Jimmie Johnson’s golden horseshoe found a new home on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

If you’ll recall, Kevin Harvick suggested that Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team kept a horseshoe in their hindquarters after Johnson took advantage of an opportune caution to win at Fontana, Calif., in February of 2010.

You could argue that the horseshoe migrated to another Hendrick driver in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, after Kyle Larson took advantage of serendipitous circumstances to claim his second title in NASCAR’s premier division.

On Lap 310 of a scheduled 312, Championship 4 driver Denny Hamlin held a comfortable lead over second-place William Byron and appeared destined to win the title that had eluded him for two decades.

Enter the horseshoe.

Byron, the only driver in the Champ 4 who hadn’t experienced tire issues to that point, blew a right rear and rocketed into the Turn 3 wall, causing the caution that flipped the championship in Larson’s direction.

After a second straight two-tire call, Larson lined up fifth, five spots ahead of Hamlin, who had taken four tires, for an overtime restart. Two laps later, Larson finished third to Hamlin’s sixth to claim the 15th championship for team owner Rick Hendrick.

Larson, whose winless streak reached 24 races, won the title without leading a lap in what was arguably the slowest car among the Championship 4, but it would be wrong to ascribe his championship to luck alone.

Larson made a courageous run near the fence in Turns 1 and 2 in overtime and built the momentum that kept him ahead of Hamlin, proving once again that, if given the opportunity, he will do whatever it takes to come out on top.

Hours after Ryan Blaney took the checkered flag to win his fourth race of the season, Larson was still in disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s insane,” he said. “I don’t know. I mean, did anybody in here think that we had a shot? Like, I definitely… like (crew chief) Cliff (Daniels) was saying, we weren’t dead, but we were pretty close.”

As a measure of how fortunate Larson realized he was, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet expressed genuine empathy for Hamlin’s gut-wrenching disappointment.

“It’s great to celebrate and all that, but it does feel a little awkward, because he has put so much time and energy, has been so close to winning so many championships,” Larson said. “This is as close as he’s ever been.

“Sure, he’s a competitor, but he is a friend. I was going to be happy for him to win. That’s kind of what I was thinking about. Like, man, I can’t wait to go tell him, ‘Good job.’ Then the caution came out and the script flipped right there, so…”

There’s a saying that luck is the intersection of preparation and opportunity. Larson proved that thesis on Sunday. When the opportunity presented itself, he and his team were ready to seize it.

That wasn’t the first time Larson has been an opportunist. Four years ago, late in the Championship Race at Phoenix, Martin Truex Jr. was leading, with Hamlin in hot pursuit in a faster car.

Larson was running fourth among the championship drivers with little hope of overtaking the frontrunners. A caution on Lap 283 changed everything. With a sub-10-second pit stop in stall No. 1, Larson vaulted from fourth to first and led the final 28 laps to win his first championship.

Come to think of it, maybe the horseshoe has been there all along.

There will be a change atop the pit box for the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet next season. Brandon McSwain, who has worked as an engineer for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team for the past six years, will replace Phil Surgen.

Chastain has worked with Surgen since the 2021 season when he still drove for Chip Ganassi Racing, and has won all six of his Cup races with the same crew chief. The duo nearly won the 2022 Cup Series championship, and most recently earned a crown jewel victory in the 2025 Coca-Cola 600. 

They made the playoffs in three of the last four years, and ended the 2025 season tenth in the final championship standings.

Surgen will transition to a new role within the organization, per Trackhouse.

McSwain has limited crew chief experience, filling in for Rudy Fugle at HMS on a few occasions. The No. 24 Chevrolet of Byron has made it all the way to the Championship 4 in the last three consecutive years.

This continues a trend at Trackhouse as they continue to make internal changes, including crew member swaps and a new president of racing operations. The organization has struggled overall this year in comparison to previous seasons, excluding the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen on road and street courses.

McSwain was also a part of JR Motorsports before joining Hendrick, and was a member of the 2017 and 2018 championship-winning team with Byron and then Tyler Reddick.

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– The Motorsport.com Team

Arrow McLaren is joining forces with Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) through a multi-year sponsorship announced today. The collaboration will focus on cultivating pathways that serve to advance, connect and enable women across the motorsports industry. 

The team will play a key role in Women with Drive – Driven by Mobil 1, WIMNA’s annual Indianapolis-based summit that brings together professionals, students and leaders across the motorsports landscape to forge connection and opportunity. Held the week of the PRI Show in downtown Indianapolis, the event features panels, breakout sessions, special events and engaging networking opportunities. In 2024, Arrow McLaren Team Principal Tony Kanaan spoke at the event, and in 2025, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Lauren Gaudion will join the panel ‘Breaking In: Non-Traditional Pathways into Motorsports.’ 

