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Judge urges NASCAR, suing teams to make peace, avoid trial

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge urged NASCAR and the two Cup Series teams suing the stock-car sanctioning body to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR and suing teams 23XI […]

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge urged NASCAR and the two Cup Series teams suing the stock-car sanctioning body to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR and suing teams 23XI Racing (which is co-owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, retired NBA star Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, the basketball great’s longtime business partner) and Front Row Motorsports (which is owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins) on what they hoped to accomplish if the lawsuit continues. A trial is scheduled for December if a settlement is not reached before then.

“It’s hard to picture a winner if this goes to the mat — or to the flag — in this case,” Bell said. “It scares me to death to think about what all this is costing.”

Front Row Motorsports is owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins and has three full-time Ford entries — Noah Gragson in the No. 4, Todd Gilliland in the No. 34 and Zane Smith in the No. 38 — while 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, retired NBA star Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, the basketball great’s longtime business partner, has three full-time Toyota entries: Bubba Wallace in the No. 23, Riley Herbst in the No. 35 and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45.

These were the only two organizations in the top-tier Cup Series that refused to sign a nonnegotiable offer last September on a new agreement for charters, which are NASCAR’s equivalent of a franchise in other professional sports leagues. Each charter guarantees entry to the lucrative Cup Series races and a stable revenue stream. Thirteen other organizations — most of them with multiple cars — signed the agreements last fall, although some felt they had little choice.

Tuesday’s hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, was about the teams’ request to toss out NASCAR’s countersuit, which accuses Polk of “willfully” violating antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in negotiations. NASCAR said it learned in discovery that Polk in messages among the 15 teams tried to form a “cartel”-type operation that would include threats of boycotting races and a refusal to individually negotiate.

One of NASCAR’s attorneys even cited a Benjamin Franklin quote Polk allegedly sent to the 15 organizations that read: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the teams, was angered by the revelation in open court, contending it is privileged information only revealed in discovery. Kessler also argued none of NASCAR’s claims in the countersuit prove anything illegal was done by Polk or the Race Team Alliance during the charter negotiation process.

“NASCAR knows it has no defense to the monopolization case, so they have come up with this claim about joint negotiations, which they agreed to, never objected to, and now suddenly it’s an antitrust violation,” Kessler said outside court. “It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not going to help them deflect from the monopolizing they have done in this market and the harm they have inflicted.”

He added that “the attacks” on Polk were “false, unfounded and frankly beneath the dignity of my adversary to even make those type of comments, which he should know better about.”

NASCAR attorneys said Polk improperly tried to pressure all 15 teams that comprise the RTA to stand together collectively in negotiations and encouraged boycotting qualifying races for the 2024 Daytona 500. NASCAR, they said, took the threat seriously because the teams had previously boycotted a scheduled meeting with series executives.

“NASCAR knew the next step was they could boycott a race, which was a threat they had to take seriously,” attorney Lawrence Buterman said on behalf of NASCAR.

In other comments made outside the courtroom, Kessler said the two teams are open to settlement talks, but he noted NASCAR has said it will not renegotiate the charters.

NASCAR’s attorneys declined to comment after the hearing.

Bell did not indicate when he’d rule, other than saying he would decide quickly.

Some of the arguments Tuesday centered on Jonathan Marshall, the executive director of the RTA. NASCAR has demanded text messages and emails from Marshall and said it has received roughly 100 texts and more than 55,000 pages of emails.

NASCAR wants all texts between Marshall and 55 people from 2020 through 2024 that contain specific search terms. Attorneys for the RTA said that covers more than 3,000 texts, some of which are privileged, and some that have been “deleted to save storage or he didn’t need them anymore.”

That issue is set to be heard during a hearing next Tuesday before Bell.

Meanwhile, Kessler said he would file an appeal by the end of the week after a three-judge federal appellate panel last week vacated a preliminary injunction granted last December by Bell that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI and Front Row as chartered teams while the court fight is being resolved.

Kessler wants the issue heard by the full appellate court. The injunction has no bearing on the merits of the case. The earliest NASCAR can treat the teams as unchartered is one week after the deadline to appeal, provided there is no pending appeal or whenever the appeals process has been exhausted.

There are 36 chartered cars for the 40-car field each week. If 23XI and Front Row are not recognized as chartered, their six cars would have to compete as “open” teams, which means they’d have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and they would receive a fraction of the money guaranteed for chartered teams.

