Motorsports could be the next big draw to Aroostook County
Jacob Pelkey (left), tourism developer with Aroostook County Tourism, welcomes Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette at the Arootsook Tourism Summit May 1 in Caribou. (Paula Brewer | The County) If the trend of less snow in northern Maine continues, motorsports may be the next crucial tourism draw, event promoters told a Caribou crowd […]
Jacob Pelkey (left), tourism developer with Aroostook County Tourism, welcomes Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette at the Arootsook Tourism Summit May 1 in Caribou. (Paula Brewer | The County)
If the trend of less snow in northern Maine continues, motorsports may be the next crucial tourism draw, event promoters told a Caribou crowd Thursday.
More than 100 people gathered at the Best Western Caribou Inn for the annual tourism summit hosted by Aroostook County Tourism.
Snowmobiling, a longtime staple of Aroostook County’s winter economy, has taken a hit with diminished snowfall in the past two years. To maintain its economic stability, the area needs attractions to lure visitors north whether the snow is dependable or not.
The rise of more audience-focused events such as the SnowBowl and a new cross-country race series could counteract the economic effects of an evolving climate, given that they can be held during a wider range of weather conditions, one promoter said.
Event promoter Chris Carroll talks about ways to draw more tourists north in light of the changing winter climate. He spoke at the Aroostook County Tourism Summit May 1 in Caribou. (Paula Brewer | The County)
“We’re seeing a shortened winter. That has traditionally been our biggest economic driver,” Chris Carroll of Carroll Live Events said. “We are going to have to come up with new ways to get people to come to Aroostook County, travel here and spend money. And live events [are] going to be a big part of that.”
Both residents and visitors to Aroostook County have shown they are willing to pay to attend events and entertainment here, he said. More than 25,000 people attended speedway events in 2024, he said.
The new New England XC snowmobile series can be held as long as there’s ice on the lakes, he said. More than 70 competitors raced in about 25 races at each site — Presque Isle, Oquossoc, Lincoln, Portage Lake and Long Lake — and lodging and short-term rental spaces were at capacity.
Ashland’s Big Woods Grass Drags — in which snowmobiles are used during summer on a field track — draw 1,500 people to the area, Carroll said. More than 100 snowmobilers raced last year and the event made $50,000. After expenses, organizers doled out the remaining $40,000 to local snowmobile clubs.
Besides events organized by Spud Speedway owners Troy Haney and Jim Gamage, which Carroll said have been phenomenally successful, another venue is steadily gaining ground: The Sawdust Pit, a new motocross dirt-bike racing venue launched by Buddy Collins of North Star Motorsports.
Collins talked about the site and its growing popularity. He loves to ride and race himself and enjoys seeing people get together for such events, he said.
The 5-acre parcel formerly housed the Grafton Mill in the 1950s and ’60s, he said. The mill burned and a large pile of sawdust remained for decades. The fact that there was no real place for kids to ride until they’re 10 and can be on the trails inspired him to create something from the pile.
WIth a lot of helping hands, including some contractors, the all-volunteer group created a track from the sawdust base. Though motocross isn’t widely known in the area, it quickly gained traction. Races draw participants of all ages, Collins said.
Buddy Collins, owner of North Star Motorsports and developer of the Sawdust Pit dirt bike venue in Ashland, speaks at the Aroostook County Tourism Summit on May 1 in Caribou. (Paula Brewer | The County)
The family-friendly sport gives more kids a reason to get out and be outside, he said. Now, he wants to invite veteran riders to come and offer youth clinics, and find other ways to grow the sport.
“We’re talking about northern Maine and how can we attract people up to our area. Find something you’re passionate about,” he said. “We’re now connected with thousands of people all over that share this same passion and this same interest.”
Maine Office of Tourism Director Carolann Ouellette shared statewide and local tourism data. Tourism declined slightly all over Maine in 2024, but those who visited stayed longer and spent more money, she said.
Statewide, visitors fell 9 percent from 2023, spending declined half a percent and visitors spent 7.7 million days in Maine overall, down about 16 percent.
