Motorsports
NASCAR loses a full-time driver after Sonoma; replacement confirmed
Just past the halfway point of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, a full-time driver has lost his ride and been replaced, less than two weeks after failing to qualify for the street race in Chicago, Illinois.
Kris Wright landed his first Xfinity Series ride since wrapping up the 2022 season with Brandonbilt Motorsports, as he was named the full-time driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Our Motorsports for the 2025 season. However, limited success through the season’s first 19 race weekends has led to him being replaced.
Wright’s only top 15 finish of the year was a ninth place effort at Martinsville Speedway in March. He only managed two other finishes higher than 24th: an 18th place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and a 17th place finish at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in June. He recorded nine DNFs and/or finishes lower than 30th.
Kris Wright replaced by a fan-favorite at Dover
Though a full-time replacement has not been announced for Our Motorsports for the season’s final 14 races, one has been confirmed for this coming Saturday afternoon’s race at Dover Motor Speedway, and it’s a driver whom many fans believe is a significant upgrade for Chris Our’s team.
Kaz Grala is set to drive the No. 5 car this weekend at the “Monster Mile”, and many fans are hoping that this opportunity leads to more opportunities for the 26-year-old Boston, Massachusetts native.
Grala finished in 17th place in the championship standings in his lone full season in the series two years ago with Sam Hunt Racing and recorded nine top 10 finishes along the way. He has always seemingly made the most of his limited opportunities in NASCAR national series competition, going all the way back to his Truck Series debut in 2016.
Last year, he ran part-time for Rick Ware Racing in the Cup Series but did not make any Xfinity Series starts, though he did fail to qualify for one race at RSS Racing. He has made just one national series start so far this year, that coming in the recent Xfinity race in Chicago when he returned to Sam Hunt Racing, and he finished in 22nd place.
So far, Saturday’s BetRivers 200 is the only race for which Our Motorsports have confirmed a driver for the No. 5 Chevrolet throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.
The BetRivers 200 is set to be shown live on the CW Network from Dover Motor Speedway starting at 4:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, July 19. Start a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the action from the “Monster Mile”!
Motorsports
How F1-Themed Slots Appeal to Racing Fans
Formula 1 runs deeper than just Sundays at the track. For plenty of fans, the sport’s rush, fast laps, razor-edge gambles, and glitz pour into other pastimes. Lately, digital casinos have jumped in, and now F1-inspired slots are everywhere. The quick-fire spins feel like speeding laps.
Flashing car symbols, turbo bonuses, the roar of imaginary engines, developers lace it all together, aiming right at racing die-hards who want a taste of race day off the asphalt. If you ask Car Throttle, close to 40% of racing lovers say these immersive F1 themes actually make them more likely to play. Marrying speed and stakes has carved out its place among motorsport’s most passionate.
F1 Emotion Meets Slot Mechanics
Rush. Heart-thumping risk. A winner or a wipeout in seconds. Formula 1 delivers that, but so do the best slot games. A spin around the reels almost echoes a grand prix lap: anticipation, a jolt of hope, abrupt wins or letdowns. Pro Hockey News notes how F1 fans gravitate to games that channel motorsport chaos.
Suddenly, a slot’s win feels like a daring overtake, a crushing loss like a blown engine. None of it happens accidentally; game designers ramp up volatility to mirror F1’s on-the-edge energy. Most F1 slots set their risk high, reflecting not just the pace but the unpredictability that racing fans are hooked on. Every spin cranks up the tension, serving up a fresh slice of that high-stakes drama familiar from the grid.
Immersive Racing Design Attracts New Players
Design teams aren’t subtle; their aim is instant recognition. Online slots featuring stylized cars, helmets, or racetrack symbols aim for instant recognition. They drop players onto circuits that look suspiciously like Monaco, toss them bonus pit stop rounds, and dress up the audio in engines and cheers, like you’re trackside, but with a mouse click. Monaco backdrops. Helmets gleaming. Crowds roaring.
