Groq will feature on the McLaren car from the Singapore Grand Prix
Jack Daniel’s also agrees multi-year partnership extension
The McLaren Formula One team have expanded their partnership portfolio with the addition of Groq.
The artificial intelligence (AI) company, which was recently valued at US$6.9 billion in a funding round, has signed on as an official partner and will support McLaren with analysis, development, and real-time insight to improve decision-making. The partnership will focus on inference, which is the process of using an AI model to make predictions or reach conclusions.
The Groq logo will also appear on the rear wing of the McLaren cars from the next Grand Prix in Singapore, making it the team’s 56th partner.
“Formula One is about performance under pressure, so we’re excited to begin working with Groq to help deliver inference at the speed we need to support us in our efforts to stay at the front of the grid,” said Nick Martin, co-chief commercial officer of McLaren Racing.
Chelsey Susin Kantor, chief marketing officer of Groq, added: “McLaren and Groq share the same foundations: speed, precision, and the efficiency needed to win. We’re proud to deliver the high-performance, low-cost compute that fuels McLaren on the track and beyond.”
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Meanwhile, McLaren have also agreed a multi-year extension with existing partner Jack Daniel’s. The whiskey brand has been with the team since 2022.
“This partnership has become a cornerstone of how we connect with our motorsports and whiskey fans around the world,” said Mark Bacon, Jack Daniel’s global managing director. “Together with McLaren, we’ve created unforgettable experiences on and off the track, and we’re thrilled to keep that momentum going for years to come.”
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with Jack Daniel’s, a brand that shares our passion for heritage, innovation, and creating unforgettable experiences for fans,” added Matt Dennington, co-chief commercial officer of McLaren Racing.
“Since 2022, our collaboration has delivered standout moments off the track, and we’re excited to build on this success as we look ahead to the future together.”
The extension comes just a week after Jim Beam signed as the official spirits partner of the new Cadillac Formula One team, ensuring the long-time rivalry with Jack Daniel’s will play out on the Formula One stage from 2026 and beyond.
Ram is working furiously to put its truck sales back on track, and its latest marketing ploy is a NASCAR reality TV show produced by Dana White.
The Stellantis NV brand — which announced last year it would once again sponsor a NASCAR Craftsman truck team for 2026 after 13 years away — is behind a series called “Race For The Seat” that premiers Jan. 25 on Fox.
Mash The Gas Accelerates Into Its Sixth Season of NASCAR Coverage
Entering our sixth season reflects the consistency, credibility, and trust we’ve built with NASCAR fans, partners, and the sport we cover week in and week out.”
— Kevin Batstone, Co-Host, Mash The Gas
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Mash The Gas, the premier podcast dedicated to NASCAR Cup Series coverage, announces the launch of its sixth season, premiering [February 2nd, 2026]. Entering its most established year yet, Mash The Gas continues to deliver trusted race analysis, insider insight, and engaging weekly discussion for NASCAR fans, industry professionals, and brand partners nationwide.
Over the past five seasons, Mash The Gas has consistently ranked as a Top 5 “Must-Listen” NASCAR Podcast according to Feedspot, a distinction that reflects the show’s credibility, consistency, and growing influence within the motorsports media space.
Mash The Gas is hosted by Jeff Davis, Kevin Batstone, and NASCARSky. Season 6 marks NASCARSky’s second full-time season with the program, further strengthening the chemistry and on-air dynamic that has resonated with listeners. Her NASCAR-focused editorial work and influential social media presence bring a modern, fan-forward perspective to weekly coverage.
Kevin Batstone is a longtime podcaster and media professional, also serving as the host of the successful Discussion Combustion podcast and Happy Friday America, both known for consistent production and loyal audiences. Alongside Jeff Davis, Batstone’s experience anchors Mash The Gas as a polished and reliable NASCAR platform.
Together, the hosts deliver a focused mix of race recaps, pre- and post-race analysis, hot-topic debates, and interviews with drivers, media members, and industry insiders, establishing Mash The Gas as a trusted voice throughout the NASCAR season.
*Season 6 Highlights*
* Launch Date: Season 6 debuts [February 2nd, 2026], beginning with coverage of The Clash and building toward the Daytona 500 * Weekly Coverage: In-depth race previews, post-race breakdowns, and featured guest interviews. * Growing Reach: Expanding listenership across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and all podcast platforms
Sponsorship Opportunities
As a consistently Top 5-ranked NASCAR podcast, Mash The Gas offers brands a proven platform to connect with one of sports’ most loyal fanbases. Opportunities include:
* Custom host-read ad placements * Branded race preview and recap segments * Social media amplification * Season-long partnership integrations
*Media & Industry Collaboration*
With a history of covering marquee races and welcoming respected industry voices, Mash The Gas continues to pursue collaboration with NASCAR Media, teams, and content partners to amplify the sport’s stories and engage fans.
