(WJHL) — Motorsports journalist and ETSU alumna Deb Williams joins Kenny Hawkins and McKenzie Kane to unpack the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit settlement. The three talk about the institution of evergreen charters and what the deal means for the future of the sport.

Later in the show, McKenzie and Kenny talk about the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, ETSU men’s basketball, and Scottie Scheffler winning his fourth PGA Tour player of the year title.

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Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports & Customization Co., Ltd. (NMC) today announced new initiatives aimed at enhancing Nissan’s overall brand power through new motorsport activities and the expansion of the NISMO car lineup.

As part of the Re:Nissan product strategy, ‘heartbeat models’ are key to sparking emotion and define Nissan’s brand DNA. NMC strives to support this by showcasing the pursuit of performance in motorsports and driving passion in NISMO products through new business initiatives.

The pursuit of performance through motorsports
Under the motto “Road to track, track to road,” Nissan leverages technology and driving spirit cultivated through top-tier racing series such as Super GT and Formula E. Insights and innovations are pulled from the track and leveraged in the NISMO car lineup.

Nissan will continue to challenge itself in series like the Super Taikyu and expand into new types of racing.

NISMO car lineup: Emotion and excitement at the wheel
Continuing the success of the NISMO car lineup, Nissan aims to double the number of cars available globally, from five to ten. Nissan also plans to expand market availability of NISMO cars. Nissan aims to increase annual shipment volumes from approximately 100,000 units to 150,000 units by 2028, with overseas sales rising from approximately 40% to 60%. In pursuit of added customer value, Nissan will actively consider collaborations with external partners to expand its NISMO car lineup business.

Beginning from fiscal year 2026, Nissan introduce prototype vehicles for racing activities to accelerate technological advancements in both hardware and software development for racing purpose and car lineup expansion.

Heritage and restoration programs
The global auto restoration market is valued at approximately 500 billion yen and is projected to grow upwards of 1.2 trillion yen by 2032. NMC will grow its restoration, restomod, and parts sales businesses with an initial focus on expanding around the Skyline GT‑R R32, R33 and R34, with more vehicles and regional offerings to follow.

Yutaka Sanada, President and CEO of NMC, stated, “NISMO continues to elevate the excitement and innovation of Nissan vehicles. Moving forward, we aim to infuse our passion and driven excitement into Nissan’s other product lines.”

Through ongoing motorsports activities, expansion of customization, and growth of the heritage and restoration business, NMC will aims to deliver new excitement to Nissan and NISMO fans worldwide.

About Nissan Motorsports & Customization Co., Ltd. (NMC)
Founded in 2022, NMC formed through the integration of Nissan’s motorsports activities dating back to 1936, the birth of the NISMO brand in 1984, and the establishment of AUTECH JAPAN in 1986. Nissan’s philosophy of using motorsports as a way to develop people, technology, and cars drives our passion for innovation. NISMO inherits this DNA, continuously taking on new challenges, leveraging its expertise and spirit to enhance brand value.

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 can add the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park to its list of steadfastly growing lap records. The ‘Vette team paid a visit to the track, which is near Toronto, Ontario, last month to prove once again that the twin-turbocharged, flat-plane V8 is king of the hill when it comes to daily-drivable supercars. With veteran racing driver (and Canada’s native son) Ron Fellows behind the wheel, the hot Corvette lapped the Toronto-area track in just 1 minute and 18.22 seconds, a number that smashed the previous record by nearly four ticks.

Base Trim Engine

5.5L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed auto-shift manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Sprinting Through The Corners

That former record also belonged to Chevrolet, incidentally. Fellows himself set the previous production car benchmark in 2023 with a Corvette Z06. In that outing, he crossed the finish line in 1:22.16, the car’s naturally aspirated V8 screaming near its 8,600-rpm rev limit the whole time.

The ZR1 borrows a lot from the Z06, starting with its 5.5-liter LT6 V8 engine. But a pair of turbochargers and a host of supporting upgrades bring the V8 from its already impressive 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque to an unbelievable 1,024 hp and 828 lb-ft – numbers that exceed the three-times-as-expensive Lamborghini Revuelto, much less anything close to the Corvette’s $200k starting price.

