(Steve Koletar Photo) https://www.usacracing.com/

Speedway, Indiana — July 24, 2025 — Justin Grant proved once again why he’s a force to be reckoned with at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, powering to victory in the opening round of the 38th Annual USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented by Honest Abe Roofing.

On a thrilling Thursday night at the 1/5-mile Dirt Track inside Turn 3 of the IMS oval, Grant claimed his seventh USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car win of 2025 — and the 61st of his career — tying Brady Bacon for second all-time. The win adds to Grant’s growing legend at IMS, where he now holds four victories, including his BC39 midget triumph earlier this month.

Driving the TOPP Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink – TOPP Industries – LA Poly Maxim/Kistler Chevy, Grant started fifth and seized the lead from early dominator Robert Ballou with 16 laps remaining in the 35-lap feature. He held off a fierce late charge from Logan Seavey, who finished second, 1.479 seconds behind. Ballou held on for third after leading the opening 19 laps.

Grant’s mastery of both grooves — especially a daring move to the high side in Turn 3 — sealed the $10,000 victory and further cemented his affinity for the IMS short track.

“I probably raced a little rougher than most of the sprint car guys like to race, but it’s the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — I want to win at this place,” said Grant, who also set a new one-lap track record (12.039 seconds) in qualifying.

Beyond the race win, Grant hit another major milestone: 324 consecutive USAC National Sprint Car feature starts, tying Chase Stockon for the longest streak in series history. He’s also now just one win shy of Dave Darland’s all-time mark of 62.

Among standout performances was Trey Osborne, who charged from 18th to eighth to earn Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors. Rookie Gunnar Setser thrilled the crowd with a high-side final corner move to transfer from his heat, earning the Inferno Armor Fire Move of the Night. C.J. Leary battled back from qualifying 35th to finish ninth, taking home the Hayloft Hard Work Award.

The night wasn’t without incident — Kyle Cummins flipped on lap 8 after contact with Mitchel Moles, triggering a chain reaction that left Stockon with broken bones in his hand.

This special invitational format brought together top-tier talent, rewarding all entrants with season points but not counting toward the Indiana Sprint Week standings. With the momentum firmly in his corner, Grant looks to continue his charge at the next stop: Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville on July 25.

Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing are primed to continue their winning ways for another few years.

Hamlin, 44, has signed a multiyear contract extension with Gibbs that will keep him in the No. 11 Toyota for the forseeable future. The exact length of the contract and its terms were not disclosed.

“Joe and everyone at JGR are family to me and have done so much for me over the last 20 years,” Hamlin said. “We’ve had a solid start to this season and we have been able to welcome some great new partners this year, so there are a lot of exciting things happening with our team not only now, but also into the future.”

The news comes on the heels of Hamlin’s fourth Cup Series win of the season at Dover Motor Speedway. Hamlin leads the series in victories.

Gibbs is the only team owner Hamlin has driven for in his NASCAR Cup Series career since making his debut in 2005 and beginning his first full season in 2006. Hamlin is the longest-tenured driver in the team’s history (706 starts and counting). He’s won 58 races in the Cup Series (with only one winless season to date), including three in the Daytona 500, three in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and a Coca-Cola 600 victory.

Hamlin will make his 17th start in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday afternoon. It is the only crown jewel race he has yet to win.

“I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization,” Joe Gibbs said. “It is just really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past 20 years, from that first moment when J.D. [Gibbs] recognized his talent at a test session, until now. It is remarkable in any sport to compete at the level Denny has for this long and we are thrilled he has been able to spend his entire career with us.”

LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new era in motorsports begins as Formula GT officially unveils its global debut, set for Spring 2026. Combining cutting-edge technology, raw torque, and high-speed performance with the world’s most elite hypercars, Formula GT is poised to revolutionize the racing world. Formula GT Global launch Gala is sponsored by Apple Music, Aston Martin and Modern Luxury Angeleno.

To kick off this groundbreaking initiative, Formula GT will host an exclusive global launch gala on July 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM at Gravitas Beverly Hills. This private event will offer an exciting preview of the league’s innovative approach to motorsport and entertainment.

Formula GT will debut in six of the world’s most iconic cities: Mexico City, Miami, Los Angeles, London, Cannes, and Dubai. The league expects to draw over 1 million live attendees and reach more than 100 million viewers globally through streaming. 

At the helm of Formula GT is British-Canadian entertainment visionary Arthur AJ Chipman, renowned for his work with the Olympic Games and Formula 1. Chipman’s extensive experience in global production and entertainment promises to deliver a truly unforgettable fusion of motorsport, live entertainment, and cultural impact.