Since returning to full-time racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2020, Arrow McLaren has more than doubled its workforce amid a period of expansion and growth. The upcoming opening of the McLaren Racing Center — Arrow McLaren’s new state-of-the-art INDYCAR facility in Indianapolis — marks another milestone in the team’s continued growth and investment in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

Kevin Thimjon, President, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, said:

“We recognize that a diverse range of skillsets is key to accelerating performance. Partnering with WIMNA provides us with an additional avenue for recruitment and development of top talent by supporting the advancement of women across our industry.” 

Cindy Sisson, Executive Director, Women in Motorsports North America, said:

“This partnership underscores how collaboration between industry, community and city leadership can create a lasting impact. Arrow McLaren’s commitment to Women with Drive not only uplifts women in motorsports but also contributes to developing the next generation of skilled professionals who will drive Indianapolis’ continued leadership in motorsports innovation.”

By Tom Coughlin

If you are headed out Sunday to the Lebanon Valley Speedway for their annual Super Swap Meet, the Lebanon Valley Kart Track is holding a Pancake Breakfast in the Speedway Club House. The breakfast will benefit the Lebanon Valley Kart Track and speedway point fund. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m., and the Swap Meet is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Dodge City Speedway will celebrate its 2025 season at Checkers Out Speedway, located at 2299 Route 30A in Johnstown, on Friday, Nov. 7. Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $40 for ages 14 and up. Please R.S.V.P. to Paul Montenaro by Nov. 3, either through the Dodge City Speedway Facebook page messenger or by telephone. Juice Box Kart participants have been invited by Checkers Out Speedway to bring their Karts to race on the indoor track by 5 p.m. Please remember your helmet if you want to race after the banquet.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, Elmo’s Speed & Supply will host its 10th annual Swap Meet on the grounds of Albany-Saratoga Speedway, 2671 Route 9 in Malta, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Nov. 8, Outdoor Motorsports and Trailer Sales, located at 3953 NY-30 in Amsterdam, will host a fall open house, vintage snowmobile show, and charity food drive from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Awards will be presented to Best in Show for various categories of sleds. On-site will be food trucks, vendors, raffles, special guests, manufacturer representatives, and promotional deals. Bring in a canned food item and receive a discount on a purchase.

On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, the Northeast Racing Products Auction, Trade Show, and Swap Meet will take place in the Exposition building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

In preparation for the 2026 season, Sportsman driver Kirsten Swartz of St. Johnsville has recently picked up a new Bicknell chassis. Dirt modified and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen continues to make daily progress in his efforts to heal and rebuild himself from injuries suffered in the horrific modified crash in Canada in late July.

The Capital District Racing Association has listed its high point earners for 2025. Tim Hartman Jr. claimed the title by sitting on top of the C.D.R.A. Sportsman Modified point standings. Taylor Wason and Nick Brundige completed the top three.

Results From Last Week’s Eastern States Weekend

Last Thursday night, Orange County Fair Speedway hosted the Short Track Super Series modified division in the Hard Clay Finale. Mat Williamson was the Hot Lap Hero with a 20.904-second fast time. The six heat race winners for the 61 STSS modifieds that signed in were Matt Sheppard, Chris Raabe, Mat Williamson, Brian Calabrese, Danny Bouc, and 2025 O.C.F.S. modified track champion Jack Lehner. In the 50-lap feature, Matt Sheppard scored the win over Mat Williamson and Anthony Perrego. Matt Sheppard was also crowned the STSS North Region champion.

On Friday night, the Eastern States 50 for the sportsman division saw Jared LaBagh score the win, with Tyler Peet and A.J. Albreada filling the podium. Mat Williamson earned the pole position for the 358-modified Eastern States 100, with Matt Sheppard, Noah Walker, Brian Calabrese, Matt Stangle, and Jessica Friesen locking in the top six starting positions.

Also on Friday, Kaden Honeycutt was at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Driving the Halmar-Friesen Racing number 52, Honeycutt started fifth, finished stage one in seventh, stage two in eighth, and stage three in second.

Saturday’s running of the Eastern States 100 for the 358-modified division took place on a fast and smooth track. In a thrilling finish, Anthony Perrego beat Mat Williamson to the line by only 0.056 seconds. Jessica Friesen, Felix Roy, and Brian Calabrese rounded out the top five. Jack Lehner, in the Nelson Motorsports No. 85, finished ninth.

Jessica Friesen of Sprakers had an outstanding run. After time-trialing sixth, she ran in the top five for the first half of the race and moved into second place behind Perrego when Matt Sheppard pitted around lap 95. Williamson, who had pitted earlier, charged through the field and passed Friesen in the closing laps. A top-three finish in the ESW 100 is a major accomplishment for Friesen, who runs a limited schedule.

