Motorsports

Kyle Busch was once kicked out of a track for being too…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch was hyped for NASCAR greatness long before he was a teenager by his Hall of Fame nominee brother, who vowed, “If you think I’m good, wait until you see my little brother.” Busch’s debut in a NASCAR national series race was delayed, though, when he turned up at California […]

Published

2 weeks ago

May 2, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Busch’s debut in a NASCAR national series race was delayed, though, when he turned up at California Speedway in 2001 intent to run the Truck Series race. He dominated practice in a race sponsored by Marlboro but, because he was only 16 at the time, was ruled ineligible to compete over NASCAR’s interpretation of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

The MSA prohibited individuals under 18 from participating in events sponsored by tobacco companies. And because NASCAR at the time was sponsored by Winston, the series eventually adopted its own rule six weeks later implementing a minimum age requirement of 18 that began in 2002.

Busch had no choice but to move to the American Speed Association National Tour, and then ARCA after graduating early from his Las Vegas high school.

Fast-forward to Friday, when Busch celebrates his 40th birthday as a two-time Cup Series champion, headed to Texas Motor Speedway with 232 national series victories. Kurt Busch, his older brother by seven years and a nominee last week to next year’s Hall of Fame class, has one Cup title and 43 career national series victories.

Busch can now laugh at his experience 24 years ago at California Speedway, where he went on to win five Cup races, including the last one in 2023 before the track was shuttered by NASCAR.

“Shut that place down,” he said, noting the irony that he’s now sponsored by Zone nicotine pouches, which has an additional relationship with online retailer Nicokick. “Full circle moment.”

Busch celebrated his birthday early — over the Easter weekend, which was NASCAR’s only break of the 38-race schedule — with a vacation with his wife, Samantha. They left their two children at home, and Samantha made a heartfelt social media post honoring her husband.

“Early celebration for Kyle’s big 4-0, love ya babe,” Samantha wrote, sharing a picture of herself and her husband at dinner on a beachfront. In a separate image, Kyle could also be seen with a small chocolate cake in front of him, with a candle burning.

Busch said he and Samantha “made the most of it” even though he finds it difficult to unwind.

“Just a nice little quiet time, tried to disconnect, that’s not easy for me to do,” Busch said. “So I’m still kind of doing some work from afar, emails and things like that.”

And as for turning 40? Well, he wasn’t exactly thrilled. Busch is in his 23rd season in the Cup Series, and although he joined Richard Childress Racing in 2023 and won three races, he went winless in Cup last year for the first time in his career and missed the playoffs. His losing streak headed to Texas is an eye-popping 67 races.

“I remember turning 30 and thinking that was going to be it,” Busch said. “It is what it is. Samantha has made the best of that for me, where we celebrated my birthday on that trip. I don’t feel much older than I did five, six years ago. So that’s the good part of it. And I’m in pretty decent shape, so thankful for all of that.”

Busch briefly considered retirement at the end of the 2022 season when he parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he for now is the winningest driver in team history with Denny Hamlin closing in on his mark. Now, he’d like to race at least until his son, Brexton, turns 18 and the two can compete against each other in NASCAR.

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COVID-19 Pulled This “Resto-Mod” Track Back from the Brink

NASCAR’s All-Star race rolls into North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year this weekend, but without the pandemic recovery grant North Carolina awarded the facility, the historic track’s revival might have remained a dream. In November 2021, North Carolina’s Legislature passed a budget that awarded $45.8 million to 15 local governments to help 17 […]

Published

9 minutes ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In November 2021, North Carolina’s Legislature passed a budget that awarded $45.8 million to 15 local governments to help 17 motorsports venues recover from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Of those 17 facilities, the historic North Wilkesboro track was awarded the largest grant from the Motorsports Relief Fund—$18 million.

“This is, literally, the only thing you could ever thank COVID-19 for because if it wasn’t for COVID-19 and the funds that went into fixing this back up, I don’t know that it ever would have happened,” driver Ryan Newman has said.