AP photo by Matt Kelley / NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports is introduced to fans prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25 in Concord, N.C.
AP photo by Matt Kelley / NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports is introduced to fans prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25 in Concord, N.C.

Spire driver penalized by team

Spire Motorsports has issued a $50,000 fine to Carson Hocevar, the driver of its No. 77 Chevrolet entry for the Cup Series, for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a livestream last weekend as NASCAR made a stop there.

Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night after the Cup Series race with an apology, and the 22-year-old Michigan native admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States and believed all the negative things he’d read and heard about Mexico City.

“I am embarrassed by my comments,” he posted in a lengthy apology.

Spire also ordered Hocevar to attend training for cultural sensitivity and bias awareness.

He said the $50,000 fine will be donated in equal portions to three organizations that serve Mexican communities: Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross); Un Kilo de Ayuda, a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early childhood development in rural communities; and Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico), which funds local nongovernmental organizations that improve education, health, and housing in 22 Mexican states.

“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” the team said in a released statement. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘walk the walk’ in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.

“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.”

Hocevar was the 2024 Cup Series rookie of the year but is still seeking his first win on the top-tier circuit. He has a pair of runner-up finishes this season — at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February and at Nashville Superspeedway earlier this month — but has been outside the top 20 in 10 of 16 points races.

Spire said it informed NASCAR of Hocevar’s penalties and that it satisfied the sanctioning body’s requirements.

“Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity,” Spire’s statement read. “We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”



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SVG jumps in NASCAR playoff standings after Chicago win

CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen made a big jump in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings after his win in the Grant Park 165 in Chicago. Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE The Kiwi commands seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings after Chicago. Essentially, if the playoff started today, SVG would start in seventh. Here is […]

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CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen made a big jump in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings after his win in the Grant Park 165 in Chicago.

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE

The Kiwi commands seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings after Chicago. Essentially, if the playoff started today, SVG would start in seventh.

Here is what the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings look like after Chicago:

1. Kyle Larson: 2031 points

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • 23 playoff points earned
    • 15 from race wins at Homestead-Miami, Bristol, Kansas
    • Eight from stage wins
  • Eight points pending from being third in regular-season championship points standings after Chicago
    • 19 points behind points leader William Byron

2. William Byron: 2027

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • 12 playoff points earned
    • Five from Daytona 500 win
    • Seven from stage wins
  • 15 points pending from being regular-season championship points leader after Chicago
    • +13 points to Chase Elliott, +19 to Kyle Larson, +43 to Denny Hamlin, +48 to Tyler Reddick

3. Denny Hamlin: 2026

Photo: Ryan BIlle/TRE
  • 19 playoff points earned
    • 15 from wins at Martinsville, Darlington, Michigan
    • Four from stage wins
  • Seven points pending from being fourth in regular-season standings after Chicago

4. Christopher Bell: 2021

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE
  • 16 playoff points earned
    • 15 from wins at Atlanta, COTA, Phoenix
    • One stage win
  • Five points pending from being sixth in regular-season standings after Chicago

5. Chase Elliott: 2015

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • Five playoff points earned with Atlanta win
  • 10 points pending from being second in regular-season standings

6. Ryan Blaney: 2013

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • Nine playoff points earned
    • Five from Nashville Superspeedway win
    • Four from stage wins
  • Four points pending from being seventh in regular-season standings after Chicago

7. Shane van Gisbergen: 2011

  • 11 playoff points earned
    • 10 from wins in Mexico City, Chicago
    • One from stage two win in Chicago
  • 27th in regular-season standings

8. Ross Chastain: 2008

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • Five playoff points earned from Coca-Cola 600 win at Charlotte
  • Three points pending from being eighth in regular-season standings after Chicago

9. Chase Briscoe: 2008

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE
  • Six playoff points earned
    • Five from Pocono win
    • One from a stage win
  • Two points pending from being ninth in regular-season standings after Chicago

10. Austin Cindric: 2008

  • Eight playoff points earned
    • Five from win at Talladega
    • Three from stage wins
  • 18th in regular-season standings after Chicago

11. Tyler Reddick: 2007

  • One point earned from a stage win
  • Six points pending from being fifth in regular-season standings after Chicago

12. Joey Logano: 2007

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE
  • Seven points earned from Texas win and two stage wins
  • 12th in regular-season standings after Chicago