On Sunday, Alex “Kid Rocket” Yankowski, the 21-year-old 2024 & 2025 Fonda modified champion, started on the outside of the front row and went on to claim his first victory in the iconic Eastern States-Will Cagle 200, collecting the $24,000 check. Tyler Dippel and Peter Britten filled the podium. Our other area drivers had strong showings: Jack Lehner finished fourth, Marc Johnson sixth, Max McLaughlin seventh, and Anthony Perrego eighth.

Overall, our area drivers had a very good showing at the 64th Eastern States Weekend, a weekend that they can all be proud of.

Remember to Subscribe!

Attendee registration for the 2025 PRI Show is officially open for qualified industry members, and you don’t want to waste any time securing you badge.

Set for December 11–13 in downtown Indianapolis, the PRI Show allows motorsports professionals to build a foundation for a successful season ahead. Whether you’re sourcing new parts to find that extra mph–from cutting-edge machinery to groundbreaking new products–or looking for new industry connections, the PRI Show attracts motorsports professionals from all 50 states and 70 countries, creating an unrivaled global event unites professionals from every racing discipline, including stock car, drag, sports car, prototype, sprint car, midget, modified, formula, dirt late model, sport compact, karting, vintage and more, all under one roof. Sign up for your PRI Show badge now to uncover emerging technologies and source the hottest new racing products all at a convenient, affordable gathering.

Register for your PRI Show badge before Thursday, November 20, to receive your badge in the mail and skip on-site badge pick-up in the Indiana Convention Center.

New for 2025: Big Improvements to the Registration Process

The PRI Show team has introduced two exciting updates to make registering smoother, faster and more user-friendly:

One-Stop Shop Experience
After confirming membership, attendees will now only need to complete two prompts:

• Profile information.
• Demographic questions.

Single Transaction for Multiple Attendees
Planning to register your entire team? You now can do so all in one transaction. This requested feature eliminates one of the most common frustrations from years past.

Why Attend the 2025 PRI Show?

With a focus on the present and future of racing, the 2025 PRI Show promises to feature all the newest parts, latest innovations, nearly unlimited networking opportunities and access to an unrivaled number of motorsports manufacturers and service providers that can’t be matched anywhere else. 

Expect the return of signature Show features like:

• Featured Products Showcase.
• Grand Opening Breakfast.
• Machinery Row with live demos.
• PRI ESports Arena.
• Indoor motorsports trailers exhibit.
• Track Operators, Promoters and Sanctions (TOPS) HQ.
• And much more!
   

Ready to Plan Your Trip?

View the current 2025 PRI Show Floorplan and start mapping out your visit. Book your hotel now to secure the best rates and locations here. As a reminder, PRI Membership is required to attend. Be sure to renew or sign up before registering.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the world’s largest gathering of motorsports professionals.

For more information on the 2025 PRI Show, visit here.

Jeff Gordon was all too happy to welcome Kyle Larson into the multi-time NASCAR Cup Series championship club on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway.

Gordon, the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, celebrated with, and for, Larson in multiple ways. The first being as a teammate and friend, and the second as one of the drivers that Larson admitted he would like to match, if not surpass, one day in the champions list. Gordon has four championships, and Tony Stewart, the other driver Larson mentioned, has three.

Larson is now a two-time champion.

“I have the utmost respect for his abilities behind the wheel, and couldn’t be (prouder) of the effort that Rick [Hendrick] put into bringing him to Hendrick Motorsports,” Gordon said. “I’ve known Kyle for many, many years, watching him race sprint cars, and I always knew that if you can put him behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports car, he’d do special things. I also believe that records and championships, they’re made to be broken. 

“As long as he’s on our team, I want him to win 10.”

Hendrick signed Larson to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet beginning with the 2021 season. In the first year of their partnership, Larson won 10 points races plus the All-Star Race and the championship. Over the following three years, Larson, Cliff Daniels, and the team won 13 races while finishing seventh, second, and sixth in the championship.

It has taken Larson five years with Hendrick Motorsports to win two championships and 26 races.

“He and I have a good relationship because I think being from California, close to one another with Elk Grove and Vallejo, and the sprint car stuff,” Gordon said. “We’ve built a good friendship. You motivate people in different ways. He motivates himself in measuring and looking at what’s the next goal, the trophy, the championship. I use it for him, too.

“I’m like, ‘Buddy, you got three to go. You’re only at one. You got to get to two before you can get to three and before you can get to four.’ We have a standing joke about, ‘C’mon, come and get it.’ I hope he gets it and plenty more after that.”

Phoenix Raceway hosted the Cup Series championship for the sixth time on Sunday. Hendrick Motorsports won three of the six championships decided there between Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021, 2025).