Visitors spent more in The County on restaurants, transportation, groceries and entertainment, she said.
Aroostook County saw more than 300,200 visitors in 2024, down almost 10 percent from 332,400 in 2023, Ouellette said. Tourist spending declined 1.4 percent, from roughly $170 million to $167 million, and visitors spent a total of 1.2 million days in the region, down 3.5 percent.
The total economic impact of tourism in the region fell 1.8 percent, from $78 million in 2023 to $77 million in 2024.
There is good news, Ouellette said. Numbers did decline over 2023 and 2024, but that follows extremely high numbers during the COVID years. Aroostook attracted more fall and winter tourists as well as more younger travelers, and visitor satisfaction was up 11 percent.
Aroostook obviously excels in snow and active outdoor activities. Additionally, many people plan trips directly to Aroostook County, rather than traveling there as one of multiple destinations.
“Most people are coming just to Aroostook, and that actually went way up,” Ouellette said. “When they’re traveling, they’re coming right up here to see you guys and spend time in the region, and that’s not actually the case in other regions.”
Ouellette also detailed statewide marketing plans to include national magazine and television ads, celebrating Maine’s natural surroundings, outdoor recreation and quality of life. She urged those attending to consider those themes when trying to attract people north.
NASCAR star Ryan Blaney talks interest in completing one of toughest challenges in racing
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Sunday is a huge day for any fan of motorsports. Formula 1 will run the Monaco Grand Prix with the Indianapolis 500 taking place in the afternoon and the Coca-Cola 600 at night to put a cap on the day. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE […]
Formula 1 will run the Monaco Grand Prix with the Indianapolis 500 taking place in the afternoon and the Coca-Cola 600 at night to put a cap on the day.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Ryan Blaney will be behind the wheel of the No. 12 Team Penske car for the Coca-Cola 600 with the BodyArmor Chill drinks emblazoned on the hood of his vehicle. Blaney’s fellow NASCAR Cup Series colleague Kyle Larson will be attempting to do “The Double.”
“The Double” is one of the toughest feats any racecar driver could attempt to do during their career. It involves racing the Indy 500 and then flying on a plane to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. Larson became one of five drivers to attempt “The Double” last year but failed to make it to the NASCAR race.
Blaney told Fox News Digital it was “neat” to watch Larson attempt it last year.
“It’s the biggest day in racing,” Blaney said. “You got Monaco early, then you got Indy, and then we end it with the 600. I get up and watch Monaco in the morning, I cheer on the Penske guys for the 500 and then I get ready to go race. I think it’s a great feat. It was neat to watch him do it last year. Last year didn’t really go his way with rain and stuff like that, it was kind of a crapshoot. Hopefully, it goes a little smoother for him this year just being able to do it all.”
CONOR DALY LOOKS TO ETCH HIS NAME IN MORE THAN JUST INDY 500 HISTORY
An attempt at “The Double” appeared to pique Blaney’s interest given that Team Penske has drivers competing at the Indy 500.
“But yeah, it’s something I’ve always considered,” Blaney said. “You never know, maybe down the road if I get a chance. I’m with a great team that has a chance to do it, but we’ll see. You never know, we’ll figure it out.”
Larson, John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch have all attempted the feat. Stewart was the only driver out of the group to complete both races on the same day.
No driver has won either race while making the attempt.
Larson is hoping that changes come Sunday.
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Kyle Larson challenges IndyCar drivers to try “the double” in NASCAR
Kyle Larson has probably been one of the busiest people in the U.S. for the last couple of weeks, splitting his time between preparing for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, aka the “Great Spectacle in Racing” — and his busy schedule as a NASCAR regular. After his share of practice days and qualifying […]
Kyle Larson has probably been one of the busiest people in the U.S. for the last couple of weeks, splitting his time between preparing for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, aka the “Great Spectacle in Racing” — and his busy schedule as a NASCAR regular.
After his share of practice days and qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson sat down with Motorsport.com to talk about beating Tony Stewart’s historic double results from 2001, his approach to the 109th Indianapolis 500, whether he will return to the event next year, and how much he wants IndyCar drivers to race the Coke 600.