The money funded numerous infrastructure improvements that included:

Repairing significant drainage problems in the infield and paving the infield.
Renovating suites, the infield media center and concourse.
Installing the new MUSCO lighting system, a new public address system, internet, SAFER barriers, and new catch fence.
Constructing a new hospitality building in turn four.

North Wilkesboro Speedway owner Speedway Motorsports also had a financial investment totaling more than seven figures allocated for the facility’s projects.

nascar cup series all star race qualifying and pit crew challenge — James Gilbert – Getty Images

“The support we received from the American Rescue Plan, coupled with our own investments has put us in a very blessed position to host NASCAR yet again with the All-Star race,” Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith said. “Not only did then Governor (Roy) Cooper and the state Legislature get behind the project, but the Wilkes County community has been supportive from day one.”

Prior to the revitalization, the track’s surface and grandstand area were overgrown with weeds. Trees had grown up through the grandstands in the first and second turns and backstretch. Terri Parsons, wife of NASCAR Hall of Fame member and Wilkes County native Benny Parsons, spearheaded a county-wide campaign to let Smith know the area’s residents would embrace him if he reopened the facility.

Once the short-track’s return appeared on the horizon, local residents began assisting with the cleanup. Former Junior Johnson employee Ronald Queen, now the track’s operations director, began cleaning up the property and track as a volunteer, using thousands of gallons of weed killer. Wilkes County volunteer first responders cut the trees into firewood for those in the county who needed it for heat in the winter.

Once the restoration of North Wilkesboro Speedway began, every building on the property that could be saved was restored in an effort to maintain the nostalgic, historical look and feel of the facility. Smith likened the speedway’s restoration to a “resto-mod” in the car world.

“North Wilkesboro Speedway is now one of the most unique venues in motorsports, like Lambeau Field or Fenway Park, it’s truly a throwback race track,” Smith said.

Fans attending this year’s All-Star race weekend, which includes the CARS Tour, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, are coming from 43 states and nine foreign countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

North Carolina Motorsports Association statistics show that auto racing’s economic impact on the state of North Carolina is $6 billion.

While North Wilkesboro Speedway received the largest grant from the state’s Motorsports Relief Fund, Charlotte Motor Speedway was next with $13 million and then Rockingham Speedway, which hosted NASCAR’s Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series races earlier this year, at $9 million.

Jared C. Tilton – Getty Images

Not every race track in North Carolina received a grant, but of those who did, Orange County Speedway in Rougemont received the lowest amount. The three-eighths-mile paved track was awarded $39,738. Next was the three-eighths-mile dirt track Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City at $85,600. Tracks receiving six-figure grants included Bowman Gray Stadium, which hosted The Clash earlier this year, and Hickory Motor Speedway, a 0.363-mile paved track that hosted NASCAR’s Cup Series prior to 1972 in addition to its weekly races.

Overall, the 17 grants went to one intermediate track, a one-mile facility, eight paved, and two dirt short tracks, four dragways, and one—Coastal Plains Dragway now known as Coastal Plains Park in Jacksonville—that has a dragway, short track, and dirt and drift complexes.

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Motorsports

Revving Up: Del Amo Motorsports to Bring New Powersports Hub to Victorville

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A proposal to open a new Del Amo Motorsports dealership in Victorville is moving forward after the city’s Planning Commission approved key land use changes during its meeting on May 14, 2025. The project involves repurposing and renovating an existing commercial building located at 14444 Atstar Drive, adjacent to Costco along Valley Center Drive. […]

Published

34 minutes ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A proposal to open a new Del Amo Motorsports dealership in Victorville is moving forward after the city’s Planning Commission approved key land use changes during its meeting on May 14, 2025.

The project involves repurposing and renovating an existing commercial building located at 14444 Atstar Drive, adjacent to Costco along Valley Center Drive.

The building was previously occupied by Howard’s Furniture, which closed in February 2024. Howard’s Furniture had acquired the site after purchasing the former Midway Home Solutions appliance store in 2021, according to prior reporting by VVNG.

Del Amo Motorsports plans to renovate the approximately 89,000-square-foot building into a powersports dealership offering sales and service for motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and watercraft.

