WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon was awarded a knighthood Wednesday in New Zealand’s New Year honors list.

“I’ve been called a lot of things, but I never thought that ‘Sir’ was going to be one of them,” Dixon said. “That was kind of crazy. Totally out of the blue … You automatically go back to the start like the first time driving a go-kart and then all the rest of the memories happened at warp speed.”

Scott Ronald Glyndwr Dixon, now a Knight Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit, was born in Australia to New Zealand-born parents who later returned to live in Auckland.

Dixon, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, received the knighthood for services to motor sport. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2024.

“Sir Scott is a hero to young New Zealand motor sport fans and his work fundraising for children’s charities is invaluable,” New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.

Dixon won karting titles in Australia and New Zealand before heading to the United States where he raced in Indy Lights and CART series before moving to IndyCar in 2003.

Dixon has had 23 consecutive seasons for Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar with 58 wins and 142 podium finishes from 380 starts. He has started 32 times from pole position and won the championship in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020.

“It’s all about outside racing giving back to the community and the partnerships you make away from the track and causes you get involved in,” Dixon said.

___

AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this story.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has acquired Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas.

The facility opened in 1963 as Topeka Dragway and later became Heartland Motorsports Park. Over the years, it has hosted national drag racing events as well as road racing, karting, motocross and grassroots competitions, becoming a long-standing motorsports venue in the Midwest.

According to IHRA Owner Darryl Cuttell, the organization plans to restore and redevelop the property while respecting its history.

“Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing,” said Cuttell. “It has history, soul, and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a racetrack. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy while building something that serves racers, fans, and the community for generations.”

IHRA’s plans include revitalizing drag racing operations, expanding motorsports and special event programming, adding live music and festival events, improving hospitality and fan areas, and hosting community-focused events. Renovation planning will begin immediately, with further details on redevelopment and future events expected in the coming months.

For more information, visit ihra.com.

Image courtesy of IHRA

NASCAR Cup Series team RFK Racing’s longstanding partnership with Castrol is set to continue, despite the oil company’s recent majority sale by bp for $10.01 billion.

It was announced on December 24 that bp had sold 65 percent of Castrol to New York-based investment firm, Stonepeak, with the former retaining the remaining 35 percent of its shares.

While the deal won’t be finalized for around another year, once completed, the funds will help bp reduce its net debt, which it is aiming to drop to between $14 and $18 billion by the end of 2027, as per a press release. This comes with bp’s net debt at the end of the third quarter in 2025 being recorded at $26.1 billion.

“Today’s announcement is a very good outcome for all stakeholders,” bp’s interim CEO Carol Howle said. “We concluded a thorough strategic review of Castrol, that generated extensive interest and resulted in the sale of a majority interest to Stonepeak.

“And with this, we have now completed or announced over half of our targeted $20bn divestment programme, with proceeds to significantly strengthen bp’s balance sheet.

Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.

“The sale marks an important milestone in the ongoing delivery of our reset strategy. We are reducing complexity, focusing the downstream on our leading integrated businesses, and accelerating delivery of our plan. And we are doing so with increasing intensity – with a continued focus on growing cash flow and returns, and delivering value for our shareholders.”

Despite this eventual shift in Castrol’s ownership structure, the brand will continue to serve as one of RFK’s sponsors during the 2026 Cup Series season, as per Adam Stern.

Castrol and RFK’s partnership dates back to 2019, and while the team has not publicly commented on its supposedly ongoing relationship with the brand since the takeover was announced, it appears that the two were already in line to continue working together regardless.

Last year, the team “announced that its longstanding relationship with iconic brand Castrol will continue into the 2025 NASCAR season and beyond.”

In a statement, team president Steve Newmark said, “For years now, Castrol has been an integral part of our success both on and off the track.

“From product superiority to collaborations around sustainability and content with the family of Castrol drivers and Ford Motor Company, Castrol has ensured we operate at peak performance and powered us through several years of success.”