Motorsport:You’re a true racer, someone who really loves driving fast cars. That’s your life almost every day. What do you enjoy most about driving in Indianapolis in an IndyCar?
“Yeah, I think what I enjoy a lot about being here in Indianapolis for the Indy 500 is being part of such a huge event. It’s the biggest racing event in the world. It’s one of the biggest events in the world, period.
“It’s really cool, and doing something new and different from what I typically do is a fun challenge. I enjoy that. I enjoy learning new things and racing with people from different backgrounds. It’s been really cool being a part of this event these past two times. I look forward to the weekend and hopefully doing a good job.
What do you get from driving an IndyCar in Indianapolis that you might not get from driving your Cup car — not in the sense that one is better than the other; more the feeling as a driver.
“Yeah, I mean, I think what surprised me in the beginning, and what continues to surprise people when I tell them, is that the two cars are more similar than different. The way they drive and feel, the aerodynamics, and the sensation of speed are similar, although the IndyCar goes a lot faster. The sensation you get is similar based on the grip you feel. The IndyCar is more technically advanced with probably more cockpit adjustments. That’s one thing you have to get used to in the beginning. But aside from that, as I said, there are more similarities than differences.”
Last year, you completed your entire time in Indianapolis without crashing, which was quite a feat. This year, you crashed twice in the lead-up to the race. Was that because you were pushing the limits more? What did you learn from those situations?
“Yeah, I think that with the introduction of the hybrid system this year, the weight of the car has made it a bit more challenging to find the right balance. I didn’t feel very good at the open test. Then, you know, I had a spin last week. I had a lot more front grip than I’ve ever felt in an IndyCar. Yeah, it kind of swapped around on me. But you’ve seen it this year. A handful of really good drivers have lost control of their cars. But, as I said, it’s a fun challenge trying to figure out your car and improve its balance.”
Would you like to see someone do the Double the other way around? Do you think it would be more challenging for someone from IndyCar to go to NASCAR?
“Yeah, I think I would love to see that. I love seeing crossovers between series. It’s always been NASCAR to Indy. I hope someday you’ll see an IndyCar driver give the Coke 600 a try. But it’s tough. I feel like the equipment here at Indy is a little more equal than in NASCAR.
”So, I feel like you can be more competitive coming here than going to run a stock car. I think a driver like Josef Newgarden could do extremely well because he’d have one of the best cars here and in Charlotte. You would get a fair read on how it would go. I would love to see it. But it’s challenging with logistics and everything. I think I’m unique here in this regard. I know it happened more before, but I feel like the window of time has just gotten tighter now. It makes it harder for others.”
Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
Do you think this will be your last time at the Indy 500, no matter what happens on Sunday?
“I don’t know. I never want to close the door on anything. I’m definitely not closing the door on competing in the Indy 500 again. But I know that when this deal was originally put together, it was just a two-year plan. I don’t think there’s any thought of doing it again next year. But who knows? Anything could change, and maybe someday down the road, after I’m no longer a full-time NASCAR driver, I’d love to commit to doing this again. But you just never know where life will take you.”
What will make you feel satisfied when you go to bed on Sunday night after a very long day?
“First off, finishing all the laps would be amazing. That’s my first goal. Then, I would love to surpass what Tony Stewart did: finish sixth at Indy and third at the Coke 600 in 2001. If you could win one of those, that would be great. For now, I’m really just trying to finish the laps.”
You’re starting in 19th place. Last year, you started further up in the race. Are you concerned about dealing with traffic right from the beginning?
“No, there was a point early in the race (in 2024) where I had a bad restart and fell back to 15th or 16th place. So, you know, I gained some experience with starts and learned what to look for. But yes, whenever you’re in the middle of the pack, that’s where the craziness happens. Hopefully, we can do a good job of avoiding anything and come away with good track position early on, and then work from there.”
Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren, Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
You’re already accustomed to using all the little tricks and tools in the IndyCar. For example, the weight jacker, and now, the hybrid. Are you feeling confident about the race?