The ZR1 is so blisteringly quick that Fellows beat his previous record by nearly two seconds – a mere seven runs into the session. The times got faster and faster from there, before the retired professional driver capped his day off with a 1:18.22 lap time, 3.96 seconds faster than the Z06. That’s an incredible achievement for a track that measures only 2.5 miles from start to finish. The track’s fast, sweeping layout and big altitude changes are a recipe for drama, which Fellows avoids thanks to his longtime familiarity with the Grand Prix layout – he hosts a professional driving school right there.

The Latest In A Long Series Of Track Records

By this point, the Corvette ZR1 is very familiar with the view from the top of the podium. In February, Chevrolet announced that its budget-priced supercar had captured five lap records at four different tracks: Watkins Glen, Road America, Road Atlanta, and Virginia International Raceway (where it took both the Full Course and Grand East Course layouts). Fellows added his name to the record-breakers list, applying a decal to a special ZR1 festooned with the car’s various feats – including its lap time at the Nürburgring, where the even faster, hybridized ZR1X punted the Mustang GTD out of top billing even without a professional racing driver behind the wheel.

Chevrolet

The Corvette family is clearly having a good time with its products, and we wonder how much longer it’ll be before it starts taking down even more expensive machines like the Czinger 21C, the other all-American supercar that just recaptured its Laguna Seca fastest lap from Koenigsegg. Given how much record-breaking the existing Corvette lineup is doing, we doubt it’ll be too long before a world-beating hypercar comes from the Chevy camp, exceeding even the power of the ZR1X.

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Source: Chevrolet

Richard Childress did not need to say a word to make his message clear. 

His appearance alongside Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris at the high-profile Army–Navy Game, an event also attended by President Donald Trump, served as a quiet reminder of where his influence still sits as NASCAR navigates one of its most uncomfortable moments in years.

For the 80-year-old NASCAR legend, the timing was hard to ignore. NASCAR recently settled its antitrust lawsuit with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, agreeing to make charters “evergreen” and closing a case that had dragged the sport through months of courtroom scrutiny.

While the settlement brought relief for many teams, it left Childress in an awkward position after he was unexpectedly pulled into the proceedings.

During testimony, Childress was questioned about potential discussions involving the sale of Richard Childress Racing, information he believed was protected by a non-disclosure agreement and had never intended to disclose in court.

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Judge Kenneth Bell acknowledged Childress’ frustration, noting that the veteran owner “certainly thought it shouldn’t have been in their possession.” The moment further strained an already tense relationship between Childress and NASCAR leadership.

That tension escalated when leaked text messages from NASCAR president Steve Phelps became public.

In those messages, Phelps referred to Childress using offensive language, calling him an “idiot,” a “stupid redneck,” and suggesting he should be “flogged.” Phelps later testified that he apologized, but the damage had already been done.

One of NASCAR’s most powerful partners reacted swiftly. Bass Pro Shops, a cornerstone sponsor of the sport for nearly three decades, issued a blistering statement defending Childress and condemning the remarks.

Morris accused NASCAR leadership of disrespecting “one of the pillars of the sport” and warned that the comments were irresponsible toward sponsors, teams, and fans.

Childress’ public alignment with Morris, and by extension Trump, carried added weight. Childress has long been open about his friendship with the president, introducing Trump at a Charlotte campaign rally last year and hosting him in the Richard Childress Racing pit box during the Coca-Cola 600. Trump has repeatedly praised Childress, pointing to his success as proof of leadership and talent within motorsports.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), formerly known as Mosport Park, one of Canada’s most historic motorsport venues, has been sold to a new ownership group. The transaction was announced on December 11, 2025, marking the end of a 15-year ownership period by a group led by Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Background and History

Opened in 1961 as Mosport Park (a contraction of “motor” and “sport”), the facility quickly became a cornerstone of Canadian motorsport. Located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, approximately 100 km east of Toronto, it features a challenging 3.957 km (2.459-mile) road course with 10 turns, along with a driver development track and karting center.

