Motorsports

NASCAR Playoff Standings in Upheaval After Austin Dillon Win at Richmond

Published

4 months ago

August 17, 2025

Richmond Raceway, Richmond, VA — August 16, 2025

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Richmond Raceway for the first time since the infamous ending at last year’s Cook Out 400. Fans remember the exciting final turn of the 400-lap race when Austin Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in turn four to take the win and qualify for the playoffs.

NASCAR ultimately penalized Dillon by taking away the playoff qualification, but let the victory stand. As a sell-out crowd filled the grandstands for the night race this year, everyone is hoping to see similar action tonight on the exciting, bump and run, short track in the next to last race of the regular season.

NASCAR’s schedule changes eliminated this year’s spring race at Richmond. Since 1959 the only time Richmond has not hosted two races a year was during Covid in 2020. Losing the traditional 2-race weekends was a disappointing development for the community and this historic racetrack. But the series moves forward with expanding it’s presence to more markets. This weekend marks the 137th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. Only one of the last 13 Richmond winners was under the age of 30.

Tonight’s race is 400 laps (300 miles) with Stages set for 70/160/170 laps. Ryan Preece put the RFK Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse on the pole with a speed 121.381 mph around the 3/4 mile Raceway. Preece currently sits 17th in the playoff standings, 34 points behind his teammate Chris Buescher who is on the bubble. A win by a driver who has not yet visited victory lane this year will effectively knock both out of contention to point their way into the playoffs and put them in a must win situation when the regular season concludes next week at Daytona.

The other two drivers without wins this year and currently holding playoff spots based on points are Tyler Reddick (starts second tonight) and Alex Bowman. Reddick is a virtual lock, but Bowman will fall onto the bubble if a new winner takes the checkered flag tonight. He would then be vulnerable to the same scenario next Saturday night at Daytona. Five of the drivers not locked into the Playoffs have won at Richmond – Kyle Busch (6 wins), Brad Keselowski (2), Austin Dillon (1), Chris Buescher (1) and Alex Bowman (1).

The driver who led the most laps failed to win the last eight Richmond races. The driver who led the most laps won all three short track races in 2025. The last two races did not have a DNF, the first time in Cup Series history consecutive races had no DNFs. #43 and #11 cars are tied with 13 Richmond wins each, Richard Petty won all 13 for #43 while five different drivers won at Richmond in #11 (Denny Hamlin-5, Cale Yarborough-3, Darrell Waltrip-3, Bill Elliott-1, Ned Jarrett-1). Kyle Busch completed all but one lap at Richmond in his 38 starts there (completed 14,243 of 14,244 possible laps).

Alex Bowman is making his 350th career Cup start this weekend; three drivers have won in the Cup Series on their 350th start – Lee Petty (Martinsville, 1959), Bill Elliott (Rockingham, 1992), Tony Stewart (Talladega, 2008). Ryan Blaney will make his 350th consecutive Cup start this weekend, the fifth longest active streak. Richmond is the only oval Ryan Blaney doesn’t have a top-five finish.

Stage One

Ryan Preece(60) drove off from the pole and led everyone into turn one. AJ Allmendinger(16) moved past the other front row starter, Tyler Reddick(45), into second. Denny Hamlin(11) also worked his way around Reddick. Chase Elliott(9) and Brad Keselowski held the fifth and sixth positions.

Teams began making pit stops 35 laps in. Goodyear brought a soft compound tire to the track for this race and teams were unsure how many laps that would be able to run before tire issues began to severely impact lap times. It is a risky strategy as cars will go a lap down in the process of entering and exiting pit road. Of course, a tire failure would be a worse outcome for those drivers who choose to stay out.

Among the leaders Preece and Elliott stayed out to conserve a set of tires for later in the race. Drivers that did pit were able to unlap themselves and move to the front of the pack. Reddick, Bubba Wallace(23), and Hamlin were the leaders fighting for the Stage win.

Stage One Results

Position	Car	Driver	Points
1	45	Tyler Reddick	10
2	23	Bubba Wallace	9
3	11	Denny Hamlin	8
4	3	Austin Dillon	7
5	2	Austin Cindric*	6
6	20	Christopher Bell	5
7	12	Ryan Blaney*	4
8	6	Brad Keselowski*	3
9	21	Josh Berry*	2
10	99	Daniel Suarez	1

*Ford Mustang Dark Horse Drivers

Elliott finished 13th and Preece 15th. The price they paid to avoid using up a set of tires in the first Stage.

