Spire Motorsports used the off week to evaluate where they were as a race team. And ahead of Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Spire made the decision to part ways with No. 7 team crew chief Rodney Childers. Childers explained the sudden split during a Monday appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Just a […]
Spire Motorsports used the off week to evaluate where they were as a race team. And ahead of Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Spire made the decision to part ways with No. 7 team crew chief Rodney Childers.
Childers explained the sudden split during a Monday appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Just a few races into their nine-race stint, Childers knew something was off.
“Everything was going fine,” Childers said. “You could kind of tell after we got racing a little bit that maybe it wasn’t going the way that we all wanted. You know, and a lot of times, that’s performance-based or that can be how things are going at the shop or how things are going at the racetrack, and what’s the communication like? And just the chemistry of all of it. It’s not one person, it’s not two people, you know it’s 200 people. Just figuring that out as we went.”
The chemistry did not improve as the season wore on. Eventually, it reached a point where both sides knew it was time for a breakup, Childers said.
“It finally [came to] a point where they could kind of tell I wasn’t happy, and I could kind of tell that maybe they weren’t happy. And it just started falling apart a little bit,” Childers said. “And I could sense it a little bit. Maybe a couple of weeks before [parting ways], it had kind of [gotten] quiet around. And anytime it gets quiet, you kind of start wondering, you know?”
Rodney Childers reveals future plans for NASCAR career
Childers, 48, was seen as a big coup for Spire when it signed him to a multi-year deal this past June. Childers joined Spire after Stewart-Haas Racing announced it would be closing its doors after the 2024 season. In September, Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie traded places.
Haley, who at the time was overperforming at Rick Ware Racing, was now driver of the No. 7 car. That meant that 2025 would be the first year of the Childers/Haley pairing. Haley sat 23rd in the points standings through nine races alongside Childers, with one top 10 finish. He finished 25th at Talladega, his first race with Ryan Sparks back atop the pit box.
For Childers, he’s a crew chief with 40 career victories. He won the 2014 Cup Series Championship with Kevin Harvick. He still wants to continue his career as a crew chief, hopefully finding his way back to Victory Lane in the future.
“I think in my statement, it was not really clear what I wanted, and I want to be clear in that I want to be a crew chief in the Cup Series like I’ve been,” Childers said. “I want to get past that 700 races [milestone]. Want to get to that 50-win mark. I want to be with a good team, a good driver that can win races. And I want that to be clear. I’m looking forward to figuring that out over the next six months and hopefully get back in Victory Lane.”
Hall’s Motorsports Trussville (Patience Itson / Bham Now) Rev your engines! Hall’s Motorsports in Trussville is open for business with top of the line motorcycles, dirt bikes, go-carts and more for the ultimate summer adventure. Read on for details. Why visit Hall’s Motorsports in Trussville Thrill seeker? Then Hall’s is the shop for you. Located […]
Rev your engines! Hall’s Motorsports in Trussville is open for business with top of the line motorcycles, dirt bikes, go-carts and more for the ultimate summer adventure.
Read on for details.
Why visit Hall’s Motorsports in Trussville
Thrill seeker? Then Hall’s is the shop for you.
Located at the Pinnacle by Urban Air, it offers everything needed to hit the trails, whether riding rugged terrain or sloshing through mud.
Here’s what you’ll find when you visit:
ATVS
UTVS
Dirt bikes
Motorcycles
Trailers
Watercraft
You’ll find popular brands, too, including:
Honda
Kawaski
Kymco
Polaris
Bonus: The store also offers parts, serve, repairs, crash estimates and general maintenance so you can keep riding.
Celebrate Hall’s Motorsports Ribbon Cutting + Grand Opening this June
Though the store is already open, they’ll be hosting some exciting events you’ll want to attend this summer.
Here’s what’s ahead:
Visit Hall’s Motorsports in Trussville
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Parella Motorsports Holdings Hires Scott Duncan as Chief Partnerships Officer
June 2, 2025 CHARLOTTE (June 2, 2025) – Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) announced that Scott Duncan joins the company as Chief Partnerships Officer, overseeing all business development and partnership efforts for the premier motorsports organization. Having spent more than three decades in the sport, Duncan is a seasoned motorsports sales executive with extensive experience across […]
CHARLOTTE (June 2, 2025) – Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) announced that Scott Duncan joins the company as Chief Partnerships Officer, overseeing all business development and partnership efforts for the premier motorsports organization.