“Formula GT is a fusion of speed, innovation, and the lifestyle of tomorrow. From the roar of hypercar engines to dazzling live entertainment and immersive digital engagement, this league will redefine what live sports look like in the 21st century,” says Chipman, CEO & President of Formula GT.

A New Standard for Motorsport
Formula GT promises to set a new benchmark for motorsport with its exceptional features:

• The world’s most powerful hypercars engineered by leading global manufacturers
   
• Legendary race drivers competing head-to-head on custom-built and street circuits
   
• Celebrity, athlete, and influencer integrations during live events and broadcasts
   
• Immersive fan experiences, including augmented reality viewing and VIP hospitality
   
• Advanced broadcasting technology offering global streaming, social interaction, and high-definition drama

Each race weekend will deliver a festival-style atmosphere that blends the excitement of motorsport with fashion, music, tech showcases, and cultural exhibitions tailored to each host city.

Global Launch Calendar:

• Mexico City, Mexico
   
• Miami, USA
   
• Los Angeles, USA
   
• London, UK
   
• Marina Bay, Singapore
   
• Dubai, UAE

Formula GT: More Than a Race, It’s a Movement
Formula GT is more than just a race, it’s a cultural force, a media powerhouse, and a technological marvel that brings sport, culture, and innovation to the forefront of global entertainment.

Stay Connected
Follow us on social media @FormulaGT for exclusive previews, driver reveals, and behind-the-scenes footage leading up to the debut season.

Media Inquiries:
Formula GT Media Office
Francoise Blanchette | 6465707938 | [email protected]
Jumoke Mendez | [email protected]

SOURCE Formula GT

For anyone who thought the 44-year-old was nearing the end of his NASCAR Cup Series career, Friday’s announcement proved otherwise. Denny Hamlin will continue driving the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after signing a new, multi-year contract extension.

The terms of the deal are not specified, with JGR’s announcement only saying: “Denny is here to stay! We’re excited to announce a multi-year extension for DH to continue driving the No. 11 Toyota!”

“Joe and everyone at JGR are family to me and have done so much for me over the last 20 years,” said Hamlin. “We’ve had a solid start to this season and we have been able to welcome some great new partners this year, so there are a lot of exciting things happening with our team not only now, but also into the future.”

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Hamlin has been a JGR driver for the entirety of his NASCAR Cup career, dating back to 2005. Driving the No. 11, he has won 58 races, including a series-leading four this season. He earned his most recent victory just a few days ago, besting teammate Chase Briscoe at Dover.

While he’s never won a championship, Hamlin is the most successful driver in NASCAR history without the crown. He sits eleventh on the all-time wins list, just two away from cracking the top-ten.

Hamlin is also a three-time winner of the Daytona 500, a three-time winner of the Southern 500, the 2022 Coca Cola 600 winner, and the 2015 winner of the All-Star Race. 

I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. ”It is just really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past 20 years, from that first moment when J.D. (Gibbs) recognized his talent at a test session, until now. It is remarkable in any sport to compete at the level Denny has for this long and we are thrilled he has been able to spend his entire career with us.”

While driving for JGR, Hamlin also operates 23XI Racing as a co-owner of the team, alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan.

As Apple reportedly nears a $150 million per-year tie-up with Formula 1, U.S. subscribers to the motorsport’s own streaming offering, F1 TV, have raised questions about the service’s future.
 
For $85 per year, American customers can currently watch all F1 sessions ad-free via F1 TV, with additional access to team radios, onboard cameras and non-race programming. But in other markets, F1’s owned offerings have seen changes following new media partnerships. 
 
F1 TV’s legacy is tightly entwined with the company’s evolving media strategy. And what becomes of the product will speak volumes of Liberty Media’s current U.S. ambitions—as well as Apple’s sports stance. What seems unlikely is that the $3 trillion tech titan would see a benefit in hosting two similar, competitive products on its device platforms. 
 
“You don’t want any potential cannibalization from your partner eating away at customers,” Octagon EVP, global media rights advisory Daniel Cohen said in an interview. “I think F1 can keep [F1 TV], but it would have to be a very different type of product for the U.S. market.”
 
A year after Liberty Media took over F1 in 2017, it launched an over-the-top service offering fans live coverage of all race sessions alongside other features. The desire to connect directly with fans was reportedly a key reason F1 ended its broadcast relationship with NBC, signing a deal with ESPN that didn’t include a rights fee. 
 
