Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty rejected road courses after the race weekend in Mexico, saying they don’t qualify as real NASCAR races. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has defended the street circuits, pointing out that they weren’t important in Petty’s era but stated how different the sport is today.

Petty’s remarks arrived after Shane van Gisbergen won the Cup Series race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico City. Despite being 30th in the standings, van Gisbergen secured a place in the playoffs as a result of his victory. Petty called out this policy of ‘if you win, you’re in’ and admitted that road courses are not NASCAR. Newsweek Sports reported his comments last week. He said:

“The way they got this thing fixed, where if you win, you’re in. That can’t be right. You got somebody that’s 30th in points that’s going to make the playoffs. Hey man, what happened to the guy that 15th, or 16th, or 18th [that’s] been running good [and] finished good everywhere?

“You’re making a championship situation by winning a road course, which is not really NASCAR to begin with. From that standpoint, I think they’re going to have to jockey around and change some of this kind of stuff.”

Dale Jr. has responded to Petty’s comments by stating that road courses hold more importance today than they did during Petty’s era in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Back in those days, drivers focused primarily on oval tracks, but today, they are expected to master all kinds of race tracks. He said on the Dale Jr. Download podcast:

“I agree with Richard. Road course racing isn’t NASCAR…..There’s been road course racing in NASCAR since the ’50s.”

He added:

“Being a road course racer wasn’t important.

“If you wanted to get to NASCAR, you raced a short track somewhere locally. You ran stock cars, you ran late model stock, you ran the Busch Series or the Sportsman cars back in the ’80s. You raced full-bodied cars around ovals. That was the route.

“That was yesterday’s NASCAR, and that’s what Richard Petty is talking about. But we’re in a different time. Today’s NASCAR is all-encompassing. It is road courses, short tracks, superspeedway.”

Dale Jr. revealed that he was at peace with NASCAR adding more road courses. He said:

“I agree with Richard Petty. NASCAR stock car racing is predominantly an oval-based series. Always has been. We have removed some ovals, we’ve removed some tracks, added some road courses. I’m fine with that because I do like the idea that our drivers need to be great at all things. If you’re going to be a champion, you now have to be as good at a road course as you are at an oval. Back when I started driving, you didn’t. You could f***ing suck at the road course as long as you were good everywhere else.”

Manchester United Strikes Gold with Sponsorship Extension

In a groundbreaking move that is set to shake the sports sponsorship landscape, Manchester United has officially declared the extension of their highly profitable partnership with a major sponsor. This announcement has sent shockwaves through the industry, solidifying Manchester United’s dominance not only on the field but also in the boardroom.

The Red Devils have once again showcased their prowess in securing lucrative deals, proving why they are considered one of the biggest powerhouses in the world of sports. With this extended partnership, Manchester United is not only securing financial stability but also reinforcing their brand on a global scale.

This move comes as no surprise to industry experts who have long admired Manchester United’s ability to attract top-tier sponsors. The club’s unparalleled success both on and off the pitch makes them a prime choice for brands looking to gain exposure to millions of fans worldwide.

As the details of the extended partnership emerge, one thing is clear – Manchester United shows no signs of slowing down. Their strategic business decisions continue to set them apart from the competition, cementing their status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of sports marketing.

Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating the impact of this extended partnership, with many speculating on the potential benefits it could bring to the club both in the short and long term. Manchester United’s ability to consistently attract high-profile sponsors speaks volumes about their global appeal and marketability.

With this latest announcement, Manchester United has once again demonstrated why they are at the top of the game, both on and off the field. The footballing giants show no signs of relinquishing their position as industry leaders, leaving their competitors in the dust.

Stay tuned as more details about this groundbreaking partnership extension continue to unfold, reshaping the sports sponsorship landscape as we know it.

Layne Riggs capped one of the best race weekends of his young career, claiming his first ever pole position then leading the final 20 laps of Friday’s MillerTech Battery 200 to take his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory of the season in the opening race of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Riggs’ No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford beat TRICON Garage driver Tanner Gray to the checkered flag by a healthy 3.64s delivering the young star his third career series win.

Riggs had been fast all day and was running second to championship leader Corey Heim coming to a restart with 19 laps to go only to have Heim’s No. 11 Toyota suffer a flat tire just as the field was about to take the green flag.

Just after Heim pulled off the track for a quick tire change, NASCAR Cup Series driver and former Truck Series regular Carson Hocevar moved his No. 7 truck forward and into the lead on the restart – but was handed a penalty for the move.

Riggs, as the second place car, was the “control” car when Heim pit – not Hocevar – and Riggs assumed the lead for good when Hocevar pit with 18 laps remaining to serve the stop-and-go penalty for his restart violation.

“That’s just a testament to this team, that thing was bad fast especially that last run right there,” said Riggs, the 23-year-old son of former NASCAR Cup Series standout Scott Riggs.

“I really hate the No. 11 [Heim] fell out and not sure what the No. 7 [Hocevar] was doing on the restart there, but made sure to take advantage of it.

“But, hey, I’m a happy man right now. … This is not what I had circled. Last year we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify and ran dead last all day, and today we were the best. It’s amazing.”

For much of the early race – before the tire problem – it appeared the season’s four-race winner Heim would essentially turn in a repeat performance of his work a year ago at the 2.5-mile Pocono track when he swept both stages and won the race. Heim did lead a race best 48 of the 90 laps and set an all-time series record claiming his 12th stage win.

But to his credit, Riggs – who also took a stage win – kept Heim honest all day, and that’s what put him in position to capitalize.

Kaden Honeycutt, who started on the front row alongside Riggs, finished third in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. Brandon Jones in the No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota and former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric in the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet rounded out the top five.