Having spent more than three decades in the sport, Duncan is a seasoned motorsports sales executive with extensive experience across multiple racing series, including NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA and F1. With a strong track record securing high-value partnerships and sponsorships, Duncan’s expertise spans sales strategy and business development, having worked with teams, agencies and sports properties.
“We’re excited to have Scott join the PMH team,” said CEO Lee Giannone. “He brings a wealth of professional experience and success to us, and I’m confident he will advance our business.”
“I am thrilled to join PMH as their new Chief Partnerships Officer, and to work with a team of industry experts to increase revenue, deliver new and exciting partnerships, and grow the company,” said Duncan.
Beginning his career at Champion Spark Plug Company, followed by Talladega Superspeedway, Duncan later transitioned into agency roles, playing a key part in sponsorship sales for major racing organizations and delivering multi-year, seven-figure partnerships, including General Mills—with Cheerios and Pop Secret—and the Coca-Cola Racing Family. After introducing those sponsorships into NASCAR, Duncan then spent six years at the NASCAR Racing Experience, specializing in large-scale corporate programs. Following that, he launched his own consulting firm, DUNCO Marketing, which has allowed him to work with a range of top-tier motorsports clients over the last 13 years.
Duncan will begin transitioning into his new role today—just as PMH kicks off its busy summer swing, with events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (June 12-15), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (June 19-22) and more. Event information and tickets are available at SpeedTour.net.
Ryan Blaney races to first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the year at Nashville
“I’m ready to go celebrate,” Blaney said. The 2023 Cup champ had been racing well with five top-five finishes over the first half of this season. He finally got to victory lane for his 14th career victory and first since Martinsville in November after leading a race-high 139 laps. “I never gave up hope that’s […]
The 2023 Cup champ had been racing well with five top-five finishes over the first half of this season. He finally got to victory lane for his 14th career victory and first since Martinsville in November after leading a race-high 139 laps.
“I never gave up hope that’s for sure,” Blaney said. “We’ve had great speed all year. It just hasn’t really been the best year for us as far as good fortune. But (No.) 12 boys are awesome. They stick with it no matter how it goes.”
He became the ninth different winner this season and the fifth driver to win in as many races at Nashville. He also gave Team Penske a second straight Cup win at Nashville’s 1.33-mile concrete track.
Blaney, who started 15th, quickly drove his way to the front as he won the second stage. He easily held off Carson Hocevar by 2.83 seconds. Hocevar matched his career-best finish at Atlanta in February after complaining during the race that his No. 77 Chevrolet was undriveable.
“Either I’m really dramatic or they’re really good on adjustments,” Hocevar said. “Probably a little bit of both, but, yeah, proud of this group proud of this car. A place that is really, really difficult to pass, we’re able to go 26th to second.”
Denny Hamlin finished third in his 700th career Cup Series race, matching the third-place finish by Jeff Gordon at Darlington in 2013 for the best finish in a driver’s 700th race. Joey Logano, who won here last year, was fourth and William Byron fifth.
Hamlin was hoping for one more caution that never came after seven cautions for 35 laps.
“Just couldn’t run with the 12 (Blaney) there in the super long run,” Hamlin said. “After 40 laps, I could maintain with him. But then after that, he just pulled away and stretched it on us.”
There was a sprint to the finish under green forcing teams and drivers to pick and choose went to pit. Blaney had led 107 laps when he went to the pits under green flag on lap 248. Hamlin took the lead before going to pit road on lap 256.
Crew chief Jonathan Hassler said they decided on Blaney’s fifth and final pit stop trying to make sure he could get back out into the cleanest air possible.
“It was really nice just to finish off a race,” Hassler said.
Brad Keselowski had the lead when he went to the pits on lap 269. Blaney took the lead for the final 31 laps.
Waiting on a call
Hamlin raced Sunday night hoping to take advantage of his starting spot spot beside pole-sitter Chase Briscoe. Whether Hamlin would chase his third win this season had been in question with his third child, a boy, due the same day.
Hamlin practiced and qualified well, so he drove his No. 11 Toyota even as Joe Gibbs Racing had Ryan Truex on standby in case Hamlin got the call that his fiancee was in labor. Hamlin won the first stage and survived the final stretch without water or fresh air.
