High-performance center console and catamaran fans strolling the Shootout On The Strip Street Party presented by Waves And Wheels next Wednesday night ahead of the 37th annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout will have three beauties to check out in the Midwest Boating Center display. As the exclusive dealer for Platinum Powerboats, RK Motorsports Randy Kent will have the first Platinum 428 catamaran—recently tested for the first time on the Central Missouri waterway—in his company exhibit.

RK Motorsports is the exclusive dealer for Renegade Powerboats line of center consoles.

Also the exclusive dealer for Renegade Powerboats, RK Motorsports will showcase a 33-footer and a 42-footer from the 34-year-old Hialeah, Fla.-based company.

Currently headed to Renegade headquarters to check progress on multiple new builds coming to his dealership, Kent is bullish on the brand. He emphasizes that the company uses only Mercury Racing and Garmin products. When the builder can’t take on a particular paintjob, it subs out the work to Mark Morris of the famed Visual Imagination in Peculiar, Mo.

“Renegade is one of the oldest center console manufacturers in the country,” he explained. “They are a second-generation family business that has operated at the same address for 34 years. They keep overhead low. The company has no debt. Renegade owner Manny Oses and his wife, Belle, live modestly in a condominium in Miami. So they are able to keep their prices reasonable. Just because a boat is expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s of better quality.

“Renegade quality is second to none,” he continued. “And you can tell from the ergonomics that the boats are designed and built by actual boaters—Manny and Belle are out every weekend on their own personal Renegade. Hands-down, especially when it comes to ride build and build quality, there’s simply nothing better on the market than Renegade.”

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Each week, The Athletic asks the same 12 questions to a different race car driver. Up next: Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, who is tied for the NASCAR Cup Series lead in victories (four) with two races remaining before the playoffs begin. This interview has been edited for clarity, but the full version is available on the 12 Questions Podcast.

1. What was one of the first autographs you got as a kid, and what do you remember about that moment?

I know the first autograph I received. My dad was an honorary pit crew member — and back then, “honorary” meant you actually had to work — for Junie Donlavey’s team. He got all the autographs from the major drivers: Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, all those guys. He brought me a hat back with like 20 signatures on it.

That was the first time I’d ever gotten an autograph from someone. My dad worked at Great Dane Trailers. Junie Donlavey was a Richmond-based team and they brought in their hauler for my dad to service it. Junie asked him, “Hey, you want to come work on our team this weekend?” I think it was Dover.

So you looked at the hat, then you tried to figure out who signed it?

Oh, I knew signatures. Back when the Winston poster came out, you could cover up the names and I knew the signatures — or cover up the signatures and I knew the names. I knew everything back then.

2. What is the most miserable you’ve ever been inside of a race car?

Pain-wise, I’ve had some bad ones. Arguably the worst was Iowa last year. No one really knew about it, but I came down with a fever, which weakened my body, and then I threw out my back. I remember during pit stops telling the jackman, “You can’t just drop the jack — you need to squeeze it down.” I was in bad, bad shape.

Wow. I don’t think we knew that, did we? Did you ever even talk about that on your podcast?

No, just blew that over. I went two laps down to start that race because I felt so horrible.

3. Outside of racing, what is your most recent memory of something you got way too competitive about?

Lately, it’s bass fishing.

I saw this on social media. What prompted this?

There was some rinky-dink rod out on my dock two or three months ago. It was the middle of the night and I just threw it out there and caught a legit bass. I thought, “Whoa. I like this. Is it this easy?” Turns out it’s not. But it got me hooked. Now I’ll have my bass boat in a couple weeks, I’ve got rods out the yin-yang — I’m full-on now.

It’s convenient — I can go down to my dock, and my area has a lot of fish around it. It’s also a way for me to get out of the house amidst the hustle and bustle.

4. What do people get wrong about you?

I mean, I don’t think I’m an a—hole.

But people do think that? Who? Fans from TV interviews?

It’s more than likely people who have never met me, or saw me walking somewhere and I didn’t have time to stop. I always try to when I can. Or maybe the s—talking I do on the track makes them think that’s just who I am.