“Yes, I do. I feel like we’ve gotten enough practice, and I’m comfortable with how everything feels. We have Carb Day on Friday, where we can make more runs on pit road, do pit stops, and so on. That’s always good practice before the race. I feel like, come race time, I’ll be ready to go.“
You’re working with some very talented drivers at McLaren, especially Pato O’Ward, who has always been quite competitive in the Indy 500. How has it been working with him?
“He’s a lot of fun to be around. He’s got a big personality. Obviously, he’s an extremely good racecar driver. You can tell that he’s the go-to guy on the team, the one everybody goes to for information and feedback. So, yeah, it’s great to have a teammate like that. I always love cheering on my teammates once I leave here and following their seasons.”
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Kyle Busch Highlights William Byron as an Exception to the Lack of Success of Drivers Who Buy Their Seats in NASCAR
Talent is not the only rope that a young driver can use to climb to the pinnacle of stock car racing. Money is a powerful tool — especially today, when sponsorship is vital to keeping teams operational. Kyle Busch knows this better than most, having been a team owner in the Craftsman Truck Series for […]
Talent is not the only rope that a young driver can use to climb to the pinnacle of stock car racing. Money is a powerful tool — especially today, when sponsorship is vital to keeping teams operational. Kyle Busch knows this better than most, having been a team owner in the Craftsman Truck Series for over a decade.
The two-time Cup Series champion admitted this sad reality in a recent conversation with GOLF’s Subpar and pointed out an anomaly named William Byron, amidst a flurry of pay drivers who made it to NASCAR and stayed simply based on their family’s financial strength. Now a key driver for Hendrick Motorsports, Byron drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports back in 2016.
Busch pointed out how he was always on the lookout for skilled drivers who won races cleanly, considering the Truck Series was a feeder program for the higher tiers. It was at this time that he came across Byron and employed him. He said, “William Byron, for instance, had a sponsor. His dad helped him and funded him and stuff like that, but everything he got, he was talented. He worked at it.”
“He was very smart and diligent at it and did a great job of being able to understand the vehicles and how to make himself successful in those vehicles. And he won his way, all the way, to the top. Now, he’s in NASCAR being paid to race.” Byron is one of the most successful drivers in the sport and a crucial element in his team’s championship hopes.
How much does a driver have to pay to secure a NASCAR seat?
Sponsorship fuels team operations more than ever before. This has led to teams letting drivers race for them based on their ability to bring in funds alone. Busch, rather alarmingly, revealed in the interview how much it costs to buy a seat in each of the three national series.
“I would say the Cup Series is probably around six to eight million bucks. You can get a Cup seat,” he said. “Xfinity Series ride, if you’ve got between four and a half to six million. You can be in an Xfinity Series car. To run [in] Truck, you probably need three million bucks.”
Some current drivers raise questions about merit, with their presence owed more to money than performance. Unfortunately, the financial model of NASCAR allows them to be a part of the game regardless.
Front Row Motorsports: Charlotte Motor Speedway Competition Notes – Zane Smith
Zane Smith and the No. 38 Benebone Ford TeamCharlotte Motor Speedway Competition NotesCoca-Cola 600 Date: Sunday May 25, 2025Event: Race 15 of 38Series: NASCAR Cup SeriesLocation: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-miles)#of Laps: 400Time/TV/Radio: 6:00 PM ET on Amazon Prime/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90 Zane Smith Notes It’s a home game for the NASCAR Cup Series this Memorial Day […]
Zane Smith and the No. 38 Benebone Ford Team Charlotte Motor Speedway Competition Notes Coca-Cola 600
Date: Sunday May 25, 2025 Event: Race 15 of 38 Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-miles) #of Laps: 400 Time/TV/Radio: 6:00 PM ET on Amazon Prime/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90
Zane Smith Notes
It’s a home game for the NASCAR Cup Series this Memorial Day weekend as Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford team head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This will be Smith’s third Coca-Cola 600 start at the 1.5-mile Concord, North Carolina speedway and has a career best finish of 10th, earning the finish in 2023 with Crew Chief Ryan Bergenty.