To facilitate the project, commissioners voted to recommend approval of several items:

Amending the Civic Center Community Sustainability Specific Plan to re-designate approximately 20 acres from “Office Campus” to “Civic Commercial.”
Updating the land use table to allow new vehicle sales as a conditionally permitted use.
Approving a Conditional Use Permit and an associated Environmental Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

According to city staff reports, the Specific Plan Amendment is covered under a previously adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Conditional Use Permit qualifies for a categorical exemption because the project involves reuse of an existing commercial facility with limited expansion.

City officials said the Office Campus designation, adopted in 2016, aimed to attract medical, office, and educational development, but market demand shifted toward retail and service businesses.

The new Civic Commercial designation is intended to reflect current land use patterns near Valley Center Drive and better support commercial activity.

Site plan for the future Del Amo Motorsports location in Victorville, outlining the building footprint, parking lot improvements, and access points along Valley Center Drive near Costco.

Del Amo Motorsports describes itself as “the new powerhouse for the powersports industry in Southern California,” operating five locations that serve Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

Renovation plans include repainting the building, updating doors and windows, repairing the parking lot, and replacing perimeter fencing. The project also calls for upgrading the trash enclosure to meet current city standards.

Interior exiting plan for the future Del Amo Motorsports dealership in Victorville, showing customer lounge, service areas, parts storage, and sales floor layout.

The dealership proposes operating hours of Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with closures on Sundays and Mondays. All retail and service activities would be conducted indoors.

The property provides 272 parking spaces, exceeding city code requirements. Traffic impacts are expected to be comparable to or less than the building’s previous retail use, according to city documents.

The Planning Commission’s decision is a recommendation. Final approval of the Specific Plan Amendment and Conditional Use Permit must be made by the Victorville City Council at a future meeting.

If approved by the City Council, the Victorville location would become Del Amo Motorsports’ sixth dealership in Southern California.

For more information about Del Amo Motorsports, visit delamomotorsports.com.

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Motorsports

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 05.14.25 – Speedway Digest

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NASCAR returns to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for the annual All-Star race weekend for the Cup Series, along with race number 10 of the 2025 season for the Truck Series. The ARCA Menards Series East is off to Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan for its fourth race of the season. NHRA is back in action at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois as the summer stretch of races begins. And finally, the GR Cup Series enters its third race weekend of the season at Sebring International Raceway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NCTS

Toyota bouts for inaugural Manufacturers Showdown … The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race has some new elements included to amplify the excitement of the annual event, including the new “Manufacturer Showdown.” All three manufacturers in the Cup Series will compete against each other with the best combined overall finish among the three determining the winner. The number of cars per manufacturer will be determined once the All-Star main event field is set, with whichever manufacturer that has the least number of cars in the main event determining the amount the other two have in the challenge as well. The lowest cumulative score among the three OEMs determines the victor.

Crews makes Trucks debut … Toyota Development Driver Brent Crews arrives to North Wilkesboro Speedway this weekend to make his debut in the NASCAR Truck Series where he will pilot the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. The 17-year-old has thoroughly impressed in his young racing career so far, including the 2024 World Series of Asphalt Late Model championship; the 2023 SCCA TransAm TA2 Pro-Am championship; multiple wins in ARCA Menards Series competition – most recently at Rockingham Speedway in the East series – among other notable successes.

Heim seeks North Wilkesboro repeat … After another Truck Series top-five finish last weekend in Kansas and a solid season debut in the Cup Series, Corey Heim is back at North Wilkesboro Speedway looking for a repeat victory. The 22-year-old Toyota Development Driver led 62 laps on the way to victory the event last year at the 0.625-mile short oval for his eighth career Truck Series win at the time. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage has serious momentum entering the weekend, with six consecutive top-10 finishes and still standing as the Truck Series points leader.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series East

Reaves goes for third straight win … Max Reaves has had a dazzling beginning to his career in the ARCA Menards Series East, with two victories in his first two career starts at Five Flags Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Reaves and his No. 18 Toyota Camry head to Flat Rock Speedway this weekend in search of his third straight victory during the 2025 campaign.

