One of Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club drivers revealed his retirement could be coming sooner than expected.
Erik Jones, who drives the No. 43 car for LMC in the NASCAR Cup Series, recently spoke to Motor Racing Network’s Steve Post about his career plans and balancing a variety of responsibilities, which now include being the father to a one-year-old. It comes after a NASCAR settlement gave team owners more than 40 million reasons to thank Michael Jordan.
“I was talking with somebody yesterday and we were kind of laughing about my schedule at times and how busy it gets,” Jones said. “I told them, I’m just frontloading my whole life and career right now.”
“It’s all stuff I love, and with the young one now, it’s gotten even busier,” he added. “But you know it’s fun to kind of balance all that time and get to figure out how to make it all work.”
Jones, 29, originally joined Richard Petty Motorsports, which eventually became Petty GMS Motorsports and later Legacy Motor Club, in October 2020, and recently signed a multi-year contract extension in August 2024 to stay with the Johnson-owned team.
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In five seasons with LCM, Jones has won one race, the 2022 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and recorded 33 top 10 finishes and nine top five finishes.
Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, who drives the No. 42 car, are LCM’s only two full-time drivers. Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, continues to drive in a part-time role in the No. 84 car.
In 2025, Jones recorded four top five finishes, including a season best third-place finish at the Southern 500 at Darlington, the site of his most recent win in 2022.
In addition to being a full-time NASCAR driver, Jones has found time to participate in super late model races when it does not overlap with his LCM duties.
Add in his charity work through the Erik Jones Foundation, which he founded in 2021, and the birth of his son in November 2024, and Jones has begun to consider life beyond his racing career.
“It’s been different, in a couple ways. It changes your perspective definitely, it makes you look at things pretty different,” Jones said about how the birth of his son changed his life. “The hardest thing is probably your schedule changes so much… all of a sudden you’re not really on your time anymore, you’re on his time now.”
NHRA Announces Great Lakes Nationals At U.S. 131 Motorsports Park!
Dec 15, 2025Darr Hawthorne1320 Drag News, 1320 NHRA News, 1320 Vile Rumors And Gossip, BangShift 1320
(Words by Darr Hawthorne) • The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will host a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals opening the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
The new event, scheduled for Sept. 18–20 in Martin, Michigan, will serve as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff rounds. Tickets go on sale February 1, 2026. U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will also host an NHRA national open on July 8-9, leading into a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event on July 10-12.
While NHRA framed this announcement as continued growth, the move effectively ends the Keystone Nationals following the IHRA’s acquisition of Maple Grove Raceway, removing one of the sport’s most historic venues from the NHRA national event schedule. 2025 celebrated the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove.
It should be noted that the seating capacity of Maple Grove is upwards of 30,000 while U.S. 131 Motorsports Park reportedly accommodates some 12,000 plus spectators.
The Great Lakes Nationals will mark NHRA’s first national event at U.S. 131 and brings the total to four “new” National Event facilities for 2026. A majority of those tracks were formerly AHRA or IHRA or Outlaw Street sanctions. This shift underscores a changing landscape for NHRA, as expansion into new markets comes at the expense of long-established tracks with large capacity grandstands, raising questions about tradition, territory, and the long-term direction of the national event calendar during NHRA’s milestone 75th Anniversary Season.
Very Cool Onboard Video: The Mercedes C11 Did Not Disappoint! Check Out These Racing Highlights on Spa – HQ V8 sound
With the antitrust lawsuit now settled, NASCAR’s attention has shifted toward delivering on the changes it pledged as part of the resolution. Although officials had already floated the idea of format adjustments last year, the sanctioning body later clarified that any structural revisions would not take effect until the 2026 season. That timeline, however, does little to unsettle Joey Logano.
The debate around NASCAR’s championship structure has intensified in recent months. A big portion of the fan base continues to push for a return to a traditional season-long points system, while analysts also have suggested a hybrid approach, with both the regular season and postseason decided strictly on points.
At the same time, fans are also speculating that NASCAR may opt for a finale round rather than dismantling the playoff model entirely. Logano, despite having defended the current chase-style format more than most, remains unbothered by the uncertainty.