Stage Two

Wallace, Reddick, Christopher Bell(20), Austin Cindric(2), Ryan Blaney(12), and Daniel Suarez(99) make up the first three rows for the restart. Stage break pit stops were costly for early race leaders. Denny Hamlin had trouble getting the wheels tight and was penalized for speeding. Allmendinger was also penalized for speeding on pit road, Elliott was penalized for interference pitting out of his pit box, they will both join Hamlin at the back of the pack for the restart. Significant developments for these cars as passing at Richmond is difficult at best.

Out front, Wallace and Bell separated themselves slight from the rest of the leaders. Reddick, Blaney, and Cindric were the next group and they also created some space from the remainder of the pack.

Preece was the first driver to pit for tires on lap 114. Dividing the second Stage’s 160 laps into thirds would require driver to go 53 laps between stops to even out the visits to pit road for a two stop Stage strategy. Pit stops began in earnest starting on lap 123. The leader pitted on lap 129. It was costly for Wallace as he returned to the track behind his teammate Reddick who pitted before him.

The timing of pit stops seem critical as the tire fall off is so severe, staying out too long can result in lost positions.

Wallace returned to the lead on lap 163. Reddick, Blaney, Joey Logano(22), and Cindric were the top five at that point in the race. Pit stop should begin again around lap 176. And right on time, pit road began to fill up. Pit stops create havoc as cars are re-entering the track in heavy traffic while others are slowing to come onto pit road.

That situation developed into a caution as Daniel Suarez(99) pushed Ty Gibbs(54) into Tyler Reddick spinning out the Stage One winner and creating havoc in the running order. Reddick lost a lap in the pits as his crew worked to tape together body panels damaged in the wreck.

Wallace, Suarez, Blaney, Logano, and Austin Dillon(3) were the leaders when the race resumed. However, as usual, cautions breed cautions. Cody Ware spun in turn two and the race was slowed again by the yellow flag.

The same top five led the race back to the green flag when racing resumed on lap 196. Three and four wide racing developed quickly. Another incident broke out in turn three as multiple cars were involved. Kyle Busch(8) ran into the back of Chase Briscoe(19) spinning Briscoe up into the outside wall. Chase Elliott got turned hard into the safer barrier and the mess was on.

Elliott’s car was towed to the garage, the first time this year that Chase has not finished a race ending his streak of top 20 finishes. Justin Haley(7) joined Elliott behind the wall. Several cars suffered minor damage. Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Erik Jones, and Cole Custer were all involved.

Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Joey Logano, and Ryan Preece make up the first three rows heading back to the green flag with 17 laps to go in Stage Two.

Wallace steps out to a huge lead as the rest of the field settles into single file or two wide racing to finish off the laps in Stage Two.

Stage Two Results

Position	Car	Driver	Points
1	23	Bubba Wallace	10
2	99	Daniel Suarez	9
3	12	Ryan Blaney*	8
4	3	Austin Dillon	7
5	48	Alex Bowman	6
6	60	Ryan Preece*	5
7	77	Carson Hocevar	4
8	2	Austin Cindric*	3
9	24	William Byron	2
10	5	Kyle Larson	1

*Ford Mustang Dark Horse Drivers

The biggest loser in the wrecks late in Stage Two was Chase Elliott. His 38th place finish is going to eliminate him from an opportunity to win the Regular Season Championship.

Christopher Bell’s crew had trouble with the left front wheel on his car during their pit stop. He left his stall and was called back so the crew could make sure they got it tight. A costly error that will put him at the back of the field for the restart.

The Final Stage

Michael McDowell only changed two tires on his stop and left pit road first. Wallace, Blaney, Austin Dillon, and Suarez followed him off pit road.

Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, and Alex Bowman all passed McDowell during the first two laps of green flag racing. It was three wide for the lead at one point. Carson Hocevar joined them a lap later, with Suarez settling into fifth . McDowell continued to fall back in the field, disappearing from the top ten by lap 250. The top five moved away from the pack as cars settled into single file racing. Dillon, Bowman, and Hocevar do not have a win yet in 2025.

Based on pit stops in Stage Two, it would be expected that teams will come to pit road for the first time in the Final Stage around lap 287.

Hocevar was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 280. Stops were spread out more on this cycle. Austin Dillon came in on lap 291. Bubba Wallace’s crew failed to get the left rear wheel tight on his car. Wallace left his pit and the wheel came off. His crew grabbed the tire and put it on the car properly. But the time lost likely cost Wallace a shot at the win.