13. Josh Berry: 2006

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE
  • Six points earned from Las Vegas win and a stage win
  • 22nd in regular-season standings after Chicago

14. Bubba Wallace: 2002

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • Two points earned from stage wins
  • 13th in regular-season standings after Chicago

15. Alex Bowman: 2001

Photo: Ryan Kemna/TRE
  • One point pending for being 10th in regular-season standings after Chicago

16. Chris Buescher: 1996

Photo: Sophia LaRiche/TRE
  • Penalized five playoff points for Kansas infraction, negating one playoff point earned for a stage win


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Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com



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Katherine Legge Included in 37-Car Sonoma NASCAR Cup Entry List

NASCAR revealed the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on Monday afternoon, and contained on the list are 37 cars, comprising of the 36 full-time Chartered NASCAR Cup Series cars and one “Open” entry. Katherine Legge, who collected a career-best 19th-place finish in last weekend’s Grant Park […]

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NASCAR revealed the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on Monday afternoon, and contained on the list are 37 cars, comprising of the 36 full-time Chartered NASCAR Cup Series cars and one “Open” entry.

Katherine Legge, who collected a career-best 19th-place finish in last weekend’s Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course, will return to the series this weekend. Legge, 44, will once again pilot the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet with primary sponsorship from e.l.f. Cosmetics.

This will mark the fourth NASCAR Cup Series start of the season for Legge, who made her series debut at Phoenix Raceway in March.

Here is the complete entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, the 20th race of the 36-race season.

Car

Driver

Team

Sponsor

Manufacturer

1

Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing

Kubota

Chevrolet

2

Austin Cindric

Team Penske

America’s Tire

Ford

3

Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing

Bass Pro Shops / Winchester

Chevrolet

4

Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports

Long John Silver’s

Ford

5

Kyle Larson

Hendrick Motorsports

HendrickCars.com

Chevrolet

6

Brad Keselowski

RFK Racing

Castrol

Ford

7

Justin Haley

Spire Motorsports

NationsGuard

Chevrolet

8

Kyle Busch

Richard Childress Racing

zone

Chevrolet

9

Chase Elliott

Hendrick Motorsports

NAPA Auto Parts

Chevrolet

10

Ty Dillon

Kaulig Racing

Sea Best

Chevrolet

11

Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing

ampm

Toyota

12

Ryan Blaney

Team Penske

Menards / Delta

Ford

16

AJ Allmendinger

Kaulig Racing

Big Sipz

Chevrolet

17

Chris Buescher

RFK Racing

BuildSubmarines.com

Ford

19

Chase Briscoe

Joe Gibbs Racing

Bass Pro Shops

Toyota

20

Christopher Bell

Joe Gibbs Racing

Rheem

Toyota

21

Josh Berry

Wood Brothers Racing

Eero

Ford

22

Joey Logano

Team Penske

Autotrader

Ford

23

Bubba Wallace

23XI Racing

Xfinity Mobile

Toyota

24

William Byron

Hendrick Motorsports

Valvoline

Chevrolet

34

Todd Gilliland

Front Row Motorsports

Love’s Travel Stops

Ford

35

Riley Herbst #

23XI Racing

Monster Energy

Toyota

38

Zane Smith

Front Row Motorsports

Michael Roberts Construction

Ford

41

Cole Custer

Haas Factory Team

Autodesk / HaasTooling

Ford

42

John Hunter Nemechek

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Mobil 1

Toyota

43

Erik Jones

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Dollar Tree

Toyota

45

Tyler Reddick

23XI Racing

Chumba Casino

Toyota

47

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

HYAK Motorsports

Real American Beer

Chevrolet

48

Alex Bowman

Hendrick Motorsports

Ally

Chevrolet

51

Cody Ware

Rick Ware Racing

Mighty Fire Breaker

Ford

54

Ty Gibbs

Joe Gibbs Racing

SAIA LTL Freight

Toyota

60

Ryan Preece

RFK Racing

Body Guard

Ford

71

Michael McDowell

Spire Motorsports

Project Zin / Gainbridge

Chevrolet

77

Carson Hocevar

Spire Motorsports

TBA

Chevrolet

78

Katherine Legge *

Live Fast Motorsports

e.l.f. Cosmetics

Chevrolet

88

Shane van Gisbergen #

Trackhouse Racing

TBA

Chevrolet

99

Daniel Suarez

Trackhouse Racing

TBA

Chevrolet

# indicates Rookie of the Year contender
* indicates “Open” entry

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Shane Van Gisbergen completes NASCAR weekend sweep in Chicago

Shane van Gisbergen completed a sweep on the Chicago Street Course on Sunday, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky downtown circuit. It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season and his third career Cup win. The Trackhouse Racing driver also won in Chicago in 2023, becoming the first driver to take his Cup Series […]

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Shane van Gisbergen completed a sweep on the Chicago Street Course on Sunday, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky downtown circuit.