NHRA – Top Fuel/Funny Car

Langdon continues as points leader heading to Chicago … With his win three weeks ago in Charlotte, Shawn Langdon enters race number six at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, with a 59-point lead in the NHRA Top Fuel standings. The 2013 Top Fuel world champion has two event victories and 12 round wins already on the season to put him firmly in the top spot. Closely following him in the standings are Antron Brown in third, Doug Kalitta in fourth, and Justin Ashley in sixth entering the weekend.

Brown seeks Chicago repeat … Last year in Joliet, Brown captured the first of what would be six race victories in 2024 to propel him to his fourth NHRA Top Fuel world championship. Brown is back at the Illinois dragstrip in hopes of a repeat triumph and his fifth overall Top Fuel victory at Route 66 Raceway.

GR Cup

Championship battle heats up in Sebring … As the Toyota GR Cup Series enters its fourth race weekend of the 2025 season, the series championship battle is beginning to take shape. The top three in the series points – Jaxon Bell (first), Westin Workman (second) and Lucas Weisenberg (third) – are all within a seven-point gap entering Sebring this weekend. Bell and Weisenberg have both captured victories so far this season, while Workman has three podiums in four races so far this season.

Toyota Racing PR

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North Wilkesboro TV Schedule: May 2025 (NASCAR)

NASCAR TV schedule for North Wilkesboro Speedway A busy week of racing is on deck for North Wilkesboro Speedway. The North Carolina short track is set to host the NASCAR Cup Series, Truck Series, Whelen Modified Tour and CARS Tour. View the North Wilkesboro TV schedule below. North Wilkesboro SpeedwayTV Schedule The following includes all […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NASCAR TV schedule for North Wilkesboro Speedway

A busy week of racing is on deck for North Wilkesboro Speedway. The North Carolina short track is set to host the NASCAR Cup Series, Truck Series, Whelen Modified Tour and CARS Tour.

View the North Wilkesboro TV schedule below.

North Wilkesboro Speedway
TV Schedule

The following includes all on-track NASCAR and CARS Tour action:

Thursday
May 15, 2025

12:00pm ET
No TV
Pro Late Model
Practice

12:45pm ET
No TV
Late Model Stock
Practice

1:30pm ET
No TV
Pro Late Model
Final Practice

2:15pm ET
No TV
Late Model Stock
Final Practice

6:15pm ET
No TV
Pro Late Model
Qualifying

7:00pm ET
No TV
Late Model Stock
Qualifying

8:00pm ET
FloRacing
Pro Late Model
Race

Friday
May 16, 2025

4:00pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Cup Series
Pit Road Qualifying Entry/Exit Practice
(Open)

4:30pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Cup Series
Pit Road Qualifying Entry/Exit Practice
(All-Star)

5:00pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Cup Series
Practice

6:00pm ET
FS1
NASCAR Cup Series
Qualifying / Pit Crew Challenge
(Open)

7:00pm ET
FS1
NASCAR Cup Series
Qualifying / Pit Crew Challenge
(All-Star)

NASCAR.com
press Pass: Post NCS Qual

8:15pm ET
FloRacing | FS1
Late Model Stock
Race

Saturday
May 17, 2025

9:35am ET
FS2
NASCAR Truck Series
Practice

10:35am ET
FS2
NASCAR Truck Series
Qualifying

1:30pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Truck Series
Race

NASCAR.com
Press Pass: Post NCTS Race

5:10pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star (Heat 1)

6:15pm ET
FS2
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star (Heat 2)

NASCAR.com
Press Pass: Post Heat Races

Sunday
May 18, 2025

10:15am ET
No TV
NASCAR Whelen Modified
Practice 1

10:55am ET
No TV
NASCAR Whelen Modified
Practice 2

12:45pm ET
No TV
NASCAR Whelen Modified
Qualifying

2:00pm ET
FloRacing
NASCAR Whelen Modified
Race

5:00pm ET
FS1
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Open

8:00pm ET
FS1 | HBO Max
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Race