“No one really knew about it, but I came down with a fever, which weakened my body, and then I threw out my back,” Denny Hamlin says of last year’s Iowa race. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)

5. What kind of Uber passenger are you, and how much do you care about your Uber rating?

I don’t care much about my Uber rating. But I’m a quiet, “yes sir, yes ma’am” passenger. That’s all I do.

However, I was once kicked out of an Uber in Miami because my mask fell below my nose. The driver didn’t give me a warning — just told me to get out. I was in the middle of nowhere. I’m like, “What!? Are you serious?”

No chance to put your mask back up?

Done. I was done. And I’m anti-confrontational when it comes to stuff like that. I’m not the send-the-steak-back kind of guy. But no warning. Just “get the freak out of my car.”

They probably gave you one star for sure.

Oh yeah.

6. I’ve been doing these 12 Questions interviews for 16 years now. I’m going back to an earlier question and seeing how your answer compares. In 2010, I asked you: “How long do you want your career to last?” You said, “Probably until I’m 37 or 38 years old. There’s too much outside of racing to do this until I’m 50 or whatever.”

(Turns to his friends) We missed the mark on that one, boys.

But you went on to say, “I wish I could take one year off and then maybe I’d be driving until I was 50. But if I’m going to do this for the next 10 straight years, that’d be about it.” You were 29 years old when you said this. Now you’re 44 and you just signed a two-year contract extension. So is this really it?

I’m clearly not good at predicting.

I’m trying to settle my mind into it. How I feel somewhat confident is (at Indianapolis) I thought, “I’ve only got two more chances at this — damn it.” I’m preparing for that in my mind. I don’t know though. There could be tons of outside factors that change it, but I’m going to try to see this as the last one.

7. Also from another interview: In 2012, I asked you what percent of success in NASCAR is driver, what percent is team and what percent is luck? At the time, you said winning a championship was 40 percent driver, 40 percent car/team, and 20 percent luck. How has that changed?

I still think it’s 40 percent driver. Now I’d switch car and luck to 30 percent each.

Cars aren’t quite as much of a factor because they’re more similar now, and luck because of the parity and since the cars all run the same speed. Driver still matters — that’s why you see the same guys up front every week.

(Two days after this interview, Hamlin sent a note requesting to change his answer after sitting with the question. Here is his revised answer.)

After thinking about it more, I believe these are the correct percentages in today’s world: Driver 65 percent, team 25 percent, luck 10 percent.

I lowered luck because it’s not a factor in winning as much as being good is. It is still a factor in some wins, but great drivers have more opportunities to win because of their skill level. Team does matter, but with the Next Gen, you can’t build the difference in cars like you used to. The driver is the one who sends team in a direction to make the cars fast, thus being the most important.

8. Other than one of your teammates, name a driver you’d be one of the first to congratulate in victory lane.

Anyone I had a spirited battle with — like a good last few laps. It really wouldn’t matter who it was.

9. How much do you use AI technology?

A considerable amount.

You’re a ChatGPT guy?

Absolutely. Lately, it’s been, “What fishing rig do I need for certain conditions?” (Laughs.)

10. What is a time in your life you felt was really challenging, but you’re proud of how you responded?

The non-win year — 2018. It was like “Oh, C-Bell (Christopher Bell) is coming to take your job” and whatnot. At that point, I decided to change my approach to racing and chose to go down an analytical path. (Hamlin has 27 wins since.)

11. What needs to happen in NASCAR to take the sport to the next level of popularity?

If I wasn’t in litigation, I’d give you a different answer.

What needs to happen to become more popular? (Thinks and exhales loudly.) I think it’s probably the way we present our product to people — just taking ourselves a little more seriously.

12. Each week, I ask a driver to give me a question for the next person. Last week was Kyle Busch, and he asked: Who is your favorite teammate of all time, and you can’t say Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe or Ty Gibbs.

Erik Jones! (Laughs.)

Oh, he missed one! Well, Kyle also asked: Seriously though, who is your favorite crew chief of all time?