It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season and his third career Cup win. The Trackhouse Racing driver also won in Chicago in 2023, becoming the first driver to take his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

Ty Gibbs was second, and Tyler Reddick finished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.

It was a dominant weekend for van Gisbergen, a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars. The 36-year-old New Zealand native won the Xfinity Series race from the pole Saturday. He also was the top qualifier for the Cup race.

Michael McDowell joined van Gisbergen on the front row and quickly moved in front. He won Stage 1 and led for 31 laps before he was derailed by a throttle cable issue.

Van Gisbergen regained the lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog moved into downtown Chicago with thunderstorms in the forecast, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way.

AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece finished seventh. Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.

William Byron’s day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver began the day on top of the series standings.

After McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between Turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.

“I didn’t see it until the last second,” Keselowski said. “I slowed down and I actually felt I was gonna get stopped and then I just kind of got ran over from behind. It’s just a narrow street course and sometimes there’s nowhere to go.”

Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to finish the race. Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset top-seeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta.

Gibbs, Preece, Alex Bowman, John H. Nemechek, Zane Smith and Erik Jones also advanced. The winner of the five-race, bracket-style tournament takes home a $1 million prize.

Bowman, the 2024 champion on the downtown street course, won his head-to-head matchup with Bubba Wallace. Bowman and Wallace made contact as they battled for position late in the race after they also tangled in Chicago last year.



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America’s Off-Road Titan Builds the Fastest Machines in Motorsports

Polaris has become a dominant force in off-road motorsports, combining American determination with pioneering innovation. They haven’t become competitive in the world of high-performance off-road engineering; they’ve become the gold standard. Polaris machines are known for unmatched speed and a penchant for withstanding any terrain you can throw at them. The RZR and Sportsman platforms […]

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Polaris has become a dominant force in off-road motorsports, combining American determination with pioneering innovation. They haven’t become competitive in the world of high-performance off-road engineering; they’ve become the gold standard. Polaris machines are known for unmatched speed and a penchant for withstanding any terrain you can throw at them.

The RZR and Sportsman platforms have established themselves as the benchmark for high-performance ATVs and UTVs. At the center of that drive for success is Polaris’ unbridled commitment to innovation, research, development, and race-proven engineering. These machines thrive because the science and engineering behind them leave little to chance.

Polaris continues to dominate off-road racing events from the Baja 1000 and King of the Hammers to the legendary Dakar Rally. I received a special invitation to tour the factory and see what Polaris has in store for 2025, and I was not disappointed.

From its founding in Roseau, Minnesota, in 1954, Polaris evolved from snowmobiles to a powerhouse portfolio of off-road vehicles. Their presence in elite motorsports isn’t a fluke; it’s a destiny. It’s the result of decades of rigorous testing, engineering, and innovation by the industry’s most advanced R&D operations in powersports.

Polaris has a state-of-the-art engineering and testing facility in Wyoming, Minnesota, located just outside Minneapolis. The facility spans 300,000 square feet and sits on 700 acres of land. The campus houses dynamic test tracks, vibration simulators, and environmental chambers that replicate the harshest conditions on the globe.

The test tracks host every potential terrain you can encounter, including boulder-strewn runs and deep water pits to test these machines to the very precipice of their abilities. Engineers gather data about every bounce and impact to allow Polaris to fine-tune every aspect of these machines, optimizing frame integrity, power delivery, and suspension geometry.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota. / Polaris

They push these machines until they fail to develop and integrate the best technology possible in every ATV and UTV vehicle that leaves Polaris. The engineers utilize advanced simulation software, 3D modelling, sound isolation rooms, and an army of 3D printers to harness the full potential of every idea and test years of wear and tear in days, before a new part is machined.

These processes help streamline development, leading to increased reliability and durability in every vehicle that rolls off the production line. The R&D team works closely with Polaris-sponsored race teams to bring real-time feedback from some of the harshest environments, from grueling high-heat desert conditions to technical rock crawls.