NASCAR.com
Press Pass: Post NCS Race

Links

North Wilkesboro Speedway | CARS Tour | NASCAR

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Motorsports

NASCAR Qualifying Order: North Wilkesboro (May 2025)

North Wilkesboro Speedway qualifying order for NASCAR weekend The 0.625-mile of North Wilkesboro Speedway is set for All-Star weekend. The North Carolina track will host the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Truck Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the CARS Tour. View the NASCAR qualifying order for North Wilkesboro Speedway below. 20 cars are already locked […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

North Wilkesboro Speedway qualifying order for NASCAR weekend

The 0.625-mile of North Wilkesboro Speedway is set for All-Star weekend. The North Carolina track will host the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Truck Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the CARS Tour.

View the NASCAR qualifying order for North Wilkesboro Speedway below.

20 cars are already locked into the the All-Star Race. Ahead of the All-Star Race, there’s an LCQ. Two cars will transfer out of the All-Star Open and start at the rear of the field for the All-Star Race.

North Wilkesboro TV Schedule: May 2025 (NASCAR)

NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star (Open)
Qualifying Order

Pos | Driver | Points Position

Open Order

1. Chad Finchum
43

2. Cody Ware
36

3. Shane van Gisbergen
35

4. Cole Custer
34

5. Riley Herbst
32

6. Noah Gragson
31

7. Ty Dillon
30

8. Erik Jones
29

9. Justin Haley
28

10. Ty Gibbs
26

11. AJ Allmendinger
25

12. Todd Gilliland
24

13. Zane Smith
23

14. Michael McDowell
21

15. Carson Hocevar
20

16. John Hunter Nemechek
19

17. Ryan Preece
16

18. Bubba Wallace
10

Kyle Busch - North Wilkesboro Speedway - NASCAR Cup Series - RCR — Kyle Busch – North Wilkesboro Speedway – NASCAR Cup Series – RCR

NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Race
Qualifying Order

Pos | Driver | Points Position

1. Harrison Burton
–

2. Justin Allgaier
52 (No 5 Car)

3. Brad Keselowski
33

4. Daniel Suarez
27

5. Austin Dillon
22

6. Kyle Busch
18

7. Josh Berry
17

8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
15

9. Austin Cindric
14

10. Chase Briscoe
13

11. Chris Buescher
12

12. Ross Chastain
11

13. Joey Logano
9

14. Alex Bowman
8

15. Denny Hamlin
7

16. Tyler Reddick
6

17. Ryan Blaney
5

18. Chase Elliott
4

19. Christopher Bell
3

20. William Byron
2

Christian Eckes - North Wilkesboro Speedway - NASCAR Truck Series (1) — Credit: NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 19: Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Instacoat Premium Products Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)=

NASCAR Truck Series
Qualifying Order

Pos | Driver | Points Position

1. Ryan Roulette
40.400

2. North Benning
39.500

3. Patrick Emerling
39.200

4. Justin Carroll
38.900

5. Jayson Alexander
29.300

6. Luke Baldwin
28.500

7. Frankie Muniz
28.300

8. Tyler Tomassi
25.600

9. Layne Riggs
25.000

10. Derek White
24.700

11. Spencer Boyd
23.900

12. Tanner Gray
23.700

13. Conner Jones
23.300

14. Jack Wood
22.500

15. Toni Breidinger
22.400

16. Andres Perez
20.200

17. Connor Mosack
19.800

18. Rajah Caruth
19.200

Group B

19. Dawson Sutton
16.500

20. Matt Mills
14.700

21. Matt Crafton
14.500

22. Chandler Smith
12.500

23. Tyler Ankrum
12.400

24. Ty Majeski
11.900

25. Ben Rhodes
11.300

26. Brent Crews
10.800

27. Kaden Honeycutt
8.600

28. Grant Enfinger
8.100

29. Daniel Hemric
7.900

30. Stewart Friesen
7.400

31. Jake Garcia
7.300

32. Gio Ruggiero
7.000

33. Sammy Smith
3.400

34. Kyle Busch
2.900

35. Corey Heim
2.400

Late Model Stock - North Wilkesboro Speedway - CARS Tour — Late Model Stock – North Wilkesboro Speedway – CARS Tour (Photo: Racetrack Revival)

Late Model Stock: Entry List

Cars: 43

#00
Chase Burrow

#00S
Daniel Silvestri

#01
Camden Gullie

#03 Lanie Buice

#04
Ronnie Bassett Jr.