Benebone, a leading USA brand of durable dog toys, will join Smith for the 400-lap race in a new scheme featuring Smith’s dogs, Roxy and Kygo. “I’m excited to reignite my partnership with Benebone,” said Smith. “My dogs are a huge part of my life, so it’s great to have a partner who understands this special connection.” This weekend’s race marks the first of three primaries for Benebone on the No. 38 this season. For more information, visit benebone.com.
The No. 38 Benebone Ford will carry the name of Corporal Keaton G. Coffey. Coffey, a 22-year-old Marine from Boring, Oregon, was killed in action on May 24, 2012, during his second deployment in Afghanistan, just weeks before his scheduled return. He had been planning to marry his fiancée, Brittany Dygert, also from Boring, in July. A 2007 graduate of Damascus Christian School, Coffey briefly attended George Fox University before enlisting in the Marines. Deeply committed to his fellow service members, he had a tattoo honoring a close friend lost during his first tour. He served as a dog handler with his canine partner, Denny, who survived and continued serving until his passing earlier this year.
“This is a special weekend for NASCAR,” said Smith. “Honoring a fallen service member is really special to the team and I, so hopefully I can make their family proud. The 600 is one of the hardest races of the year, not just on your body, but your mind too. We have been showing up to the track with a lot of speed, so I’m confident that we can leave Charlotte with a strong result.”
Road Crew
Driver: Zane Smith
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California
Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut
Car Chief: Will Norris
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee
Engineer: Jacob Clamme
Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana
Engineer: Chris Yerges
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Mechanic: Steve Godfrey
Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut
Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spotter: Ryan Blanchard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut
Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Pit Crew
Front Tire Changer: Ryan Flores
Hometown: Manasquan, New Jersey
Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina
Tire Carrier: Drew Baum
Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Jackman: Ryan Selig
Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois
Fueler: Chris Webb
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina
ABOUT BENEBONE
At Benebone, we know that dogs make us better people. They help us live healthier and happier lives. Our simple mission is to make life a little bit better for dogs and their humans. We do it through a commitment to quality, community, and giving back. For more information, visit benebone.com.
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
When and how to watch F1, NASCAR, Indy 500, MotoGP this weekend
Clear all of your weekend plans! One of the biggest weekends in motorsports is upon us as the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, British MotoGP, and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 are set to kick off as early as tomorrow. Here is everything you need to know to catch all of the on-track action live. […]
Clear all of your weekend plans! One of the biggest weekends in motorsports is upon us as the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, British MotoGP, and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 are set to kick off as early as tomorrow.
Here is everything you need to know to catch all of the on-track action live.
F1 Monaco Grand Prix
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Formula 1 descends upon the streets of Monte Carlo for the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix. As home hero Charles Leclerc looks to defend his first home victory from 2024, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris head into the weekend on the back of a strong start to the 2025 season.
While the race can be followed live via the normal platforms (details below), fans can also head to our special Motorsport Race Center Live show for an interactive watchalong. This weekend, the race hosts will be Red Flags Podcast’s Brian Muller and Matt Elisofon, and Kireth Kalirai will be hosting the qualifying live show.
On top of watching all of the on-track action, the live show comes with the opportunity to chat with other fans and win prizes.
When to watch the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix
Friday, 23 May
Practice 1 – Local time: 13:30 – 14:30 Practice 2 – Local time: 17:00 – 18:00
Saturday, 24 May
Practice 3 – Local time: 12:30 – 13:30 Qualifying – Local time: 16:00 – 17:00
Sunday, 25 May
Grand Prix – Local time: 15:00
How to watch the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix
Fans watching the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix from the UK can watch via Sky Sports F1 or streaming services such as NowTV. United States viewers can watch through ESPN as well as fuboTV and F1 TV.
Additionally, you can watch along on Motorsport.com with our special Race Center Live show.
For a full list of F1 broadcasts for each country, visit here.
For a guide on what you need to know ahead of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, click here.