RFK, which debuted way back in 1988 as Roush Racing, has two Cup Series titles and 143 race wins to its name thus far. However, despite the backing of a firm the size of Castrol, RFK failed to reach victory lane in 2025, with Chris Buescher finishing a team-best 17th in the driver standings, thanks to his five top-five finishes and 11 top 10s.

While this winless run is far from ideal, it faces a more fundamental issue entering 2026, which is the health of co-owner and driver of the No. 6, Brad Keselowski. The 41-year-old former Cup Series champion recently suffered a broken leg while on a skiing trip and has since had to undergo surgery.

Still bedbound, Keselowski has stated that his goal is to be back for the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 15.

FAIRFIELD, Ohio — The International Hot Rod Association announced the acquisition of Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas, reinforcing IHRA’s long-term commitment to preserving motorsports history while reimagining legendary venues.

Originally opened in 1963 as Topeka Dragway, the facility later evolved into Heartland Motorsports Park and became one of the most versatile motorsports complexes in the country. Over the decades, Heartland has hosted major national drag racing events, road racing, karting, motocross, and countless grassroots competitions, earning its reputation as a cornerstone of Midwest motorsports.

With this acquisition, Heartland Motorsports Park enters a new chapter — one that honors its storied past while positioning the property as a modern destination entertainment complex.

“Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing,” said Darryl Cuttell, owner of the International Hot Rod Association. “It has history, soul, and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a race track. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy while building something that serves racers, fans, and the community for generations.”

IHRA’s long-term vision for Heartland Motorsports Park extends well beyond competition weekends. Planned restoration and redevelopment efforts will focus on creating a year-round destination that blends motorsports with live entertainment and community engagement, including:

• Revitalized drag racing operations with improved racer and fan amenities
• Expanded motorsports and special event programming
• Live music, concerts, and festival experiences
• Enhanced hospitality, vendor, and fan-experience areas
• Community-focused events designed to drive tourism and economic impact

“Motorsports has to evolve to stay strong,” Cuttell added. “The future is about creating places where racing, music, entertainment, and community come together. Heartland has all the pieces to become one of the premier motorsports and entertainment destinations in the country.”

The acquisition aligns with IHRA’s broader racer-first philosophy, which includes direct investment in facilities and infrastructure that strengthen grassroots racing, elevate national competition, and create sustainable motorsports ecosystems.

Renovation planning will begin immediately, with additional announcements regarding redevelopment phases, event schedules and community partnerships expected in the coming months.

Andres Perez de Lara is expected to drive for Niece Motorsports during the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season. De Lara started the 2025 campaign with Spire Motorsports, but parted ways en route to Niece Motorsports. The driver of the No. 44 truck performed well following his departure from Spire Motorsports.

In 2026, de Lara should focus even more on his development while becoming a weekly fixture in the top 10 spots. When Niece Motorsport is running at its best, the drivers are capable of winning Truck Series races. However, the NASCAR organization hasn’t been as strong since Carson Hocevar left for the NASCAR Cup Series.

De Lara wants to become a household name in the Truck Series, and Niece Motorsports could help him reach that goal. It may not be in 2026, but de Lara is seeking to win his first Truck Series race sooner rather than later. If Niece Motorsports can provide faster trucks in 2026, that certainly seems like a possibility.

Anthony Alfredo is moving to a new team for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series season. After spending one year with Young’s Motorsports, Alfredo is moving to the No. 96 car for Viking Motorsports. The former Young’s Motorsports driver will be the second full-time entry for hte organization alongside Parker Retzlaff.

Alfrredo has been all over the place in NASCAR over the last six years, so another new team isn’t new to him. The driver of the No. 96 car is a part of a new second team for Viking Motorsports, so the 2026 NASCAR season might start slowly. However, Alfredo has proven his ability to run well in mid-tier equipment.

Alfredo should focus on developing the second team with Viking Motorsports and earning more top-20 finishes throughout the season. By the end of 2026, the hope is that Alfredo is competing for top-10 finishes. There is optimism that Alfredo can help turn Viking Motorsports into a more recognizable destination.