Ohhhhhh man. There was something about working with Dave Rogers — and this is why I hired him (at 23XI Racing, which Hamlin co-owns). The guy made me feel like I had the fastest car. Right before practice, it was “We got this, we got that. In tech, they didn’t see this, they didn’t catch that. We got this by and that by.” I was like, “Oh my God, I’m driving a rocket ship!” So he instantly put it on me like, “Oh, we’ve got the fastest car. Are you ready?” I really liked that about Dave.

Do you have a question I can ask the next person?

(Hamlin said he would prefer to wait and see who it is.)

(Top photo of Denny Hamlin celebrating his win at Michigan in June: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

Natalie Decker will make her much-anticipated return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series when she straps into the No. 92 Chevrolet for DGM Racing in the Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

The Wisconsin native will share the superspeedway stage with teammate Josh Bilicki, as both drivers will feature primary sponsorship from Wawa. This outing will be a milestone for Decker, who will reportedly become the first woman to compete in a NASCAR event after giving birth, a moment that adds historic significance to her comeback.

Natalie Decker Makes Historic Return to the Track

DGM Racing announced the news on social media, calling it “The Daytona Double.” Wawa logos will appear on both the No. 91 and No. 92 entries.

NEWS: @NatalieRacing will return to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at @DAYTONA, driving the No. 92 Chevrolet for @DGMRacingFL.

Decker will join @JoshBilicki as teammates that weekend, with both drivers picking up sponsorship from @Wawa.#NASCAR

— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) August 13, 2025

Also announcing the news on X, a veteran NASCAR journalist wrote, “NEWS: @NatalieRacing will return to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at @DAYTONA, driving the No. 92 Chevrolet for @DGMRacingFL. Decker will join @JoshBilicki as teammates that weekend, with both drivers picking up sponsorship from @Wawa.

Before she gave birth to her baby in February this year, Decker last competed in the Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2024. Over the years, she has made limited starts in the Xfinity Series while also racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

Her return comes at a track where she’s already proven speed and racecraft. Decker has four career starts at Daytona, two in the Truck Series and two in the Xfinity Series.

Her best finishes in both series came at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. She finished fifth in the Truck Series 2020 season opener, the highest-ever finish for a female driver in that series. She also secured an 18th-place finish with DGM Racing last season.

Daytona’s drafting-style racing has often produced upsets, and Decker’s previous runs have shown she can navigate the chaotic pack racing that defines the superspeedway.

Bilicki, her DGM Racing partner for the weekend, will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet in the same race. The Wisconsin pairing also brings a hometown connection for Wawa’s sponsorship, with the convenience store chain also serving as the title sponsor of the race itself.

The Wawa 250, set for next Saturday, is a staple of the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule and often serves as one of the season’s most unpredictable showdowns. For Decker, it’s more than just a race. It’s the latest chapter in a career that has navigated injuries, part-time schedules, and now motherhood.

In 21 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-10 finish. Carson Hocevar earned a team-best eighth-place result in last season’s summer stop to the Virginia oval. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
The 400-lap event will be televised live on USA Saturday, Aug. 16 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 25th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Super League Chevrolet ZL1 in Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
Haley has made eight previous Cup Series appearances at the 0.75-mile D-shaped oval in Henrico, Va., scoring a venue-best 21st-place finish in August 2022. In five NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances at Richmond, Haley finished in the runner-up position twice (September 2020 and 2021).
Last weekend at Watkins Glen International, the 26-year-old clocked the fastest lap in practice and raced as high as 14th. Haley was forced to settle or a 27th-place finish when severe tire wear in the last 20 laps limited his speed.
The Gainbridge Super League is a Division I professional women’s soccer league committed to expanding access to the highest level of the sport in the United States. Launched in 2024 and sanctioned by U.S. Soccer, the league is operated by the United Soccer League (USL). The 2025/26 season will feature nine clubs: Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr FC, Tampa Bay Sun FC, and Sporting Jax. Through a landmark entitlement partnership with Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, the league is building a sustainable, community-rooted model to grow women’s professional soccer nationwide. For more information, visit gainbridgesuperleague.com and follow the league on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
The 2016 ARCA Menards Series East champion owns one start at Richmond in the series. In 2015, Haley started sixth and finished 12th driving for late team owner Harry Scott, Jr.
Haley is one of just 41 drivers to have won races in all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series. The driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevy has collected one win in the NASCAR Cup Series, four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and three in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Haley is a veteran of 168 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 118 laps in NASCAR’s premier division. In total, he has made 68 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, including his first start in NASCAR’s premier division at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday.

