season races by upset potential:

1. Daytona (Aug. 23): Very likely. You almost have to pencil in an upset winner here and assume that will be another new playoff entry.

2. Watkins Glen (Aug. 10): About 50-50. Again, not really a wild card anymore, but if van Gisbergen doesn’t win again, it does open the door for McDowell, Gibbs, Buescher or Allmendinger.

3. Richmond (Aug. 16): Not likely. It should be a driver from one of the big teams. Then again, remember Austin Dillon in this race last year?

4. Iowa (Aug. 3): Not likely. Probably a Christopher Bell/Kyle Larson/Ryan Blaney type win from someone already in the top 10 of the standings.

5. Dover (Sunday): No way. There hasn’t been an upset at Dover in the last 20 years.

6. Indianapolis (July 27): Slim to none. Not with every team bringing their A-game for a crown jewel race.

So in reality, we’re looking at maybe two more different winners? That’s two spots available on points, which would lock Reddick in before Daytona and make the race between Buescher and Bowman — and possibly Wallace if he can string a few good weeks together — for the last playoff position.

Brad Keselowski called for a reduction in road courses in NASCAR’s premier circuit, which is up to six such tracks on the schedule. (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)

Back to left turns

Brad Keselowski last week argued there are too many road courses in NASCAR.

“NASCAR was successfully built as a primarily oval racing series,” Keselowski wrote on X. “IMSA was built as the primary road course series in North America. IMSA will always do road racing better than NASCAR and that’s OK.”

He’s right. For a series that had traditionally had two per year (Sonoma and Watkins Glen) as novelties, to have expanded to six in less than a decade has felt like overkill — especially with the IMSA-like Next Gen car, which doesn’t put on particularly compelling shows on those circuits.

But what is the sweet spot for NASCAR road racing? Keselowski said two to four is “plenty enough.” We’d lean toward four, because that would perhaps cut the Roval and Circuit of the Americas (despite being a beautiful track in a great market) and leave NASCAR with: Sonoma and Watkins Glen (the traditional NASCAR road races), a street race (Chicago, San Diego, etc.) and an international race (Mexico City, Montreal, somewhere in Europe).

Any more than that starts to give road-course fatigue, when in reality most NASCAR followers are oval fans first who will tolerate the occasional right turns — as long as it’s not overdone. And right now feels like it’s too much.

Lawsuit latest

The two teams suing NASCAR for being an illegal monopoly, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, filed another request for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to retain their charter status for this weekend’s race at Dover Motor Speedway. NASCAR has until Wednesday to respond, and a ruling by the district court judge could come before the Dover weekend begins.

With a federal appeals court overruling an earlier preliminary injunction that allowed the teams to race with charter status for 2025 while their lawsuit is pending, their combined six entries would have to race as “open” cars at Dover, barring a legal victory this week.

Further adding urgency to the matter is NASCAR’s letter to the teams informing them there is interest to reassign or sell the charters, which puts the teams at risk of going out of business should they lose their charter status permanently. NASCAR has said in court it does not want to be forced into a contractual relationship with teams it does not want to do business with, which describes its current feelings about 23XI and Front Row.

While the teams have committed to running as “open” for the remainder of the season and paying the financial difference out of pocket, being non-charter teams does not appear to be a viable model for NASCAR organizations in the long run. There’s simply too much money at stake. Plus, Reddick could become a free agent as soon as this week if the charters go away; a clause in his contract requires the team to provide him with a chartered entry.

Of course, another preliminary injunction from the district court would buy more time and possibly get the teams through to the end of the season and the Dec. 1 trial date. But without that order, the teams will be facing a different reality beginning at Dover.

(Top photo of Shane van Gisbergen celebrating Sunday’s win: Trinity Machan / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)