NASCAR’s time on the streets of Chicago could have come to an end, with the three-year deal between the organization and the city having expired following the recent Grant Park 165. However, 23XI Racing co-owner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin would sooner see a return to the Windy City over other remaining road courses.

Following the third and potentially final weekend of NASCAR action in downtown Chicago, which was swept by New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen who won from pole in both the Cup and Xfinity Series, Hamlin reflected on the importance of the city to his and Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing.

“It’s a very important partner city,” Hamlin said on his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast. “So there were three main ones this weekend that, you know, this was a big deal for them. McDonald’s, obviously, is headquartered there. You have the Jordan brand for obvious reasons, and then it was an important one for Robinhood as well.”

Hamlin later added that Robinhood, which joined 23XI Racing as an official partner in January, “Had a bunch of people out” on Sunday, going on to explain, “So it matters to us, and in a world where you know, if we don’t sell sponsorship, we don’t have a business. It’s important, no doubt.”

A commercially crucial location for 23XI Racing, Hamlin also said he prefers the event to some of the other current road course offerings, citing it’s “important to exposing new fans.” Reflecting on the most recent race weekend in Chicago, he felt “it was a good weekend overall.”

“Seemed like still a lot of fans there. A lot of new fans. It seems like the area is starting to embrace it,” he said. “It seemed like the build wasn’t quite…it didn’t have quite the build-out that it had before. It was probably easier to, put up and take down.

“I thought NASCAR definitely tried to oversell the premium experience, maybe. Remember they had that big thing on the front straightaway, and they were trying to sell these packages, like an F1 race. It just didn’t have quite the demand that they had. So, they didn’t have that, that I saw, but there was quite a few hospitality trailers and whatnot on the back.

“I don’t know, it still felt really good to me. Walking down the front stretch, you still feel like you’re at a legit racetrack. I don’t know, hopefully, they’ve got a two-year option, I guess, on this. The city has that option.

DON’T MISS…

“They’ll need to talk about it, for sure, and see if it makes financial sense for everyone involved. I certainly hope that we go back.”

The future of the event remains unclear, with NASCAR seemingly unlikely to renew its deal with the city as it flirts with the potential of moving the street race to San Diego. 

However, as hinted at by Hamlin, Chicago still has the ability to trigger a two-year extension, which Mayor Brandon Johnson remains “open to,” as per CBS News. This would, in part, come down to whether or not any future races could be held on a different date, to avoid clashing with other events during the 4th of July weekend. Johnson would also want to ensure the event would be able to benefit not only the tourism industry but also the broader public interest, such as disadvantaged areas beyond downtown.

Spire Motorsports will field an ARCA Menards Series West entry for Corey Day who will drive the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS in Friday afternoon’s General Tire 200 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The race will mark the team’s first appearance in a stand-alone ARCA Menards Series West race.
The General Tire 200 will be streamed live on FloRacing Friday, July 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Radio coverage for the sixth of 12 events on the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West calendar will also be streamed live on ARCARacing.com.

Corey Day – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet SS

Corey Day will be at the controls of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet SS in Friday’s General Tire 200 at Sonoma Raceway.
The Clovis, Calif., native will pull double duty this weekend and also compete in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Pit Boss/Foodmaxx 250 in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports.
The 64-lap event will mark Day’s sixth start in the key developmental series. He competed in three ARCA Menards Series events in 2024 for Pinnacle Racing Group and the opening two rounds of the 2025 campaign for Spire Motorsports. He will round out his four-race slate later this season at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 26). In his five prior starts, Day has tallied one top five and three top 10s, including a career-best fourth-place finish at Kansas Speedway.
In Day’s most recent ARCA Menards Series start, the open-wheel standout was forced to start 29th after inclement weather washed out qualifying but raced his way to a 10th-place finish to earn his third top 10 in ARCA competition.
Day has gained valuable road-racing experience in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series. He’s raced a Scott Lagasse-prepared HendrickCars.com M1 Chevrolet in four of seven events thus far in 2025. In the division’s most recent stop at Road America, Day collected his first TA2 top-five finish with a third-place result joining Spire Motorsports development driver and current points leader Tristan McKee on the podium.
In his lone Sonoma start when the TA2 Series made its yearly visit to the famed 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course, Day qualified fourth but sustained damage to the nose of his machine early in the event and was forced to settle for a 26th-place result.
HendrickCars.com is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
Day has competed in 10 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events, six of which have come at the controls of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Silverado with veteran crew chief Brian Pattie calling the race. He secured a career-best fifth-place finish in his last appearance with the team at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. He will return to the series later this month at Indianapolis Raceway Park (July 25) and round out his eight-race slate at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (Aug. 30).
The Hendrick Motorsports development driver has started three races behind the wheel of the team’s No. 17 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and finished 11th in his most recent start at Nashville Superspeedway.
Day has collected victories at some of the west coast’s most prestigious races, including the 2024 Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura (Calif.) Speedway, 2024 Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup at Skagit (Wash.) Speedway, 2023 Abreu Vineyards Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., 2022 David Tarter Memorial at Silver Dollar Speedway and 2022 Cotton Classic at Keller (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Corey Day Quote
What are your thoughts heading into a doubleheader weekend at Sonoma?
“I am super excited to get back in the ARCA and Xfinity car this weekend. I’ve had a little bit of time off to do some Sprint Car and Trans Am racing. I’m a lot more confident in my road course ability after those Trans Am races, so I’m super excited to get back in those cars. I know both teams will bring me a great piece, and I’m super excited to get a home race in. I made a Trans Am start at Sonoma earlier this year, but this is NASCAR weekend, so a lot more of my friends and family and people that have watched me race Sprint Cars in California for the past four years will be there. It’ll be super cool to race on such a big stage in front of them.”