Entering its sixth season, Mash The Gas remains committed to delivering credible, entertaining, and insightful NASCAR coverage. Season 6 represents the show’s most refined and impactful year to date.
Mash The Gas Podcast Discussion Combustion Productions mashthegaspodcast@gmail.com Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube X
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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) – The Walnut Ridge Fire Department and the Hoxie Fire Department are responding to a fire at the former Cox Motorsports building.
According to Lawrence County Sheriff Tony Waldrupe, dispatch received a call at 7:23 p.m. about a fire in a commercial building on the intersection of Highway 63 and Lawrence County 701.
He identified it as the former Cox Motorsports building.
Sheriff Waldrupe said firemen reported heavy smoke when they arrived.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
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Steve Phelps became NASCAR’s first commissioner in March 2025 after previously serving as its president since 2018. However, he will be leaving that position ahead of the 2026 season, and there aren’t any plans to line up a suitable replacement anytime soon. The duties he served will instead be shared by other executives. But what led to this sudden turn of events?
The core cause of his resignation is the inflammatory text messages that were revealed during the antitrust lawsuit proceedings between NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports. Phelps had spoken badly about Richard Childress, one of the most respected veterans of the sport, and offensively insulted him in these messages. It led to widespread disruption of NASCAR’s image.
Former driver Kenny Wallace spoke about this in a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, detailing how Phelps might have been NASCAR’s scapegoat to fix everything wrong. He pointed out the statement that Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris made after the messages came to light. Morris, a longtime friend of Childress and a reputed sponsor in NASCAR, hadn’t sounded very happy in it.
He wrote, “…Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans – such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t keep his or her job for very long!” This is where Wallace sees the silver lining. He emphasized that Phelps is gone now because NASCAR doesn’t want to antagonize the most powerful and wealthy people in the industry.
Bass Pro Shops has been a long-time supporter of NASCAR, sponsoring Richard Childress Racing since 1998. Firing him was the only way to fix the image issue the promotion was suffering from and move forward.
Wallace added, “So, NASCAR has an image issue. I don’t think Steve Phelps could have walked around the pit area. Could you imagine Steve Phelps the first week at Daytona? How could he have walked around the garage area?” It surely would have been as awkward for the drivers and crew members as it would have been for Phelps himself. In that light, perhaps, this is only for the good.
Wallace was also keen to bring across his opinion that the good work that Phelps did with NASCAR must not go unappreciated because of the one bad thing he did. Again, his resignation was only a plausible outcome of all the fiasco that went down over the past couple of years. Fresh beginnings await the sport with the 2026 season on the horizon.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson has announced that he will be canceling his gym membership after Hendrick Motorsports struck a partnership with Atrium Health, with a new 35,000-square-foot facility set to open on the team’s campus.
Hendrick vice chairman Jeff Gordon announced the exciting new partnership on Thursday, with athletes, crew members, and staff set to receive access to the stunning health facility. Larson reposted Gordon’s post and wrote on X: “Canceling my gym membership now.”
Larson won the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series and is set to be in even better shape heading into next season. Atrium Health already supports more than 20 professional and collegiate teams, over 100 high schools across North Carolina and South Carolina, and now, Hendrick Motorsports.
The new Atrium Health Motorsports Athletic Center will be located on the team’s campus in Concord. The facility includes a “high-performance gym with the latest training equipment, modern locker rooms, a team operations center for race-day competition operations, a nutrition area, athletic meeting and film rooms, and dedicated spaces for physical therapy, hydrotherapy, and recovery.”
The facility also has a dedicated space for sports science research, and features a closed-loop pit stop practice circuit that can accommodate two teams, allowing Hendrick to perfect its craft. In return, Atrium Health will have logo placement on driver fire suits, crew apparel, athletic training gear, and track equipment.
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“The demands of NASCAR are different from any other sport – the schedule is relentless, the margins are extremely tight, and performance is about preparation as much as it is execution,” Gordon said. “This new facility allows our coaches and staff to work side by side with Atrium Health clinicians, ensuring every aspect of training, recovery, and readiness is aligned.
“Everything in this space is designed around our athletes and our teammates. At the end of the day, it always comes back to people, and this new partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting them the right way every day.”
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick added, “People are the foundation of our organization, and supporting their health and performance is essential to our success. Our new partnership with Atrium Health brings best-in-class clinical and performance resources directly to our campus.
“There’s no facility like this in the world of auto racing. It’s a game-changer. The Atrium Health Motorsports Athletic Center will help our athletes perform at their best and give our teammates convenient access to high-quality health care.
“We value the shared commitment to people that defines both of our organizations, and we look forward to a truly incredible collaboration in the coming years.”
Larson is extremely excited about the new facility, but he isn’t the only driver who will benefit from it. Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman are also on the Hendrick Motorsports roster.