These data points and advancements feed improvements directly from the race teams into production models. The pinnacle of this process is realized in the Polaris RZR Pro R — the most powerful production UTV ever built.

The RZR Pro R is equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0L ProStar Fury engine, FOX Live Valve X2 suspension, and a reinforced one-piece chassis, embodying Polaris’ philosophy of building vehicles that can transition from stock production to the podium with minimal modification. When you drive one, you feel like you’re in a very different kind of machine.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota. / Polaris

Riding a RZR Pro R immediately transports you back to 12-year-old you. You feel giddy as the excitement courses through your veins. The power becomes immediately transparent as you press the gas. The suspension and control are on point. This is a machine finely tuned for enjoyment, on a whole other level.

Polaris remains dedicated to pushing the technology threshold of these machines. The Ride Command System integrates GPS, real-time vehicle diagnostics, and group ride tracking all in a central touchscreen display. This system provides riders with a customized riding experience, enhancing both off-road driving and safety simultaneously.

At the factory line in Roseau, Minnesota, a small crew of elite line workers hard pivot their usual duties to begin limited production on the RZR Pro Factory. A machine bred for the track. The race-ready, limited-run RZR Pro Factory houses a 225 horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, four-cylinder ProStar Fury engine.

It boasts a 4130 chromoly chassis, carbon fiber body panels, and a 130L fuel cell with a dry break. The vehicle also includes race-tuned Dynamix DV suspension, a MoTeC system for performance data logging, and Sparco racing seats and harnesses. If you want an out-of-the-box, ready-to-win-races machine, this is the one.

The science and real-time adjustments that Polaris made to build the RZR Pro Factory are astounding. It’s an interesting move to put all of your race competitors at the same level as you, but it seems to be a formula that could work for Polaris.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota.

Polaris RZR Pro Factory on the assembly line in Roseau, Minnesota.. / Polaris

Despite all of this amazingness, Polaris remains humble, driven, and passionate. That was the biggest takeaway from my experience at the factory. While Polaris is a significant force in the industry, its culture still reflects the dedication and spirit of its small-town roots. Every person I encountered took pride in their work at every level. Each one cared for Polaris as if it were their own.

As 2025 continues to race forward, Polaris continues to build on a legacy of innovation, durability, and speed. Every vehicle that rolls out of the R&D center is the culmination of rigorous testing, engineering, and passion, redefining what off-road performance means.



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Shane van Gisbergen completes NASCAR weekend sweep in Chicago | News, Sports, Jobs

The Associated Press Shane van Gisbergen drives to Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Grant Park 165, Sunday. CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen burned out his tires in celebration, sending white smoke into the air. He signed a rugby ball and punted it into the stands in downtown Chicago. […]

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The Associated Press
Shane van Gisbergen drives to Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Grant Park 165, Sunday.

CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen burned out his tires in celebration, sending white smoke into the air. He signed a rugby ball and punted it into the stands in downtown Chicago.

It was a familiar scene.

Van Gisbergen completed a Windy City sweep Sunday, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky street course in downtown Chicago.

“Epic weekend for us. I’m a lucky guy,” van Gisbergen said.

A talented one, too.

The 36-year-old New Zealand native became the second driver to sweep the Xfinity and Cup races in a single weekend from the pole, joining Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016. With his third career Cup win, he also became the winningest foreign-born driver on NASCAR’s top series.

It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season after the Trackhouse Racing driver also won last month on a Mexico City road course.

“He’s the best road course stock car racer that I’ve ever seen,” Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said. “I think when he’s done with us all and walks away from the sport, I think he’s going to walk away as the best road course racer that this sport has ever seen.”

Marks brought van Gisbergen over from Australia’s Supercars for the first edition of NASCAR’s Chicago experiment in 2023, and he became the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.

He also won Chicago’s Xfinity Series stop last year and the first stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.

“This joint, it’s changed my life,” van Gisbergen said. “I didn’t have any plans to do more NASCAR races when I first came over here, and I never thought I’d be in NASCAR full time.”

In what might be the last NASCAR race on the downtown Chicago circuit, Ty Gibbs was second and Tyler Reddick finished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five.

“My team called a great strategy and got me in position to get me up front to compete for the win,” Gibbs said. “It worked out for us today, so I’m glad to have a good finish, but we wish we could have gone for the win.”

Michael McDowell joined van Gisbergen on the front row and quickly moved in front. He won Stage 1 and led for 31 laps before he was derailed by a throttle cable issue.