Even “Nitro Boost” or “Race Spin” features boost the fever, reminding fans of sudden on-track drama. F1 fans, spotting these cues, grasp the theme quickly. Now, entering the world of online slots doesn’t feel alien, especially next to games with no familiar landmarks. For those who already live for Sundays, stepping into the F1 slot lane is way less daunting than facing roulette wheels or endless columns of numbers.
Bonus Rounds Channel Race Strategy
What makes F1 slots stand out isn’t just the paintwork or the sound; they don’t just look and sound like racing; they play that way, too. Bonus rounds become mini-races. Maybe you’re asked to pick a car for a jackpot “shootout.” Possibly you gamble for multipliers, risking it all for a bigger score.
Car Throttle points out that strategic rounds, think “Pit Stops,” force you to make real choices under pressure. Some rounds crank up the risk for massive rewards, tossing in wild cards like a “Final Lap” boost. The structure starts to feel eerily familiar. It’s F1, but with every bet, the drama of the final corner is only ever one spin away.
Glamour, Volatility, and Tech Innovation
Race day glitz, velvet ropes, fancy paddocks, and champagne sprays, those luxury notes slip easily into the casino vibe. F1 slot promos often push that angle: big jackpots, slick graphics, Monaco’s neon glow. Pro Hockey News draws the parallel, Monaco as racing’s crown jewel and a gambling mecca.
Developers now push things further; new AR and VR game versions park you right on the circuit, put dashboards in your hands, and let you wander pit lane. This seems just the start. The next chapter for F1 slots is even more immersive, meant to hold fans in the fast lane well past the checkered flag.
Responsible Play for Racing Enthusiasts
All that excitement can cloud judgment. It’s easy to keep pressing for just one more spin, especially when racing thrills blend with betting. Setting limits and seeing slots strictly as a way to unwind matters. There are plenty of tools and agencies offering support if it gets overwhelming. Stay aware, and remember, the real victory is making sure the fun never slips out of control.
Motorsports
$2.3 Trillion Giant Makes Stunning NASCAR Power Play With Chase Elliott for 2026
The most popular driver in NASCAR is about to carry the colors of the most powerful streamer on the planet in a bold new way. For three races in the 2026 season, Amazon Prime Video will sponsor Chase Elliot, flashing a new color scheme for his car.
Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will unveil a dramatically revised paint scheme for the 2026 season, a visual declaration of Amazon Prime Video’s deepening and aggressive stake in the sport’s future.
Which Races Will Chase Elliott Run With the Amazon Prime Livery in 2026?
Elliott is about to get a new color scheme for his car as Amazon Prime Video is sponsoring Chase Elliot for three races in the 2026 season. We will see the Amazon Prime Video on Elliott’s car next year at the Talladega, Texas, and the Dover All-Star Race.
The 2026 design shifts away from the brighter blues of the 2025 car, opting for darker, more aggressive tones. Added black accents and stronger contrast to give it a sharper, more authoritative look on track. The update deliberately distances the car from other blue-hued competitors, ensuring the $2.3 trillion tech behemoth’s rolling billboard stands utterly alone.
Amazon joined Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor for Chase Elliott starting in 2025. It also became the sport’s first direct-to-consumer media partner this year. Holding roles as a team sponsor and a broadcaster at the same time raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community.
This time, on-car promotions directly precede Prime Video’s second season of broadcasting five exclusive Cup Series races, which begin with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. For 2026, Prime Video will again serve as a primary sponsor for Elliott in three select races, continuing a partnership that runs firmly through 2027.
The No. 9 car will first wear the updated livery at Talladega Superspeedway in late April, then at Texas Motor Speedway, with a final primary appearance at the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway in mid-May.
MORE: Chase Elliott’s Long-Ignored Warning Forces NASCAR To Reconsider the Next Gen Car
Prime’s broadcast schedule also features the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 7, and the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on June 14.
Prime Video first sponsored Chase Elliott in 2025 for races at Talladega and Kansas Speedway. Like last year, these races kick off Prime Video’s five-race stretch of NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts.