Justin Haley Quote
What is your outlook heading into Richmond this weekend?
“I really enjoy competing at Richmond. It’s always been one of my favorite tracks. The lack of grip from the old asphalt and short track feel makes the cars slide around and a lot of fun to drive. I feel confident we can execute a solid weekend in the Gainbridge Super League Chevy.”
Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports Competition Director and crew chief for driver Justin Haley and was first paired with Haley at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September 2024.
The Winston Salem, N.C., native has called 190 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
In total, Sparks has called eight previous Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway and has a pair of 21st-place finishes with driver Corey LaJoie.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Go Workforce Chevrolet ZL1 in Saturday’s 400-lap race at Richmond Raceway.
McDowell has made 27 starts in NASCAR’s premier division at the famed 0.75-mile D-shaped oval and has compiled one top-10 (sixth) and five top-20 finishes. In the series most recent visit to Richmond last August, he started 28th and raced his way to a respectable 15th-place showing.
The Glendale, Ariz., native has logged five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond where he earned a series/venue-best eighth-place finish in the 2009 Lipton Tea 250.
For the second time this season, Workforce Occupational Health and Safety Solutions will serve as the primary sponsor aboard McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet. Workforce Occupational Health and Safety Solutions is based in Pittsburgh with partners throughout North America. For over thirty years, Workforce continues to provide support to clients through the operation of three divisions – Work Injury Management, Medical Bill Repricing and Employer Services. The Work Injury Management Division provides access to telephonic physician services with expedited access to a nationwide network of specialty, imaging and therapy providers – and employer access to OSHA recordable injury investigation and impact mitigation services, preferred medical provider panel development and more. The Medical Bill Repricing Division provides cost containment to clients by minimizing incident, experience, and injury frequency rates, reducing exposure to insurance premium increases. The Employer Services Division provides employee onboarding and testing services, corporate safety committee oversight, required annual certification coordination and integration of any required testing, licensing, or accreditation. Since 1995, Workforce’s mission is developing long-term partnerships with employers that facilitate successful and positive impacts on health and safety issues encountered by their employees at the workplace.
Over the first 24 races of the season, McDowell has tallied two top-five, three top-10 and 12 top-20 finishes. The 2021 Daytona 500 winner is currently 22nd in points, 44 markers below the playoff cutline.
The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during May’s NASCAR All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
McDowell has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The team is one of just three in the series to tally three or more bonus points via the program.
The No. 71 team secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. The 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap recorded in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval. The team also earned Spire Motorsports’ first stage win during the Grant Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago.

Michael McDowell Quote
What are your thoughts heading into Richmond?
“Running Richmond on a Saturday night should be a fun race. The track temps are going to be different than what we see in practice on Friday afternoon, but I think our Spire Motorsports group has been in the game with our short-track package. We had the speed at Iowa, but those long green flag runs put us behind with some old tires and didn’t get the finish we deserved. I think we have a lot to show this weekend in Richmond, and I’m looking forward to getting to the track. I have been watching a lot of film and us, as a group, have put a big emphasis our simulator sessions, so I feel confident heading into this weekend and expect to have a good run.”
Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Travis Peterson serves as the crew chief for driver Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Peterson has called four Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway, all with McDowell in the cockpit. The West Bend, Wis., native guided his driver to a spirited sixth-place finish in April 2023.
As a race engineer at JR Motorsports, the 34-year-old played key roles in Chase Elliott’s runner-up finishes at Richmond in 2014.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Carson Hocevar will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start at Richmond Raceway in Saturday night’s 400-lap race. The 22-year-old driver finished eighth in his most recent outing at the venerable 0.75-mile D-shaped oval.
Hocevar’s most recent start on tracks measuring less than one mile in length came two weeks ago at Iowa Speedway where the driver of the Delaware Life Chevrolet started seventh and finished eighth to score his sixth top-10 finish of the season.
Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001 Insurance”), our focus is to deliver a seamless experience for advisors. We understand how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation, and every individual need. We’re passionate about equipping you with annuities that give your customers peace of mind and a successful future—allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.
The Portage, Mich., native has four previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Richmond. In 2023, Hocevar qualified 17th, lead 64 laps, and collected his third of four wins that season.