Rather than lobbying for one outcome or another, the Team Penske driver has said that his focus lies in his intention to adapt, regardless of the direction NASCAR ultimately chooses, and prepare to win under whatever framework emerges.
“I guess I liked where it was. But I’m going to like where we go to. Like, I’m okay with whatever they do is that’s still going to be the rules. And then we got to go figure out how to win,” said Logano.
That mindset has long defined Logano’s approach to competition. He sees little value in debating the merits of a system once the rules are set. For him, the responsibility begins only after the framework becomes official.
“Like it’s not my job to complain about what we have or what we’re going to have. Like my job is to say, ‘Okay, this is the rules. Okay, let’s figure out the strategy to win this thing.’ Like, how do we do that? I don’t really care what it is. Just tell me what it is. So then we can focus on doing that. But the bottom line is it’ll be the same for everybody, no matter what they come up with.”
Logano understands that parity remains constant regardless of format. Every driver will face the same conditions, the same constraints, and the same opportunities to contend for a championship. Once the rules are finalized, the task becomes execution, not evaluation. He also recognizes that clarity has yet to arrive and that uncertainty fuels much of the current discourse.
“It seems like a lot of people don’t like the format we have. I’m the minority in saying that I love it because I love the pressure part, right? Kind of fits,”he said.
Preferring the chase format, Logano explained that it mirrors his personality, as pressure sharpens his edge. He thrives when the stakes rise and the margins shrink, and that outlook extends beyond NASCAR. In his own words, playoff competition is what draws his attention across sports.
He rarely follows other leagues during their regular seasons, choosing instead to tune in when elimination looms and consequences escalate. He gravitates toward moments when competitors operate with their backs against the wall, forced to take risks and make decisive moves.
For Logano, that intensity defines sport at its most compelling. Whether NASCAR preserves elements of the current playoff system or pivots toward something new, he remains confident that the challenge will endure. As of now, NASCAR has yet to issue an official announcement outlining its next steps. Until then, Logano waits, prepared to adjust once the direction becomes clear.
A major piece of the primary sponsorship puzzle for Harrison Burton and the No. 24 Sam Hunt Racing team during the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season has been put into place. Dead On Tools, a longtime partner of Burton, will join the driver for 12 races during the upcoming season.
The team revealed a rendering of the Dead On Tools paint scheme on Monday morning via a post on X.
The partnership will kick off with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14. Dead On Tools will book-end the season for the No. 24 Sam Hunt Racing team as it will also serve as the sponsor for Burton in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 7.
The complete 2026 sponsorship schedule for Dead On Tools:
February 14: Daytona International Speedway
March 28: Martinsville Speedway
April 11: Bristol Motor Speedway
May 23: Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 27: Sonoma Raceway
July 11: EchoPark Speedway
July 25: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
September 5: Darlington Raceway
September 12: World Wide Technology Raceway
October 3: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
October 24: Talladega Superspeedway
November 7: Homestead-Miami Speedway
As Sam Hunt Racing embarks on expansion to a second full-time car in 2026, team owner Sam Hunt is optimistic about the partnership that is being forged with Dead On Tools.
“I am beyond proud to have Dead On Tools join Sam Hunt Racing in 2026,” said Sam Hunt, Owner of Sam Hunt Racing. “From my first conversation with their leadership, I knew there was a ton of symmetry with what our respective teams are trying to accomplish, and how we go about doing so. They do things the right way and work extremely hard to put out their fantastic line of products. I have no doubts that we will successfully grow together, while creating great memories along the way.”
Partnered with Burton, Dead On Tools made the Playoffs in 2025 with AM Racing. They feel confident in what Burton can achieve with his new team, Sam Hunt Racing, in 2026.
“Everyone at Dead On Tools is thrilled to be able to continue to grow our partnership with Harrison. To be with a team like Sam Hunt Racing, we know the No. 24 will be in great hands and are excited for a terrific 2026 season,” said Joseph Ardell, Marketing Manager for Dead On Tools.”