Van Gisbergen regained the lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog and rain moved into downtown Chicago, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way.

AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece finished seventh. Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.

“I thought overall it was a pretty decent day. It was nice to win that stage,” Blaney said.

William Byron’s day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver leads the point standings by 13 points over Chase Elliott.

After McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between Turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.

“I didn’t see it until the last second,” Keselowski said. “I slowed down and I actually felt I was going to get stopped and then I just kind of got ran over from behind. It’s just a narrow street course and sometimes there’s nowhere to go.”

Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to finish the race. Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset top-seeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta.

Gibbs, Preece, Alex Bowman, John H. Nemechek, Zane Smith and Erik Jones also advanced. The winner of the five-race, bracket-style tournament takes home a $1 million prize.

Bowman, the 2024 champion on the downtown street course, won his head-to-head matchup with Bubba Wallace. Bowman and Wallace made contact as they battled for position late in the race after they also tangled in Chicago last year.

“I wasn’t expecting that to happen or to get raced like that, but we did,” Bowman said. “We just have to move on from it and keep digging. I don’t really know what I could have done much different.”

Top-20 finish

Katherine Legge finished 19th for her best career Cup result. She became the first woman to finish in the top 20 in a Cup race since Danica Patrick at Texas in November 2017.

Legge was the first woman to qualify for the Cup race in downtown Chicago.

Up next

The Cup Series is at Sonoma Raceway in California on Sunday, July 13.



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Motorsports

Keanu Reeves & North One Unveil New Limited Series Documenting the Birth of Cadillac Formula 1 Team 

Filmmaker and longtime motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves announced a new multi-part, unscripted documentary series produced in partnership with North One, part of the All3Media group, that showcases the behind-the-scenes story of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s effort to join the pinnacle of world motorsport. Made possible by exclusive access from Cadillac Formula 1 Team, TWG Motorsports and General […]

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Filmmaker and longtime motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves announced a new multi-part, unscripted documentary series produced in partnership with North One, part of the All3Media group, that showcases the behind-the-scenes story of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s effort to join the pinnacle of world motorsport. Made possible by exclusive access from Cadillac Formula 1 Team, TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM), the series traces the creation of the sport’s newest and uniquely American team as it prepares for its debut at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season opener in Melbourne.

Reeves rejoins the production team from North One with his own KR+SH production company for this new series, serving as host and executive producer mere months after his International Emmy-award win for the acclaimed Disney+ docuseries “Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story.” Developed by Emmy-award-winning director and executive producer Simon Hammerson and three-time BAFTA-winning executive producer Neil Duncanson, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team docuseries brings together a powerhouse of creative talent to capture the ultimate story of sporting jeopardy in the high-octane world of Formula 1 and offers audiences a trackside seat for the whole ride.

“I’m very honored and excited to be a part of telling the remarkable Cadillac Formula 1 Team story and its incredible journey into the world of Formula 1 racing,” said Reeves. “Our goal with the docuseries is to bring audiences into the heart of this journey and showcase what it takes to participate in one of the most exclusive sports arenas in the world.”

Exploring Challenges of Creating a Competitive Team in a Short Time

The documentary follows the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, launched by TWG Motorsports in partnership with GM, as it embarks on the formidable task of building a Formula 1 organization from the ground up. Audiences will get an intimate look at the unique challenges of assembling a competitive team on an accelerated timeline and receive a first-hand account of the vision behind establishing a distinctly American presence in a sport long dominated by European powerhouses.

By documenting the challenges, setbacks, drive and determination required to build a new contender in Formula 1, the series will captivate both motorsport fans and viewers interested in stories of resilience, cultural aspiration and the pursuit of ambitious goals. The story will also explore the journey to build the first American-based team amidst the backdrop of Formula 1’s continuing growth with audiences in the U.S. and around the world.

“This is a story of bold ambition and relentless drive,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. “We’re honored to work with Keanu, whose passion and knowledge of racing run deep, and proud to partner with GM on this incredible story. We have an opportunity to welcome a new generation of fans to Formula 1, and Keanu’s creativity is the perfect spark to ignite that journey.”

“General Motors and TWG Motorsports joined forces on a bold mission—to build a uniquely American Formula 1 team,” said Mark Reuss, GM president. “It’s a thrill to have Keanu Reeves document the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s journey to our first season in the FIA Formula One World Championship.”



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