As pit stops cycled through, Hocevar was the leader briefly until Blaney, Austin Dillon and Byron caught and passed him with tires just a few laps fresher. Josh Berry(21) ran in the fifth place as the race entered the final 100 laps.

If the race stays green, the final pit stops should come with around 55 laps to go.

Blaney moved to the lead for the first time passing Dillon with 90 laps to go. Bowman advanced to the third position as he tries to lock himself into the playoffs with a win.

Teammates Preece and Buescher battling for the final playoff spot on points both fell a lap down and will be unlikely to win their way in this week. A Dillon victory would send the playoff picture into chaos. A win by Bowman would keep things relatively calm, he would advance past Reddick in the standings. With his crash trouble earlier in the evening, Reddick is two laps down with 75 to go and running at the rear of the lead lap.

Dillon closes on Blaney and they run side-by-side allowing Bowman to creep closer to the two leaders. Timing of and the execution during the final pit stop will be critical to the contenders hoping to enter victory lane in just 65 laps.

Dillon came to pit road on lap 342, just after getting past Blaney for the lead. Blaney came on lap 345, along with Bowman. Both returned to the track well behind Dillon, but with three lap fresher tires. How long with the advantage last and can Dillon conserve his tires for the final 58 laps.

Dillon leads Blaney by six seconds with 46 laps to go. Bowman is another three seconds behind Blaney.

Intervals are closing for the top three. Behind them, Suarez, Logano, and Cindric are lurking. A late race caution will certainly lead to chaos over the final laps of the race.

With 30 laps to go, Blaney is 3.5-seconds behind with Bowman 6.8- seconds back. Suarez, Cindric, and Logan are all 10 seconds behind the top three.

With 15 laps to go Bowman passes Blaney whose tires seem to have gone away. Dillon still has a lead of 3.6-seconds.

Austin Dillon does it again, going back to back at Richmond. This time the ticket to the playoffs will remain with the Richard Childress Racing team and next Saturday night in Daytona a wide open contest will determine who it the final driver to gain entrance into the postseason.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings

RANK	DRIVER	POINTS	STATUS
1	Denny Hamlin	758	In Win(4)
2	Shane van Gisbergen	464	In Win(4)
3	Kyle Larson	758	In Win(3)
4	Christopher Bell	743	In Win(3)
5	William Byron (Series Points Leader)	837	In Win(2)
6	Chase Elliott	771	In Win
7	Ryan Blaney*	744	In Win
8	Chase Briscoe	698	In Win
9	Bubba Wallace	619	In Win
10	Joey Logano*	616	In Win
11	Ross Chastain	589	In Win
12	Austin Cindric*	534	In Win
13	Josh Berry*	474	In Win
14	Austin Dillon	446	In Win
15	Tyler Reddick	704	+79
16	Alex Bowman	679	+54
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Cut Line
17	Chris Buescher*	625	-54
18	Ryan Preece*	586	-93
19	Kyle Busch	537	-142
20	Ty Gibbs	512	-167

*Ford Mustang Dark Horse Drivers

The Austin Dillon win knocks both RFK Racing teammates, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher out of contention for pointing their way into the top 16 positions in the standings. It also puts Alex Bowman on the bubble. Bowman is not mathematically out of contention to climb ahead of Tyler Reddick next week. But you could say that is highly unlikely to happen. Another first time winner in 2025, other than Bowman will drop him out of the postseason. Bowman should treat the race as a must win situation because the likelihood of a new winner is probable.

Also, William Byron has clinched the Regular Season Points Championship and the 15 Playoff Point Bonus that goes with it and follows him every round of the postseason.