While Sam Hunt Racing, which was established in 2019, hasn’t captured a victory in 230 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series ranks, the team has made incredible strides over the past few seasons and seems to be on the verge of a breakthrough.
Heading into the 2026 season, SHR has recorded 13 top-five finishes and 36 top-10s. A season ago, Dean Thompson snagged one top-five finish and eight top-10s during his rookie campaign behind the wheel of the team’s No. 26 Toyota Supra. Thompson is set to return in 2026 as the teammate to Burton.
Hendrick Motorsports is adding another Concord property to its growing portfolio.
For around $14.2 million, a limited liability company associated with Hendrick purchased about 20 acres from Charlotte Motor Speedway in November, according to Cabarrus County records.
The site at 7001 Bruton Smith Blvd. sits squarely in Concord’s racing center. It’s wedged between the Camping World Racing Resort, zMAX Dragway and The Charlotte Fair. The site is also near the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Hendrick’s campus.
Hendrick has no plans for the site yet, according to a company spokesman. But the acquisition is another notch in Hendrick’s property belt.
Charlotte Business Journal first reported the purchase.
Hendrick’s NASCAR and automotive growth
On the auto side, Hendrick Automotive recently purchased a 2.6-acre plot at the Capitol Towers complex in SouthPark for $13 million. Hendrick also said there’s no immediate plan for that vacant land at 5954 Carnegie Blvd. in Charlotte.
Back to the NASCAR side, Hendrick Motorsports is planning to build a 204,000-square-foot, two-story manufacturing facility for a future tenant, investing $65 million to $70 million in Concord. Hendrick Motorsports previously declined to comment on the investment.
And Hendrick companies owner Rick Hendrick has also collaborated with Speedway Motorsports. Last year, he and Speedway teamed up for Ten Tenths Motor Club, a car fanatic club, with a lighted road course, a special event facility, garage and off-road driving trails near the speedway.
But a recent contract by Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions — a manufacturing company distinct from the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR team — has been surrounded by controversy
That company entered into a $2.2 million with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for 25 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs. A Hendrick spokesperson said the deal was routine and not political, but some have called for boycotting the company.
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Desiree Mathurin
The Charlotte Observer
Desiree Mathurin covers growth and development for The Charlotte Observer. The native New Yorker returned to the East Coast after covering neighborhood news in Denver at Denverite and Colorado Public Radio. She’s also reported on high school sports at Newsday and southern-regional news for AP. Desiree is exploring Charlotte and the Carolinas, and is looking forward to taking readers along for the ride. Send tips and coffee shop recommendations.
The Venn diagram of cars and modern art has a subjective amount of overlap; that is, the average person may see the two circles almost entirely separate, the enthusiast, one single shape. For those of us identifying as the latter, institutions like the Petersen Automotive Museum are like the Louvre of automobiles. We ask that you refrain from pulling any heists to score some sweet rides, but instead visit the Petersen, should you have the chance, to immerse yourself in their latest exhibit: “Legends of the Dirt,” which puts the spotlight on the machines, teams, and tech behind some of history’s most daring off-road vehicles.
From the Baja 1000 to the WRC, “Legends” features iconic off-road machines and the stories behind them. Some of the subjects highlighted in the press release are the “Big Oly” Ford Bronco, winner of the 1971 and ‘72 Baja 1000; Walter Rohrl’s 1983 Lancia Rally 037; and Tanner Foust’s 2017 Volkswagen Beetle rallycross car.
“The innovative designs and engineering found in off-road motorsports have helped push automotive technology forward for decades,” said Terry Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “Through our partnership with OPTIMA Batteries and Clarios, we look forward to sharing with our guests deep insight into an exciting form of motorsports that continues to make important contributions to automotive culture.”
On display until January 2027, “Legends of the Dirt” will be at home in the Petersen’s Nearburg Gallery. You can get more information online and reserve tickets should you be so inclined.
DAVENTRY, England, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fortec Motorsport has announced that American drivers Cash and Roman Felber will join its lineup for the 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship, certified by the FIA. The identical twin brothers moved to the UK following a season in the Ligier Junior Formula Championship in the United States, where both achieved race wins and multiple podium finishes. Cash Felber concluded the 2025 campaign third overall, while Roman placed seventh, with the pair also securing second and fourth in the Rookie standings, respectively.