The Prime broadcast schedule wraps up with the Anduril 250 during NASCAR San Diego Weekend on June 21. The event brings all three of NASCAR’s national series to Naval Base Coronado, where the drivers will tackle a unique 16-turn, 3.4-mile street circuit.
Motorsports
Ironton Auto Body Challenge Set For Indoor Auto Racing
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When the Indoor Auto Racing Series returns to the PPL Center on January 9-10 for the ninth annual Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Races, TQ Midget drivers will once again have a chance to capture the $10,000 Ironton Auto Body Challenge by sweeping the weekend and winning both features.
In 2024, young driver Tanner VanDoren and Ryan Flores split the TQ Midget mains on the tenth-mile concrete oval. Flores won the Friday opener in 2025, but finished second Saturday to Andy Jankowiak. Although both enjoyed a successful weekend, the $10,000 sweep slipped away in Allentown.
Three weeks later, Flores got a second chance at the Ironton Auto Body bonus and redeemed himself by winning the series finale NAPA Auto Parts Gambler’s Classic inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Thanks to renewed support from Ironton Auto Body, the possibility of a $10,000 weekend inside the PPL Center returns for a third straight year. To complete the challenge, Friday’s winner will be offered a guaranteed starting spot in Saturday’s main event — with one caveat: they must start 10th.
As a bonus for accepting the challenge, Friday’s winner will receive $1,000. Should they advance from 10th and win again on Saturday, another $4,000 bonus will be awarded. Combining the $5,000 in bonus money with Saturday’s purse will bring their total to $10,000.
If the weekend sweep isn’t accomplished, Ironton Auto Body will once again roll over a portion of the challenge to the Atlantic City Indoor Race.
With his victory in last year’s NAPA Gambler’s Classic, Flores collected $10,000, including Ironton Auto Body Challenge bonus money as well as support from the AC Sports Commission and Visit Atlantic City.
The headline TQ Midget division will be joined by Slingshots and Champ Karts, with full programs and feature events for all three classes.
Motorsports
Jimmie Johnson confirms Daytona 500 decision as schedule takes shape – Motorsport – Sports
NASCAR icon and Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson has all but confirmed that he will be returning behind the wheel for the Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 in February 2026.
While Johnson, 50, retired from full-time driving after the 2020 season, he has gone on to compete in a handful of Cup Series races behind the wheel of the No. 84 for Legacy, since first investing in the team in 2022.
This has included all three Daytona 500s since, including the 2025 edition, which saw him finish a remarkable third, marking the team’s joint-best result of the season, as William Byron took the checkered flag in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the second consecutive season.
Previously, Johnson’s only confirmed race for 2026 was the inaugural race at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy in his hometown.
However, in a hilarious social media post on Wednesday, Johnson appeared to confirm he will run the 500 again in February, sponsored once again by Carvana.
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In a Bob Ross-inspired video, Johnson painted the No. 84’s paint scheme for the race, commenting, “Let’s make some magic here. The key to a happy paint scheme is happy colors…We can’t forget the Carvana happy halos. Because every cardeserves a happy driver.”
The clip was accompanied by the caption, “The 2026 Daytona paint scheme drops tomorrow! Stay tuned to watch your favorite artist (and driver) design a new look for the iconic Carvana 84 car.”
Fans were thrilled by the announcement and justifiably loved the video, with one commenting, “This is quality content.” A second said, “Oh didnt realize Jimmie was making an attempt again for the 500!!! Oh this made my day hearing so.” While another simply replied, “HAPPY COLORS HAPPY CARS.”
Johnson’s decision to run the 500, a race won in 2006 and 2013, adds to what is currently a relatively quiet Cup Series schedule for the No. 84 in 2026. This isn’t a surprise given that back in August, he told fellow former champion Kevin Harvick that while he “would like” to compete this coming season, “I am finding that I am more impactful for the business side of the house out of the car and in the suite or in our hospitality area with our sponsors.”
Johnson will be racing alongside the returning full-time Legacy start Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, who finished 12th and fifth, respectively, at the 2025 500, going on to finish the season 24th and 25th in the drivers’ standings.