Results of the Cook Out 400 from Richmond Raceway

Position	Car	Driver	Laps	Behind
1	3	Austin Dillon	400	—
2	48	Alex Bowman	400	2.471
3	12	Ryan Blaney	400	8.246
4	22	Joey Logano	400	8.491
5	2	Austin Cindric	400	9.270
6	5	Kyle Larson	400	10.186
7	99	Daniel Suarez	400	11.385
8	21	Josh Berry	400	14.063
9	6	Brad Keselowski	400	15.124
10	11	Denny Hamlin	400	15.429
11	38	Zane Smith	400	15.780
12	24	William Byron	400	21.588
13	19	Chase Briscoe	400	23.984
14	88	Shane Van Gisbergen	399	1 lap
15	77	Carson Hocevar	399	1 lap
16	8	Kyle Busch	399	1 lap
17	71	Michael McDowell	399	1 lap
18	54	Ty Gibbs	399	1 lap
19	1	Ross Chastain	399	1 lap
20	10	Ty Dillon	399	1 lap
21	20	Christopher Bell	399	1 lap
22	16	AJ Allmendinger	399	1 lap
23	47	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	399	1 lap
24	41	Cole Custer	399	1 lap
25	34	Todd Gilliland	399	1 lap
26	43	Erik Jones	398	1 lap
27	4	Noah Gragson	398	2 laps
28	23	Bubba Wallace	398	2 laps
29	67	Corey Heim	398	2 laps
30	17	Chris Buescher	398	2 laps
31	35	Riley Herbst	398	2 laps
32	51	Cody Ware	397	3 laps
33	33	Jesse Love	396	4 laps
34	45	Tyler Reddick	396	4 laps
35	60	Ryan Preece	396	4 laps
36	42	John Hunter Nemechek	389	10 laps
37	7	Justin Haley	198	OUT
38	9	Chase Elliott	197	OUT

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Motorsports

Speedway Motorsports Announces Promoter of the Year – Drag Bike News

Published

24 minutes ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Speedway Motorsports officials, in recognition of exemplary performance and exceptional service on behalf of and its world-class facilities, recognized the 2025 recipients for the company’s O. Bruton Smith Award, Promoter of the Year, Speedway of the Year and the Acceleration Award. Announcements were made during a company-wide town hall meeting this week as the industry-leading company wraps up a successful year hosting entertainment and motorsports events across the country.

Dover Motor Speedway’s Jim Hosfelt earned the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award, while Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell received Promoter of the Year honors. Las Vegas Motor Speedway was named Speedway of the Year award and Sonoma Raceway earned the fourth annual Acceleration Award.

“At Speedway Motorsports, our goal is to exceed expectations in sports and entertainment by delivering unforgettable moments at every touchpoint,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “That mission is only possible because of the passion, dedication and effort our teams across the country bring to their work each day. It’s a privilege to celebrate the leaders and teammates across our footprint whose commitment fuels our momentum and helps transform every event into a truly remarkable experience for our fans.”

Bruton Smith Award

Dover Motor Speedway Vice President of Safety and Security, Jim Hosfelt, received the 2025 O. Bruton Smith Award.

Established 13 years ago to recognize one employee annually across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, the recipient of this prestigious award is someone who exhibits Speedway Motorsports’ founder O. Bruton Smith’s traits: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination. It is the company’s highest honor.

Hosfelt joined Dover Motor Speedway in 2014 to oversee the day-to-day security and event-time public safety at the facility. Shortly after Speedway Motorsports acquired Dover in 2021, Hosfelt added the title of Director of Safety and Security for Speedway Motorsports, working as a liaison for NASCAR and federal agencies at events across the company’s portfolio of properties.

Prior to his speedway tenure, the Cumberland, Md. native spent 25 years in law enforcement with the Dover Police Department, where he retired as Chief of Police.

Away from the track, Hosfelt serves as a coordinator for food distribution events conducted by the speedway with the Food Bank of Delaware. An Air Force veteran and graduate of the FBI National Academy, he was elected to seats on Dover City Council (2015-2017) and Kent County Levy Court (2017-2019).

“The contributions Jim makes, the relationships he has across the sport, thankfully it’s a low profile thing, but (public safety) is one of the most important things we do,” said Speedway Motorsports Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch. “We talk about ‘safe, clean and comfortable.’ He’s invaluable to making sure our fans from across the nation are safe when they come to our race tracks.”

“When we finished the transaction to acquire Dover Motorsports, we had no idea what an amazing fit our teams would be,” Smith added. “Jim, specifically, is just remarkable – how he is able to be everywhere and always deliver so professionally. It’s really impressive and he’s made a tremendous impact on our company.”

H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year

Recognized for his team’s effort around the Speedway Classic partnership with Major League Baseball and continued success in NASCAR and other secondary events, Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell was named H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year for 2025. The annual award, named in honor of the legendary promoter who passed away in August, is chosen by the selection committee and given to the Speedway Motorsports general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership and execution that are fundamental to Speedway Motorsports’ way of doing business.

A first-of-its-kind event in baseball, the Speedway Classic saw the highest ticket sales for a single event in the history of Major League Baseball with over 91,000 tickets sold.

“Humpy was known as the PT Barnum of motorsports,” Smith said. “He inspired a lot of people to think outside the box. To name Jerry as this year’s promoter is very fitting as he’s done a great job in leading the team to phenomenal success this year. Bristol has a reputation where people aren’t going to question if something like building a baseball stadium inside a race track can happen – they know it can.”