Spire Motorsports PR

By The Associated Press

All Times Eastern

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Challenge Round 3 – Toyota / Save Mart 350

Site: Sonoma, California.

Track: Sonoma Raceway.

Race distance: 110 laps, 218.9 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, practice, 1:30 p.m., qualifying, 2:35 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3:30 p.m. (TNT and MAX).

Last year: Kyle Larson took his second win at Sonoma and third of the season while taking the lead after a three-car battle with eight laps to go.

Last race: Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen earned his second victory of the weekend and marked a first series sweep from the pole since Kyle Busch’s performance in 2016.

Next race: July 20, Dover, Delaware.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250

Site: Sonoma, California.

Track: Sonoma Raceway.

Race distance: 79 laps, 156.95 miles.

Schedule: Friday, practice, 4 p.m., qualifying, 5:10 p.m.; Saturday, race, 4:30 p.m. (CW).

Last year: Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen secured the win, leading a race-high 32 laps while taking the lead late after contact with Austin Hill.

Last race: Van Gisbergen held off teammate Connor Zilisch after a late-race restart, giving him his first Xfinity victory with JR Motorsports.

Next race: July 19, Dover, Delaware.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Last race: Pole sitter Corey Heim locked in his fifth win of the season while dominating 99 out of 100 laps at Lime Rock Park.

Next race: July 25, Indianapolis.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA ONE

Last race: Lando Norris scored his first victory at his home race after capitalizing on teammate Piastri’s 10-second penalty amidst a safety-car restart.

Next race: July 26, Stavelot, Belgium.

Online: http://www.formula1.com

INDYCAR

SYNK 275

Site: Newton, Iowa.

Track: Iowa Speedway.

Race distance: 275 laps, 245.85 miles.

Schedule: Friday, practice, 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, practice, noon, race 1, 5 p.m. (FOX); Sunday, race 2, 1 p.m. (FOX).

Last year: Will Power earned his 43rd career win after overtaking leader Alex Palou during the final pit stops.

Last race: Relying on a fuel-saving strategy, Scott Dixon capitalized on a mistake made by Palou with five laps to go giving him his first win of the season.

Next race: July 20, Toronto.

Online: http://www.indycar.com

NHRA DRAG RACING

Next race: July 20, Kent, Washington.

Online: http://www.nhra.com

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

Deer Creek Clash

Battle at the Border – Night 1

Memorial Badger 40 – Night 1

Battle at the Border – Night 2

Memorial Badger 40 – Night 2

Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Dac Vitamins and Minerals

Next events: July 18 – 19, Rossburg, Ohio.

Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com

_____

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing

NASCAR’s inaugural in-season tournament is down to the elite eight.

And what an eight it is. There are two Legacy Motor Club drivers still in the hunt, and at least one will be in the final four as they are matched up against each other this weekend at Sonoma Raceway (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT). There are two drivers left from the ‘big three’ organizations (Hendrick, Gibbs, or Penske), and that is Alex Bowman and Ty Gibbs.

In other words, the tournament has been as unpredictable as expected, especially after eliminating many of the contenders in the first week. On Sunday, in Chicago, others, such as Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, and Chris Buescher, fell by the wayside.