Carson Hocevar Quote
The No. 77 team’s short track performances have been strong this year. What is your outlook for Richmond this weekend?
“I enjoy racing at Richmond a lot. Last year I was able to move around and find different lines that worked for me based on how our tires were wearing. It was a lot of fun to move around and try something different. I feel like those are the types of tracks where I do well and can find something that works for me that may not work for someone else. I know we had the option tire there last year, and maybe that was what made the difference, but I still feel like I learned enough about how the track races to be able to put together a good run.”

Spire Motorsports PR

Richmond Raceway will welcome the Cup, Truck and Modified series for its only NASCAR race weekend of the year.

The Modified Series will be in action Thursday at Richmond with NASCAR Cup veterans Ryan Newman, Ryan Preece and Corey LaJoie entered in the field of the 150-lap race, which also will include defending race winner Justin Bonsignore.

Friday will feature Cup Series practice and qualifying. The Craftsman Truck Series will have practice, qualifying and a 250-lap race at Richmond. Ty Majeski is the defending winner of the event, which will be the series’ regular-season finale and set the 10-driver field for the playoffs.

The Cup Series will hold a 400-lap race Saturday night at Richmond. Austin Dillon won last August’s race, but the victory was stripped of playoff eligibility because NASCAR penalized Dillon for wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the last lap.

It’s the first time in 67 years that Richmond is scheduled for only one race weekend with NASCAR’s premier series. The 0.75-mile oval had two annual races on the Cup schedule from 1959-2024 (one of its 2020 races was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

Richmond Raceway weekend schedule

(All Times Eastern)

Thursday, Aug. 14

Garage open

• 12:45 – 11 p.m. — Modified Series

Track activity\

• 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. — Modified practice
• 3:55 – 4:25 p.m. — Modified practice
• 6 – 6:30 p.m. — Modified qualifying
• 7:30 p.m. — Modified race (150 laps 112.5 miles; FloRacing, MRN)

Friday, Aug. 15

Garage open

• 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. — Truck Series
• 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 2:05 – 3 p.m. — Truck practice (FS2)
• 3:10 – 4 p.m. — Truck qualifying (FS2)
• 4:30 — 5:30 p.m. — Cup practice (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 5:40 – 6:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 7:30 p.m. — Truck race (250 laps, 187.5 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 70, Stage 2 at Lap 140; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Saturday, Aug. 16

Garage open

Track activity

• 7:30 p.m. — Cup race (400 laps, 300 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 70, Stage 2 at Lap 230; USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weekend weather

Thursday: Partly cloudy with afternoon showers, a high of 91 degrees and light winds. Chance of rain 40%. It’s expected to be 81 degrees with a 40% chance of rain around near the start of the Modified race.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a high of 89 degrees and light winds. Chance of rain 21%. It’s expected to be 83 degrees with a 16% chance of rain around the start of the Truck race.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a high of 88 degrees and light winds. Chance of rain 21%. It’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 3% chance of rain around the start of the Cup race.

CLUB MINUTES:

JJ WINS AT RICHMOND: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has 37 Cup Series starts under his belt at Richmond Raceway. In these starts, he has secured three victories, seven top-fives, and 16 top-10s as well at leading 461 laps. His first win came in May 2007 when Johnson started fourth and won with a .732 margin of victory over Kyle Busch. He followed that up a couple months later in September 2007 when he started on the pole and led 104 laps to his second win where he beat Tony Stewart by 3.007 seconds. His final win at Richmond came in September 2008 when Johnson started third, led 32 laps, and bested Stewart once again by .365 of a second. Johnson has an additional five starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he earned a best finish of 12th in May 2000 and May 2001.