Indianapolis 500
All Indy 500 starters
Photo by: Justin Casterline / Getty Images
The Indy 500 returns for the 109th running of the prestigious event, dubbed “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rookie Robert Schwartzman will line up in pole position on Sunday, with Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward joining him on the front row.
Team Penske has been flooding the headlines this week as Josef Newgarden and Will Power were relegated to the rear of the grid after IndyCar found their cars to have made technical violations.
Read Also:
When to watch the 2025 Indy 500
Friday, 23 May
Practice – Local time: 11:00 – 13:00 Pit Stop Challenge – Local time: 14:30 – 16:00
Sunday, 25 May
109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 – Local time: 12:45
How to watch the 2025 Indy 500
For fans watching in the United States, the 2025 Indy 500 will be broadcast on FOX Sports. For those watching in Canada, it will be available on TSN, and in the UK, it will be shown on Sky Sports.
For a full list of Indy 500 broadcasters for each country, visit here.
For a guide on the full starting lineup for the 109th Indy 500, click here.
NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR’s longest race is fast-approaching with the Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 set for Sunday. Taking place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the drivers will take to the track tomorrow for the Craftsman Truck Series, with the Xfinity and Cup Series action will kick off on Saturday, 24 May.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson is attempting the famous ‘Double,’ which will see him take part in the Indy 500 before hopefully making his way to Charlotte in time for the Coca-Cola 600.
When to watch the NASCAR Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Friday, 23 May
Craftsman Truck Series Practice – Local time: 15:35 Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying – Local time: 16:40 Craftsman Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 – Local time: 20:30
Saturday, 24 May
Xfinity Series Practice – Local time: 11:05 Xfinity Series Qualifying – Local time: 12:10 Cup Series Practice – Local time: 13:30 Cup Series Qualifying – Local time: 14:40 Xfinity Series BetMGM 300 – Local time: 16:30
Sunday, 25 May
Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 – Local time: 18:00
How to watch the NASCAR Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Craftsman Truck Series Both practice and qualifying for the Craftsman Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway are set to be broadcast on FS2. The race, the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, can be followed live on FS1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and MRN.
Xfinity Series Practice and qualifying for the Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be broadcast on CW and APP. The race, the BetMGM 300, will be live on CW, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Cup Series Both practice and qualifying for the Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 will be shown live on Prime. The race on Sunday can be followed live on Prime, Max, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
For the full entry list for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, visit here.
British MotoGP
Track detail
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Silverstone, also host of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, has 75 years of history as one of the fastest tracks on the MotoGP calendar, and has become one of the most prestigious venues in motorsport.
Marc Marquez heads into the race weekend leading the MotoGP riders’ championship with 171 points. His brother, Alex Marquez, is close behind with 149 points, followed by Francesco Bagnaia in third with 120 points.
Read Also:
When to watch the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom
Friday, 23 May
Moto3 Free Practice Nr. 1 – Local time: 10:10:35 Moto2 Free Practice Nr. 1 – Local time: 10:50 – 11:30 MotoGP Free Practice Nr. 1 – Local time: 11:45 – 12:30 Moto3 Practice – Local time: 14:15 – 14:50 Moto2 Practice – Local time: 15:05 – 15:45 MotoGP Practice – Local time: 16:00 – 17:00
Saturday, 24 May
Moto3 Free Practice Nr. 2 – Local time: 09:40 – 10:10 Moto2 Free Practice Nr. 2 – Local time: 10:35 – 10:55 MotoGP Free Practice Nr. 2 – Local time: 11:10 – 11:40 MotoGP Qualifying Nr. 1 – Local time: 11:50 – 12:05 MotoGP Qualifying Nr. 2 – Local time: 12:15 – 12:30 Moto3 Qualifying Nr. 1 – Local time:13:50 – 14:05 Moto3 Qualifying Nr. 2 – Local time: 14:15 – 14:30 Moto2 Qualifying Nr. 1 – Local time: 14:45 – 15:00 Moto2 Qualifying Nr. 2 – Local time: 15:10 – 15:25 MotoGP Tissot Sprint (10 laps) – Local time: 16:00
Sunday, 25 May
MotoGP Warm Up – Local time: 09:40 – 09:50 Moto2 Race (17 laps) – Local time: 11:15 MotoGP Grand Prix (20 laps) – Local time: 13:00 Moto3 Race (15 laps) – Local time: 14:30
How to watch the British MotoGP
For fans based in the UK, the British MotoGP is set to be broadcast on TNT Sports and ITV. For those watching from the United States, the racing will be broadcast on FS1 and FS2.