Rookie Connor Mosack, Riggs’ teammate Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, reigning series champion Ty Majeski and Rajah Caruth completed the top 10.

Heim rallied to a 23rd-place finish and leads Riggs’ teammate, Chandler Smith, by 124 points in the championship standings.

With the victory, Riggs claims the seventh Playoff position based on race wins. Only four more regular season races remain to decide which 10 drivers will compete for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship.

The series heads to the historic Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut for next Saturday’s inaugural LIUNA 150 (1 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RESULTS

Fans of the Pro Class 1 Alegra Motorsports team will have to wait a little longer to catch owner/driver Carlos de Quesada and throttleman John Tomlinson in the outfit’s new-to-them 45-foot Victory raceboat. The almost-finished catamaran is not almost-finished enough for this weekend’s XINSURANCE Offshore races, the Pro Class 1 season-opener and first event to be sanctioned by the World Offshore Powerboat Racing Association.

Captured a month ago in this image, the new Alegra Motorsports catamaran wasn’t quite ready for its Pro Class 1 debut this weekend.

“We’re all disappointed, but we collectively decided not to go the Lake of the Ozarks this weekend,” Stray explained.  “It was not for lack of trying. We pushed really hard to a long time. Unfortunately, there are still too many bits and pieces that need to be finished.

“But the boat looks great,” he added.

Stray took delivery of canopied catamaran, which had been mothballed for years and needed extensive renovation as well new class-spec Mercury Racing 1100 Comp engines, in January. Stray and company essentially gutted the cat, right down its wiring harness, and started with fresh with custom-fabricated parts such a carbon fiber engine mounts. They renovated the catamaran’s cockpit and brought it to state-of-the-art safety standards.

Captured here with world champion throttleman Steve Curtis (left), Carlos de Quesada will have to wait until August to compete in his new Pro Class 1 boat. Photo by Cole McGowan copyright Powerboat P1.

There just wasn’t enough time, even with Stray and company working six days a week, often late into the night. Stray assured Alegra Motorsports fans that the new cat will be at the Race World Offshore-produced Great Lakes Grand Prix August 1-4 in Michigan City, Ind.

“The boat just wasn’t ready,” Tomlinson said. “So the only boat I have to throttle this weekend is the (Factory Stock-class) Mead Family Racing MTI cat with Caleb Mead.”

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Lime Rock Park’s NASCAR comeback just gained automotive muscle. Chevrolet, America’s $47 billion automotive titan, has been named Official Vehicle of the iconic Connecticut circuit. The explosive partnership launches Jun. 27 with the LIUNA 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, marking NASCAR’s return after a 14-year hiatus.

The deal deploys Chevrolet’s most advanced models across track operations. From pace trucks to emergency response, the Bowtie brand will dominate the facility as NASCAR reignites its Northeast legacy. This collaboration blends cutting-edge engineering with historic asphalt.

Chevrolet Deploys High-Tech Fleet for NASCAR Operations

A fleet of factory-equipped Chevrolets will become Lime Rock’s backbone. Two Silverado 1500 RST trucks will pace NASCAR’s field, while specialized models handle critical functions. The lineup includes:

• Blazer EV SS electric performance SUV
• Corvette Stingray supercar
• Silverado 2500 LT crew cabs
• BrightDrop 400 electric delivery vans

These vehicles will manage VIP transport, emergency services, and logistical support year-round. Chevrolet activates further with product displays in the fan zone near the main entrance, showcasing new models at the track that famously lacks grandstands, where spectators watch from grassy Appalachian foothills.

BREAKING NEWS @NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series set to make its Lime Rock Park debut June 27-28, 2025. #NASCARhttps://t.co/oiX4IaQHKQ

— Lime Rock Park (@limerockpark) August 29, 2024

“This partnership with Chevrolet brings an iconic automotive brand to the forefront of an exciting new chapter at Lime Rock Park,” declared Lime Rock President and CEO Dicky Riegel. The enthusiasm echoed through Chevrolet’s ranks.

“We are excited to feature Chevrolet’s latest lineup both on and off the track for the inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event.”

“Chevrolet is excited for the opportunity to form a partnership with Lime Rock Park,” said Todd Christensen, Director of Motorsports Marketing & Activation for Chevrolet.

“With our history competing at Lime Rock Park, we’re looking forward to being a part of NASCAR’s return to the circuit and bringing one of the sport’s most competitive series to the northeast.”

Lime Rock Park Revives NASCAR’s Northeast Legacy

Lime Rock’s 1.53-mile road course last hosted NASCAR in 2011. Its return after 14 years becomes a strategic conquest for stock car racing’s Northeast expansion. The venue, the third-oldest continuously operating road course in America, previously hosted legends like Ken Schrader and Ryan Truex across 20 Busch North Series races from 1993-2011.

Major infrastructure upgrades now complete the stage. Extended pit lanes and enhanced safety features accommodate modern NASCAR competition. Labor union LIUNA’s title sponsorship underscores regional significance.

LIUNA Vice President and New England Regional Manager Donato A. Bianco Jr. said, “On behalf of the 63,000 skilled, hard-working, men and women of the New England Region, who build our states infrastructure, we are honored to welcome the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to Connecticut and be this year’s title sponsor of the LIUNA 150 at Lime Rock Park.”

Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Chief Venue Officer, emphasized the strategic play: “We are proud to bring the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to historic Lime Rock Park for the first time.”

Meanwhile, Chevrolet’s operational presence signals deeper manufacturer involvement. Their fleet enables the unique spectator experience that Lime Rock champions, with fans bringing blankets and chairs to hillside viewing spots. As Silverado pace trucks lead the field, this partnership fuels NASCAR’s Northeast resurgence with American horsepower.