To date, Legacy’s only Cup Series win since 2022 came in its inaugural season courtesy of Jones, taking the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway in the Cook Out Southern 500. Beyond NASCAR, it remains unclear if Johnson plans to race in any further events in 2026.
Motorsports
Motorsports journalist Matt Weaver talks NASCAR lawsuit | Racing Report | Ep. 042
(WGHP) — Join FOX8 Photojournalist Chris Weaver as we show you the world behind the driver’s seat in Racing Report.
Today on Racing Report with Chris Weaver, we’ve got a full breakdown of the settlement between NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in the antitrust lawsuit filed by the two teams against NASCAR.
Matt Weaver, the senior motorsports editor at Motorsport.com, joins us today to give his detailed analysis of the case. He spent nearly every day in the courtroom during the trial and much of the last year following the proceedings as it came to this point.
With the settlement, NASCAR is giving the teams much of what they asked for in their lawsuit. We’ll break it all down on Racing Report.
Tune in using the video player above or watch it on the MyFOX8+ connected TV app on Roku, AppleTV and Fire TV.
Motorsports
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Takes NASCAR Spirit to Japan with Toyota, Jimmie Johnson, and John Hunter Nemechek – Speedway Digest
Today, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB released a comprehensive behind-the-scenes video documenting a recent trip to Japan. The YouTube video titled “The Climb to Mt. Fuji | Building NASCAR for Japan” highlights global motorsports culture, fan connection, and the cross-cultural exchange between two countries who share a passion for motorsports. The video recaps the journey made by a ten-member delegation from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, along with drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Jimmie Johnson to participate in a special exhibition event hosted by the Automobile Business & Culture Association of Japan (ABAJ).
While in Japan, Nemechek drove the No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE and Johnson piloted the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Garage 56 Chevrolet, the same vehicle that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The multi-day visit included time in Tokyo, where the drivers explored iconic districts and neighborhoods, as well as extensive fan-focused activities at Fuji Speedway. Johnson and Nemechek participated in media interviews, autograph sessions, and provided ride-along experiences for guests. Both cars completed exhibition pace laps and celebratory burnouts ahead of the Super Taikyu Series endurance championship finale on November 16.
The event at Fuji Speedway offered Japanese fans a rare opportunity to see NASCAR vehicles on their home soil. Fans waved American flags as Johnson and Nemechek, along with Japanese drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Takuma Koga, took their places on the grid before the exhibition laps.
A Trip Focused on Culture and Connection
During their stay, Johnson and Nemechek toured Toyota facilities, visited an active volcanic site, explored Tokyo, immersed themselves in the Japanese culture, and connected with hundreds of fans who have followed their careers for years.
“Japan has always had an incredible passion for motorsports,” said Johnson, owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “Being able to share our sport with fans halfway around the world – seeing them decked out in our gear and experiencing their racing culture firsthand – was something I’ll never forget.”
Nemechek echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the special connection made with fans abroad. He also posted a behind the scenes video exclusive to his YouTube channel which can be viewed HERE.
“Japan welcomed us with open arms,” said Nemechek. “From the action on track to the energy of the fans, this trip showed how powerful motorsports can be as a universal language. I am very thankful to Toyota and the ABAJ for their hospitality and hope we get to go back.”
Inside the Video: A Closer Look at the Journey
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s behind-the-scenes feature “The Climb to Mt. Fuji | Building NASCAR for Japan” captures the authentic, unfiltered experience of the trip and includes contributions from Johnson, Nemechek, key team members and fans.
- Logistics of preparing the NASCAR vehicles and sending them to Japan
- Candid moments between Johnson and Nemechek
- Build of the two-seater No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
- Street-level exploration of Tokyo’s districts
- Cultural highlights including temples, cuisine, and traditional craft demonstrations
- Conversations with Japanese motorsports fans and longtime NASCAR supporters
- The lighter side of international travel – traveling across the world and team camaraderie
The video can be seen across LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s social platforms, in hopes to offer fans an entertaining and immersive look at the international experience. LEGACY MC also released a photo gallery which can be seen HERE.
LMC PR
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