For a full list of broadcasters, click here.
In this article
Lydia Mee
Formula 1
IndyCar
MotoGP
NASCAR
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NASCAR sponsorships can typically be separated into two categories. One is your normal brand or product wanting to promote itself to an audience (or a business-to-business deal with a team). The other is a sponsorship that’s promoting an event or a piece of media, like the decade’s worth of movie sponsorships that have come and […]
NASCAR sponsorships can typically be separated into two categories.
One is your normal brand or product wanting to promote itself to an audience (or a business-to-business deal with a team).
The other is a sponsorship that’s promoting an event or a piece of media, like the decade’s worth of movie sponsorships that have come and gone in NASCAR.
May 22 brought news of a very cool, yet weirdly specific third type of sponsor activation. It combines the branding promotion with the event promotion.
However, when the related paint scheme finally hits the track, one thing will be … off. In what has to be a first, the event being promoted will have already happened.
Of course, I’m talking about JR Motorsports’ unveiling of the throwback paint scheme Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive in a zMAX CARS Tour event at Anderson Motor Speedway on Aug. 16.
Twenty-four years later, Earnhardt will once again pilot one of his most iconic NASCAR Cup Series paint schemes. JRM has teamed up with Budweiser and Major League Baseball to re-create his paint scheme from the 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
That’s when Earnhardt won the first Cup race held at Daytona after Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500.
Earnhardt Jr.’s car that night was a promotion for that summer’s MLB All-Star Game.
So what’s the 2025 remix promoting?
The first-ever MLB game to be played at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Years after a college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Virginia Tech Hokies was played in the track’s infield, baseball fans will get to watch the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds take their turn … on Aug. 2.
Yes, when Earnhardt pilots his throwback scheme at Anderson, the event emblazoned on the No. 8 — the MLB Speedway Classic — will be two weeks old.
Timing is everything! But let’s not kid ourselves. None of the brands involved probably care when the All-Star throwback is on the track.
The real promotion is going on right now.
More people — 219,000 as of this writing — saw Earnhardt’s tweet announcing the scheme than can fit into Anderson (about 5,000).
North of 787,000 users have seen MLB’s own tweet about the scheme (and the game itself.
The legacy continues
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 8 Budweiser MLB car once again, 24 years after first winning with it at Daytona
This time, the NASCAR Hall of Famer will pilot the iconic scheme in support of the Speedway Classic at Anderson Speedway in the CARS… pic.twitter.com/ZEiEATL68p
I’m willing to bet more people saw those two tweets than will actually watch the CARS race online come Aug. 16.
Simply announcing the paint scheme’s existence — and all the sweet merch you can, and will, buy related to it — lit up the Internet today. The work’s been done.
(The red Budweiser shirt is my favorite. But $45? For a T-shirt? Yikes).
Also, in what can only be an example of Earnhardt synergy, this sponsor partnership was announced the same day the first two episodes of Amazon Prime’s Dale Earnhardt docuseries premiered.
And the same day a really good longform story on Earnhardt Jr. and his relationship with his father by the Washington Post was published.
Sure, it’s the week of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 (and some race in Monaco).
But it’s also Earnhardt week. Enjoy it while it lasts. We probably won’t get a week like this again.
Daniel McFadin is a 10-year veteran of the NASCAR media corp. He wrote for NBC Sports from 2015 to October 2020. He currently works full time for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and is lead reporter and an editor for Frontstretch. He is also host of the NASCAR podcast “Dropping the Hammer with Daniel McFadin” presented by Democrat-Gazette.
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