KENSETH RICHMOND SUCCESS: LEGACY MC competition advisor Matt Kenseth is also a winner at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has a total of 38 starts in the series at Richmond which resulted in two wins, six top-fives, and 16 top-10s. Kenseth led a total of 1,013 laps throughout his career. His first win came in September 2002 when he started 25th, led 134 laps, and bested Ryan Newman by 6.184 seconds. His next victory came in September 2015 when he started second, led 352 laps, and bested Kyle Busch by .951 of a second. Kenseth has an additional 21 starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he collected 12 top-fives and 16 top-10s. He earned a best finish of second three times – May 2000, September 2001, and May 2007.

THE KING OF RICHMOND: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and LEGACY MC ambassador Richard Petty owns 63 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway in his career. The King earned a total of 13 wins, 34 top-fives, and 41 top-10s in his career at the short track. His first victory at Richmond came in April 1961 where he started on the pole and led 182 of 200 laps. His final win at the .75-mile track came in February 1975 where he once again started on the pole and led 444 of 500 laps to find victory lane.

TOYOTA DOMINATES AT RICHMOND: Toyota has a winning history at the short track of Richmond Raceway. Since 2015, Toyota has won 10 of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond. In total, Toyota has won 17 Cup Series races at the .75-mile oval.

DOLLAR TREE VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Dollar Tree will serve as the primary partner on the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE, driven by Erik Jones, at Richmond. The Dollar Tree scheme will hit the track alongside support from vendor partner Dove Men’s Care, showcasing a strong collaboration for the race weekend across LEGACY MC’s social platforms.

PYE-BARKER SIGNS EXTENSION: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB sponsor Pye-Barker Fire & Safety announced today that it would extend its partnership with the CLUB for the 2026 season. Pye-Barker is the nation’s largest full-service and fully integrated fire protection, life safety, and security services provider. The renewed agreement will expand the company’s involvement in hospitality, employee engagement programs, and community outreach as well as allow Pye-Barker to serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE for 14 races in 2026.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson for their weekly podcast, “Never Settle”. The podcast airs live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 at 2 p.m. ET every Wednesday and can be downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts. This week’s guest is Andrea Brimmer, the Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer of Ally Financial.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE

JHN AT RICHMOND: John Hunter Nemechek has three starts at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, with his highest finish being 25th in March 2024. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he has made six starts at the track, earning three top-three finishes and a best finish of second earned in his last two races at the rack in April 2022 and April 2023. Nemechek also has two starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series where he won in April 2021 and finished second in August 2022. He has led a total of 115 of the 500 total laps he’s run at Richmond in the series.

WINNER AT RICHMOND: Nemechek knows how to find victory lane at the short track of Richmond. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he never finished worse than second at the .75-mile oval. In his first start at the track in April 2021, Nemechek started 18th after the lineup was set per the NASCAR rulebook. Nemechek first took the lead from Kyle Busch on Lap 100 and did so an additional two times to lead a total of 114 of 250 laps in the race. He passed Chandler Smith for the lead one final time on Lap 234 to capture the checkered flag by .307 of a second ahead of his team owner Kyle Busch.

T-MACK RICHMOND STATS: Saturday’s race under the lights will be crew chief Travis Mack’s 11th NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond. His first outing came in September 2017 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. who finished 13th, Mack’s best finish at the track. He returned the following year in April 2018 with Kasey Kahne. After a short gap, Mack was back at Richmond in April 2021 with Daniel Suárez, where the duo competed for six total races between 2021 and 2023, with their highest finish being 16th, earned twice in April 2021 and April 2022. In the NASCAR Xfinity series, Mack has five starts at Richmond with Michael Annett, where they duo never finished worse than 14th and earned a best finish of seventh in the September 2020 doubleheader.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I look forward to going to Richmond. I feel like we’ve made gains in our short track program based off Iowa and the results and speed we had there. I’ve had a lot of success at Richmond in the Truck Series and Xfinity Series. I should’ve won multiple races in the Xfinity Series there, but it has always been a good racetrack for me. I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“We’ve put a lot of effort into improving our short track program, and each race has taught us something new. The team has been making solid progress, and I’m feeling really good about where we’re heading. I’m looking forward to keeping that momentum going and seeing what we can do this weekend at Richmond.”

LMC PR