Tyler Reddick beat his boss Hamlin, a co-owner of his 23XI Racing team, to new parent status, which Reddick announced on social media earlier Sunday.
His family welcomed their second son at 2:20 a.m. on May 25, then Reddick followed up hours later by finishing 26th in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
Early night
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. didn’t finish his first race this year. He was the first out when Hocevar tapped his No. 47 Chevrolet, spinning Stenhouse into the wall between Turns 3 and 4 for the second caution of the race on lap 106.
Punishment and more penalties possible?
AJ Allmendinger started at the back of the field and served a stop-and-go penalty after the green flag for an unapproved adjustment to the splitter during Saturday’s practice. His No. 16 Chevrolet was sent back to the garage and then the scanning station before practice and qualifying.
The No. 66 Ford of Chad Finchum failed inspection twice leading to engineer Austin Webb’s ejection. The Garage 66 team also lost pit stall selection.
Up next
NASCAR heads to Michigan International Speedway for the Cup Series on June 8.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Some of the biggest NASCAR news this season came out this past week when executives suggested there could be an increase in horsepower later this season. While the potential increase would only be under specific circumstances, Hendrick Motorsports is highlighting the possibility for even more. During an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports vice president […]
Some of the biggest NASCAR news this season came out this past week when executives suggested there could be an increase in horsepower later this season. While the potential increase would only be under specific circumstances, Hendrick Motorsports is highlighting the possibility for even more.
During an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports vice president of powertrain Scott Maxim shed light on the feasibility for engine manufacturers to increase horsepower. Manufacturers already ‘have a pretty good understanding’ of what changes need to be made to get to 750 horsepower. If NASCAR wants to open the door for even more, it would require significantly more changes, but could be done.
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Related: NASCAR execs suggest horsepower increase might come later this season
“If we were to have a higher target than [750] then that would require some more extensive changes, which we could do.”
Hendrick Motorsports VP of Powertrain Scott Maxim on increasing NASCAR horsepower in the Cup Series
NASCAR started reducing horsepower in 2015, with a vision of creating a more even playing field between teams. There was a progressive decline from over 800 horsepower (2014) to 750 horsepower (2015) followed by a steep reduction to 550 horsepower and then a slight increase to 670 horsepower in 2022 with the introduction of the Next Gen car.
The sport’s executives got what they wanted, with the field of cars running closer together to create the visual of closer races. However, the quality of races has decreased considerably in recent seasons, with the Next Gen car largely only performing well at mile-and-a-half tracks.
Also Read: Reporter shares when Corey Heim could become a full-time Cup Series driver
Teams, drivers and fans have been calling for a horsepower increase ever since. While NASCAR’s original idea created a more even playing field, teams like Hendrick Motorsports eventually found other advantages. So, while the top teams are winning more consistently, the quality of the races still hasn’t improved and passing remains down.
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For the time being, NASCAR officials are only leaving the door open to raising horsepower to 750 on short-track courses. It’s viewed as a starting point by drivers and fans, hopefully the beginning of further increases across all tracks in 2026 and beyond.
Related: NASCAR standings for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series
If NASCAR horsepower increases to 750 this season, it should lead to more passing and would be a good test run to see if the change should be approved for all tracks. From there, teams and NASCAR officials can have discussions this offseason about long-term changes.
At the very least, between discussions of increasing horsepower and NASCAR proposing that teams can make limited alterations to the cars for the All-Star Race, it’s clear there’s at least a chance at meaningful change. It might not mean immediate improvements, but it’s a step in the right direction after fans and drivers felt years of frustration were effectively ignored.
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Also Read: Insider reveals Denny Hamlin’s future with Joe Gibbs Racing
Ryan Blaney wins NASCAR Cup race at Nashville for Team Penske
Ryan Blaney was dominant throughout the night at Nashville, leading 139 of 300 laps on his to collecting the checkered flag in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford. “I never gave up hope, that’s for sure,” said Blaney. “We’ve had great speed all year, just hasn’t been the best year for us as far as […]
Ryan Blaney was dominant throughout the night at Nashville, leading 139 of 300 laps on his to collecting the checkered flag in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.
“I never gave up hope, that’s for sure,” said Blaney. “We’ve had great speed all year, just hasn’t been the best year for us as far as good fortune. The 12 boys are awesome; they stick with it no matter how it goes, and it was great to finish one out tonight.”