Ty Dillon, on the other hand, is still alive as the ultimate bracket-buster. Dillon (main image) defeated No. 1 seed Denny Hamlin in the first week and then No. 17 seed Keselowski in Chicago.

Here are the third-round matchups:

(No. 6) Ty Gibbs vs (No. 14) Zane Smith

(No. 8) Alex Bowman vs (No. 32) Ty Dillon

(No. 12) John Hunter Nemechek vs (No. 20) Erik Jones

(No. 15) Ryan Preece vs (No. 23) Tyler Reddick

Sonoma Raceway will cut the field to the final four as the series gets closer to the $1 million payout at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Sponsorship has become an important element in top-level sports. Today, sponsorship of venues, athletes, teams and events is common as brands try to make the most of the brand visibility that sponsorship rewards them with.

Sponsorship provides sport with immense financial support. Individuals can cover expenses such as travel, team kit, accommodation and more. Clubs can buy equipment and kit and use sponsorship money to maintain their ground. Coaches can invest in training, coach development and talent development. Venues can cover some of the running costs.

Like many others, motorsport is one area of sport that receives a lot of sponsorship. Below, we take a look at the benefits of sponsorship in motorsport and at some of the big sponsorship deals in the sport.

The Benefits of Sponsorship in Motorsport

Sponsorship in motorship has been a win on both sides of the agreement. The vast amounts of money that sponsors have sent teams’ way have provided them with essential resources.

In Formula One, for instance, teams have been able to use the resources to cover the high costs of competition. This could be from technical development and logistics to research into aerodynamic innovations.

Investment thanks to sponsors hasn’t just been made in the vehicles but also in drivers and other talents. Teams have been able to allocate resources to top talent, including drivers, engineers and crucial specialists. As a result, the teams have witnessed better performance on the track.

Moto Organizations

Motorcycle sports organizations have also made use of sponsors. MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 are three examples. Just like F1, sponsorship has driven technological development, allowed teams to cover logistics and other heavy costs, and hire the best talent.

MotoGP has also witnessed sponsors support sustainability initiatives. Like other sports organisations, MotoGP has certain values and wants to attract brands whose values align with its own. The organisation’s ‘Racing for the Future’ initiative is appealing to brands that observe eco-friendly practices and want to showcase their own commitment to sustainability.

Sponsorship has also changed the way that fans engage with the sport. Sponsors are using digital and social platforms to create immersive content that tech-savvy audiences will respond to. The new ways of engaging with the sport are fostering deeper connections between the sport and the fans.

One type of business that might like to get in on sponsorship is a NZ online casino. The business would enjoy lots of exposure in a country that loves motorsport and has produced world-class racing drivers such as Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Scott Dixon.

Successful Sponsorship Deals in Motorsport

Motorsport has witnessed some massive deals. Here are some of the most successful.

LVMH with F1

In October 2025, F1 and LVMH announced a deal that would see the French luxury brand, which comprises Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer and Moët Hennessy, become a global partner of the organisation from the start of 2025. The deal will last 10 years.

As part of the deal, Louis Vuitton is now the title partner of the Australian Grand Prix and TAG Heuer is the official timekeeper. LVMH has long supported F1. In 1969, TAG Heuer became the first company to have its logo on the back of a car. In 1971, the company became the first to sponsor a team.

Qatar Airways and MotoGP

Although there’s uncertainty about what the future holds for sponsorship in MotoGP, due to the arrival of new owners Liberty Media, a partnership of note in the organisation is its 2024 multiyear agreement with Qatar Airways. As part of the deal, MotoGP will display the airline’s name trackside at several venues in the calendar. The company will also be the title sponsor of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, as well as of the Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix. In return, the airline will provide passenger and cargo services for MotoGP, including commercial tickets, charter flights for championship personnel and freight services.

BMW Safety Cars

BMW is another brand that has been involved in motorsport sponsorship for years now, in the form of safety cars. This is something of a marketing masterstroke because the brand has been providing safety cars in several different types of motorsport, including touring car races, MotoGP races and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. BMWs have also sometimes featured as medical cars in Formula E. In 2025, in Bangkok, the company presented the M5 Touring Safety Car as the leader of the safety car fleet for MotoGP.

Sponsorship is a massive opportunity for professional sport. Motorsport organisations and their teams have made the most of its benefits and announced some highly productive partnerships. Other successful deals include Ducati’s partnership with backup power supply company Riello UPS, in MotoGP, and Nestlé’s KitKat brand becoming the official chocolate bar of F1 for the 2025 season before expanding across the world in 2026.