American Twins Cash & Roman Felber Target British F4 Success with Fortec Motorsport
American Twins Cash & Roman Felber Target British F4 Success with Fortec Motorsport
Cash & Roman Felber American Twins It was a season defined by momentum on both sides of the garage. Cash displayed front-running consistency through opening-lap assertiveness and composed late-race judgement, collecting six podiums and two wins. Roman recovered strongly from early-season mechanical setbacks to deliver five podiums, a victory, and two pole positions, showcasing equally powerful pace and progression.
Racing has been a shared journey from the start. The brothers first drove at age eight on Segway karts around their driveway, but a visit to the 2022 United States Formula 1 Grand Prix ignited a commitment to pursue a career in motorsport. Since then, they have competed as rivals on track and made history in the LJFC as the first twin brothers in the series’ history to finish on the podium in the same race.
The 2026 Wera Tools British F4 season begins at Donington Park on April 18–19, featuring 30 races across 10 meetings, including a return to Zandvoort in the Netherlands. Cash and Roman will compete with the support of BioLongevity Labs, iMerchant Solutions, Conversio Pay, Town Hall, and Rebol.
Quotes Oliver Dutton, Team Principal, Fortec Motorsport: “Cash and Roman have shown us clean fundamentals, intelligent race craft, and the humility in debriefs that separates good drivers from championship contenders. We’ve seen what they did in the States. Now we’ll develop what they can become at the circuits that matter.” Cash Felber: “The goal for 2026 is simple: arrive prepared, extract everything the car has, and leave no doubt. Fortec Motorsport’s attention to detail is exactly what I need in my career right now, and their engineering depth and coaching structure will help on the path to Formula 1.” Roman Felber: “Wera Tools British F4 is the next test, and I’m bringing the same process from this season: learn fast, adapt faster, go quicker. The series rewards discipline and race intelligence—qualities I grew in abundance this year.” Enzo Mucci, Performance and Mindset Coach: “I am delighted to see Roman and Cash come over to the UK to race. Having watched them on track, I am pleased to see how quickly they are adpating to the British F4 car. They are both looking very promising. I can’t wait to see them compete in 2026.”
Partners for the Journey BioLongevity Labs — A leading longevity science company creating advanced solutions that help people look, feel, and perform younger. Through cutting-edge research and premium formulations, BioLongevity Labs delivers innovative wellness products designed to boost energy, improve vitality, and support a longer, healthier life.
iMerchant Solutions — A global payment service provider supporting enterprises across the world, iMerchant powers businesses with speed, precision, and reliability. “We are honored to support the Felber brothers in their Formula 4 journey—celebrating their passion, discipline, and drive to reach the top. Just as they race toward victory, we continue to innovate and accelerate the future of global payments,” stated Martin Khemmoro.
Additional committed partners back for 2026: TownHall and Rebol.
“Their belief underwrites everything from testing mileage to engineering depth,” noted Josh Felber. “They don’t just put logos on a car—they help build careers.”
About British FIA Formula 4
The British FIA Formula 4 Championship is an FIA-certified entry point to international single-seater racing, recognized globally for competitive grids and professional team structures. The series has a proven record of developing drivers for the next steps on the Formula 1 pathway.
About Fortec Motorsport Fortec Motorsport is one of the United Kingdom’s leading junior single-seater teams, competing across multiple categories with a track record of winning races and developing drivers for higher levels of the sport. The team is renowned for engineering depth, data-driven coaching, and a high-performance culture.
About FLBR Motorsport FLBR Motorsport supports twin drivers Cash and Roman Felber with a program built on disciplined driver development, engineering rigor, and a people-first culture. From U.S. podiums to the European ladder, FLBR’s mission is simple: build champions the right way—technically, mentally, and ethically.
Contact
FLBR Motorsport [email protected]
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2845700/Cover_image.jpg Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2845701/Cash_and_Roman_Felber.jpg Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2845699/Fortec_Motorsport_logo.jpg