With improved social media efforts, the popularity of Netflix’s Drive to Survive and F1 TV, the sport was eager to become “a more multimedia organization—rather than just focusing on TV,” as F1 director of media rights Ian Holmes put it in 2020. At the time, league executives across the sporting world foresaw a potential future where their sports were delivered directly to fans via in-house production arms and owned-and-operated apps, with each creating a separate, Netflix-like experience for the Premier League, the NFL, the NBA, F1 and so on. But that didn’t come to pass. 
 
As early as 2020, F1 began linking its consumer offering with its traditional TV deals, giving Sky Germany consumers access to F1 TV as part of their subscriptions. “That may serve as a template for additional markets going forward,” Frank Arthofer, then F1’s global head of digital and licensing, said at the time.
 
In the years since, F1 TV has continued to grow. The F1 TV Pro tier, which comes with live race access, was available in 92 territories as of last year, with the U.S. being its biggest market. F1’s app was named the Apple TV App of the Year in 2024, and the organizer launched a higher-priced premium tier this year. F1 TV’s popularity was clear on Reddit, where users of the site’s Formula 1 forum openly wondered what a new media partnership might mean for the service—expletives and all.
 
It has also served as a point of leverage in media negotiations. In 2023, F1 TV Pro launched in India after executives were underwhelmed by the bids submitted by local broadcasters for exclusive rights. “People spent all their money on cricket,” Holmes said in 2023. F1’s wealthy fanbase also gives it more flexibility to directly monetize viewer enthusiasm. 
 
“They can afford to not do bad deals in markets that they deem important for growth,” Cohen said. “For example, in let’s just say Brazil, if they don’t get the right offer in Brazil, they’ll pop up F1 TV. If they don’t get the right offer in Singapore, they’ll pop up F1 TV.”
 
F1 TV’s fate was very much on the table as American bidders eyed the property in recent months. “We will see what partners want in their deals, and we will see what makes the most sense for F1,” Liberty Media president and CEO Derek Chang said in a May call with Wall Street analysts. 
 
The roughly $150 million per year Apple has reportedly offered for F1’s U.S. rights beginning in 2026 would be a $60 million increase over what ESPN currently pays. Halfway through the 2025 season, ESPN is averaging 1.3 million viewers per race, up 7% over the season-to-date average from 2024. But it remains to be seen what Apple’s distribution plans for racing coverage look like.
 
Apple and F1 representatives declined to comment on current negotiations.
 
While early reports suggested F1 inventory could be bundled into the $10/month Apple TV+ service, the tech company took a different route with MLS action, putting every game into a $99/year offering, alongside whiparound coverage and other content, with discounts for Apple TV+ subscribers and some games available directly to those customers. 

A similar approach to F1 could see many of the streams and features F1 TV currently offers ported over and/or expanded upon within a new Apple-backed service.

F1 TV could also continue offering its own product, just with tweaks to its pricing and feature list. For instance, the app could be free—but only to those paying for Apple’s service (a la the Sky Germany deal). Alternatively, F1 could limit F1 TV’s library to archival content or focus solely on the premium tier, offering specific feeds for the sport’s most committed diehards. Regardless of the route taken, a partnership with Apple represents uncharted terrain.

Denny Hamlin, who has raced his entire Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing, has signed a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.

The 44-year-old Hamlin made his Cup debut in 2005 with Joe Gibbs Racing. He is the team’s all-time Cup winner with 58 victories in 706 starts. He’s coming off his victory last weekend at Dover. Hamlin has won three Daytona 500s with the organization.

There are only three former winners in the field of the crown jewel event.

Asked Friday why he signed only a two-year extension instead of a three-year extension, Hamlin said: “For me, it’s all I feel comfortable (with). Thinking of three years, who knows what can happen three years from now?

“I just want to make sure I give them proper time and make sure I commit to them for not one year (but) multiple years and let them continue to build the program.

“If I was 26, I would take 10 years. I want to take 10 years. I want to make sure I’m in my peak form in my final year. That could be tailing off in three years, so I don’t want that.”

When asked if this was his final contract extension, Hamlin responded: “I would say probably, most likely.”

Hamlin enters this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway fourth in the points despite missing the Mexico race for the birth of his son.

“I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, in a statement from the team. “It is just really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past 20 years, from that first moment when J.D. (Gibbs) recognized his talent at a test session, until now. It is remarkable in any sport to compete at the level Denny has for this long and we are thrilled he has been able to spend his entire career with us.”