#09
Riley Gentry

#1
Andrew Grady

#2
Brandon Pierce

#2W
Ryan Wilson

#4
Donovan Strauss

#4B
Kade Brown

#5
Kaden Honeycutt

#7
Tristan McKee

#8
Tate Fogleman

#8K
Caden Kvapil

#11
Buddy Isles Jr.

#12
Jonathan Shafer

#12L
Corey LaJoie

#14
Sam Butler

#15
Ryan Millington

#16
Alex Meggs

#17
Layne Riggs

#22
Carson Loftin

#24
Cody Dempster

#28
Dustin Storm

#28
Landon S. Huffman

#29
Landen Lewis

#32
Dylon Wilson

#32K
Carson Kvapil

#36
William Meredith

#41
Mason Diaz

#44
Conner Jones

#57
Landon Huffman

#67
Cameron Bolin

#71
Jake Bollman

#71E
Parker Eatmon

#77
Tyler Gregory

#81
Mini Tyrrell

#88
Connor Hall

#88B
Doug Barnes Jr.

#91
Justin Carroll

#97
Michael Bumgarner

#99
Daniel Wilk

Pro Late Model: Entry List

Cars: 26

#V5
Vito Cancilla

#6
Ben Maier

#6L
Brandon Lopez

#7
Tristan McKee

#7M
Brody Monahan

#11
Dylan Cappello

#13
Brandan Marhefka

#15
Rodney Dowless

#17

Hudson Bulger

#18
Max Reaves

#20
Camden Murphy

#21
Josh Berry

#24
Jade Avedisian

#25
Isaac Kitzmiller

#26
Dawson Sutton

#28
Kevin Cremonesi

#43
Joshua Horniman

#44
Conner Jones

#45
Logan Jones

#47
Kaden Honeycutt

#51
Luke Baldwin

#54
T.J. DeCaire

#62
Keelan Harvick

#96
Spencer Davis

#97
Dylan Garner

#97K
Jason Kitzmiller

North Wilkesboro Results: August 3, 2024 (CARS Tour)

NASCAR Whelen Modified: Entry List

Car | Driver

#1
Patrick Emerling

#02
Joey Coulter IV

#3
Tyler Rypkema

#4
Ryan Newman

#5
Kyle Ebersole

#7
Luke Baldwin

#8
John-Michael Shenette

#14
Jake Lutz

#15
Joey Cipiano III

#18
Ken Heagy

#21
Stephen Kopcik

#22
Kyle Bonsignore

#23
Carson Loftin

#36
David Sapienza

#38
Bobby Labonte

#46
Craig Lutz

#51
Justin Bonsignore

#54
Tommy Catalano

#55
Jeremy Gerstner

#56
Trevor Catalano

#58
Eric Goodale

#59
Tyler Barry

#60
Matt Hirschman

#64
Austin Beers

#77
Corey LaJoie

#99
Conner Jones

#112
Brian Sones

#129
Mike Marshall

#137
Jake Crum

#140
Luke Fleming

#155
Teddy Hodgdon IV

#179
Joey Braun

Links

North Wilkesboro Speedway | CARS Tour | NASCAR

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Entry List For NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour At North Wilkesboro Speedway

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is set to open NASCAR’s All-Star Race day on Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and NASCAR’s oldest division is bringing a stacked entry list for their 150-lap race. 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway Headlining the entry list is the four-time and defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Headlining the entry list is the four-time and defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, Justin Bonsignore. The Holtsville, New York driver is the defending winner of this race, as he put in an absolutely dominating performance last October. Bonsignore led 130 of the 150 laps and won by 6.473 seconds. He lapped all the way up to fifth-place too, all the while telling his competitors with one race left on the calendar that he was going to win the championship no matter what.