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Blaney praised crew chief Jonathan Hassler as he reflected further on his race, saying, “We drove up to seventh there in the first stage, and I thought two tires were great. I thought my car was really good, and that really set us up for the rest of the race, so great job by him, as always, all the 12 boys, appreciate what they do pit crew was great.”
Carson Hocevar matched his career-best finish, placing second, with Stage 1 winner Denny Hamlin taking third. Joey Logano, who won at Nashville last year, finished fourth while William Byron finished fifth.
Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, and Christopher Bell filled out the remainder of the top ten.
Ross Chastain, who won last week’s Coke 600, fell out of the top ten in the closing laps and placed 11th.
Difficult to pass
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
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The race saw Joe Gibbs Racing firmly in control early, with polesitter Chase Briscoe and later Hamlin in an incident-free opening stage. Blaney was able to gain a lot of track position after running long in the first run of the race, opting to take just two tires in the stage break.
Stage 2 was a very different story as the aggression picked up. Drivers realized how difficult it was to pass and were desperately trying to make up ground on the restarts. Ricky Stenhouse recorded his first DNF of the year after contact from Carson Hocevar sent him into the wall. He expressed his frustration after, and hinted at possible payback in the future.
Alex Bowman was the next driver to go around, slamming the wall and taking Noah Gragson with him. Christopher Bell also went for a spin, and the rash of yellows ended with Truck Series Corey Heim crashing out of the race after trying to clear up in front of Brad Keselowski.
The final stage was much cleaner with a single-car spin by Ryan Preece being the only spin. After that, Blaney went unchallenged as the field approached green-flag pit stops.
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Jones began the cycle with just over 65 laps to go, with Blaney following a few laps later. Hamlin waited a bit longer, making his final pit stop with 44 laps to go. But it was Hocevar who jumped from sixth to second, undercutting several cars after he chose to pit early.
Hocevar cut into Blaney’s lead as he struggled in lapped traffic, but Hocevar stalled out after catching the same group of cars.
For Blaney, this is his 14th career win as he becomes the ninth different winner of the 2025 season.
Photos from Nashville – Race
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaSean Gardner / Getty Images
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordSean Gardner / Getty Images
Kirkwood wins IndyCar race in Detroit despite front wing damage – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic
DETROIT (WISH) — Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood picked up his second win of the NTT IndyCar Series season on Sunday. Kirkwood won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the streets of downtown Detroit. He previously won the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach back in April. “That’s now four (career) wins for me, and they […]
DETROIT (WISH) — Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood picked up his second win of the NTT IndyCar Series season on Sunday.
Kirkwood won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the streets of downtown Detroit.
He previously won the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach back in April.
“That’s now four (career) wins for me, and they all came from street courses,” Kirkwood said. “It means I need to start winning at some other places if I’m being honest.”
Kirkwood spoke with News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff on SportsLocker Sunday following his victory.
Kirkwood led a race-high 48 laps in the victory. He won the race despite suffering some damage to his front wing with under 25 laps to go after he made contact with Kyffin Simpson as Kirkwood passed the Chip Ganassi Racing driver for position.
“The front wing damage that I had really didn’t do much to our car, surprisingly enough,” Kirkwood said. “I think it’s just the nature of the circuit. Everything is so, so slow here that downforce isn’t really that big of a deal. It’s more mechanical grip related. So actually losing a portion of the front wing, or it not working as efficiently enough, just allowed us to continue on and keep moving.”
Kirkwood’s victory comes a week after his Andretti Global team was penalized for technical violations following the Indy 500. His sixth place finish in the Indy 500 was changed to a 32nd place finish. Kirkwood said having a good result on Sunday following the penalties this past week was important.
“It’s an exclamation point on everything that’s happened,” Kirkwood said. “The team builds race-winning and championship-caliber race cars. And we showed it here once again, even after the drama. So, it was important that we got that win here today. It puts us in the right mindset going forward.”
With the win, Kirkwood is now third in the IndyCar standings, 102 points behind points leader Alex Palou.
“The way I look at it now is we got to average – this is obvious – average 12 points ahead of him every, single race from here on out,” Kirkwood said.
A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci and Andretti Global’s Colton Herta finished second and third respectively.
It was the first all U.S.-born podium for an IndyCar race since 2020.
The next IndyCar race of the season will be on Sunday, June 15 at World Wide Technology Raceway.