The track hosted the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix from 1967 to 1977 (alternating with Mont-Tremblant initially), multiple Can-Am races, and has been a staple for series like IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, NASCAR Canada, and various sports car events.

In June 2011, Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd. – comprising businessman Carlo Fidani, Ron Fellows, and initially Alan Boughton – purchased the venue from the Panoz Motorsports Group. Shortly after, in 2012, a long-term naming rights partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation renamed it Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Under this ownership, significant investments were made in infrastructure, including paddock improvements, resurfacing, and new facilities.

The Sale

The previous owners, through Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd., sold the facility to a new group led by Peter Thomson, a venture capitalist, rally driver, and member of the Thomson family (associated with Woodbridge Company, part of Canada’s wealthiest families). Joining Thomson as partners are Chris Pfaff, owner of Pfaff Automotive Partners and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event promoter at CTMP, and Alek Krstajic.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The existing management team, led by President and General Manager Myles Brandt, will remain in place. Operations and scheduled events will continue uninterrupted.

Statements from New Owners

Chris Pfaff stated: “Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is a place with deep heritage and a loyal community. Our team is proud to be its next steward. We’re committed to respecting everything that makes CTMP special today, while building the foundation for an elevated experience in the years ahead.”

The new owners emphasized their commitment to preserving the track’s history while supporting fans, teams, and partners.

Future Plans

Detailed plans for long-term development, investments, and an enhanced role in Canadian motorsport and entertainment will be unveiled at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto (February 13–22, 2026).

This sale ensures continuity for one of North America’s classic road racing circuits, positioning it for future growth under passionate, motorsport-connected ownership.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. understands exactly what NASCAR’s milestone antitrust settlement means for the future of the Cup Series and its chartered teams. But the 18-year stock car veteran, now owner of JR Motorsports, also knows the new headaches created for new teams wishing to stamp their presence in NASCAR’s top division.

The lawsuit settlement between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports introduced permanent and evergreen charters that stabilized team ownership and, in the minds of insiders, immediately boosted charter values. For Earnhardt Jr, the resolution also cemented a reality that could make JR Motorsports’ future entry into the Cup Series more difficult than ever.

Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports organization has established itself as one of the most successful teams in the Xfinity Series. Three team drivers, including Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil, were among the final four contenders for the Xfinity championship title race in Phoenix.

Jesse Love ultimately beat all three drivers by passing Zilisch, who had won 10 regular-season races. Despite Zilisch being deeply emotional after the loss, JR Motorsports has secured four series championships and 105 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Dale Jr. said the permanence of charters fundamentally changes NASCAR’s structure. “If that happens, there is no going back. Like, it changes the sport forever,” he said on his podcast. 

“You’ll basically have 36 franchises, however many cars start a race. They’ll be the franchises, owned and valued, and they will sell and trade from one entity to another over the course of decades and centuries, however long this goes.”

Under the new system, charters are now considered long-term assets rather than temporary licenses, allowing them to be bought, sold, and relocated as needed. The change drives NASCAR toward a franchise-like model, and Earnhardt believes that the sport’s longstanding open-door tradition would be lost.

“As we’ve known racing for 75 years, if you wanted to build a Cup car and show up at a race and try to compete, you did,” he said. “Probably not gonna go all that well, you’re gonna compete against the regular teams, and that’s what it was, but you could. That’ll be gone forever.”

Earnhardt mentioned that his team considered buying a charter in the system’s early days when they could be purchased for about $1 million. JR Motorsports ultimately decided not to and industry insiders now believe that new charters might soon cost $50 million or more.

For Earnhardt and others hoping to make the leap, the path forward now depends less on racing ambition and more on financial opportunity. Dale Jr. got a jump on his ambitions last season when JR Motorsports competed in the Cup Series for the first time.

Allgaier drove the No. 40 Traveller’s Whiskey Chevy for JRM during the season-opening Daytona 500 and raced to a ninth-place finish. Dale Jr. was present for the race and expressed excitement for seeing his cars compete against the world’s top drivers again.