But after two races in 2025, Bonsignore’s season has not gotten started the way he would have hoped. He rebounded from two laps down to finish third at New Smyrna, but late-race contact on pit road and a bad restart at Thompson left him with a fifth-place finish. Is a third and a fifth in two races bad? No, but it’s still beyond the norm for the 45-time race winner. But heading to North Wilkesboro after last October’s dominating race might be exactly what Bonsignore and his Ken Massa Motorsports team led by crew chief Ryan Stone needs.

A fun addition to the entry list this week is a past winner of the NASCAR All-Star race in one of Modified racing’s most historic race cars. Ryan Newman, the winner of the 2002 All-Star race, then known as “The Winston,” will pilot the legendary No. v4 “Mystic Missile” Modified in place of Tim Connolly, who is recovering from surgery. Newman took the victory in 2022’s first Modified race during the “Racetrack Revival” week of festivities. He also finished 13th in last October’s race at North Wilkesboro driving Gary Putnam’s No. 77.

Speaking of Putnam’s No. 77, that car will be driven on Sunday by former NASCAR Cup Series driver and former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race winner, Corey LaJoie. Sunday’s race will be LaJoie’s first NWMT start in nearly two years. LaJoie’s last race came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the summer of 2023 where he finished seventh. His previous Modified start before that race came at Martinsville Speedway at the end of the 2022 season, which ended with LaJoie celebrating in victory lane.

The driver who finished second in this race last year, albeit a distant second, was Northampton, Pennsylvania’s Matt Hirschman. Hirschman is back on the entry list this weekend and is looking for his second victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Hirschman won this race two years ago on the old pavement at the end of 2023.

Speaking of Northampton, Pennsylvania, Hirschman’s neighbor, Austin Beers finished one spot behind Hirschman in this race last year. Beers led four laps in last year’s race. Beers has also won the pole for this race each year it has been held so far.

Lastly, the current points leader, Patrick Emerling, has been on fire to start off 2025. He dominated much of the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway, he scored the season-opening NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race also at New Smyrna after starting dead last, and rebounded from a pit road mistake to finish second at Thompson. Emerling was decent at North Wilkesboro last year, finishing a distant fourth behind Bonsignore, Hirschman, and Beers.

The entire entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour “FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150” at North Wilkesboro Speedway can be found below.

Sunday’s race can be seen live on FloRacing as part of the FloRacing subscription, as can all NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races all season long. Fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour At North Wilkesboro Entry List

Car No.	Driver	Crew Chief
1	Patrick Emerling	Dale Hedquist
02	Joey Coulter	Harold Holly
3	Tyler Rypkema	Greg Fournier
4	Ryan Newman	TBA
5	Kyle Ebersole	Bob Ebersole
7	Luke Baldwin	Tommy Baldwin
8	John-Michael Shenette	Scott Morin
14	Jake Lutz	Bill Putney
15	Joey Cipriano III	Ryan Plourde
18	Ken Heagy	Greg Gorman
21	Stephen Kopcik	Nick Kopcik
22	Kyle Bonsignore	Keith McDermott
23	Carson Loftin	Brian Loftin
36	Dave Sapienza	Greg Kleila
38	Bobby Labonte	Neal Cantor
46	Craig Lutz	Douglas Ogiejko
51	Justin Bonsignore	Ryan Stone
54	Tommy Catalano	Rick Kluth
55	Jeremy Gerstner	Dawn Gerstner
56	Trevor Catalano	JJ Vece
58	Eric Goodale	Rob Hyer
59	Tyler Barry	Billy Michael
60	Matt Hirschman	Mike Stein
64	Austin Beers	Ron Yuhas
77	Corey LaJoie	Gary Putnam
99	Conner Jones	Eddie Harvey
112	Brian Sones	Dennis Wenner
129	Mike Marshall	Kevin Ledoux
137	Jake Crum	Justin Link
140	Luke Fleming	Christopher Fleming
155	Teddy Hodgdon IV	Ted Hodgdon
179	Joey Braun	David Hill