Speedway of the Year

Las Vegas Motor Speedway received Speedway of the Year recognition, edging out 10 state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes to earn top honors 11 of the last 14 years. The award was presented to LVMS President Patrick Lindsay, who replaced the facility’s longtime head Chris Powell upon his retirement earlier this year. The award recognizes the Speedway Motorsports facility with the best overall performance during 2025 in such aspects as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.

“It’s not easy to grow on an already fantastic performance,” Smith said. “Patrick has carried the torch well and it’s great to have his leadership. It’s a huge effort because everything that happens — from corporate sales to operations and logistics — this team has done a great job and delivered every time.”

Acceleration Award

For the second year in a row, Sonoma Raceway was honored with the Acceleration Award, which recognizes a Speedway Motorsports subsidiary for significant year-over-year gains across multiple performance measures. The award was accepted by Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn.

Sonoma Raceway delivered a strong performance in 2025, driven by growing track rental activity in the raceway’s premium Turn 11 facility, along with strategic cost-efficiency initiatives that enhanced operations across the property while maintaining a high-quality fan experience.

“We had multiple speedways that made significant improvements, but we had one that really outdid themselves year-over-year,” Burch said. “They continue to bolster the fan experience, drive down expenses and find new ways to use the speedway to serve their clients.”

There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.

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Motorsports

Suzuki Announces 2026 Supercross Team – Drag Bike News

Published

40 minutes ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Pipes Motorsports Group are thrilled to unveil their official lineup for the 2026 Supercross season, fielding a trio of elite athletes including Daytona winner Ken Roczen, reigning World Supercross SX1 Champion Jason Anderson, and Colt Nichols—each competing aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450.

With three of the sport’s most accomplished and recognizable riders leading the program, Suzuki heads into the 2026 Supercross season with strong momentum and championship-level aspirations. Building on Roczen’s impressive performances throughout 2025 and in the World Supercross Championship, along with Anderson’s newly secured 2025 World Supercross title, 2026 represents a pivotal year as Suzuki lines up with a proven, competitive roster in the premier class.

Ken Roczen returns to the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki team for his fourth season on the team and he takes on a new role as Global Brand Ambassador for Suzuki. Roczen has had an impressive run on the Suzuki RM-Z450 including 19 podium finishes, a thrilling victory at Daytona, and two overall wins in the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship, dominating the Buenos Aires opener winning all three main events.

“I am so happy and extremely excited to start the 2026 season with the PMG group, the people that I’ve been with for the last four years, and of course the partnership with Suzuki, ” said Roczen. “I think we have a great motorcycle and we have been able to keep making it better and better. I’ve been having a lot of fun practicing on and racing the RM-Z450.”

“We’ve been doing really well lately and I’m looking forward to carrying some of that momentum into the 2026 season. I’m excited to get it going and we have definitely done our work and now it’s time to have some fun and see where we stack up against the competition.”

New to the team for 2026, but not new to the brand, Suzuki is pleased to welcome Jason Anderson back to Suzuki on the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance RM-Z450.

Anderson, the 2018 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion who began his career as a Team Suzuki amateur in 2003, brings a proven blend of experience and raw talent to the team—and has already showcased his exceptional speed aboard the RM-Z450 winning the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship for Suzuki.

“ I’m excited to get 2026 going with Suzuki again, and have been working really hard with the team to get ready to be on the podium!” said Jason Anderson.

Completing the 2026 Suzuki Supercross lineup is proven performer Colt Nichols. Colt had a strong season in 2025 aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450 and is looking forward to racing at the highest level with the Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance team.

Nichols delivered strong and consistent performances throughout the Supercross season and is already showing momentum heading into 2026, earning an overall podium finish aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450 at the final round of the World Supercross Championship during the South African GP in Cape Town.

“I’m very excited to be back with the HEP Twisted Tea Suzuki team for 2026,” commented Nichols. “ We have a fun team and I really enjoyed working and being around all of these guys. Looking forward to leveling up this year and couldn’t think of a better group to do it with”

Chris Wheeler, Motorsports Manager from Suzuki confirmed the positive mood of the team heading into the 2026 season: “There’s very good energy within our group heading into the 2026 Supercross season. We have a great mix of talent, perspectives, and experience that continues to push the program forward each year. The team is fun, but serious and focused, and we’re seeing improvement across the board—from technical development to communication—which makes the momentum around this program exciting and infectious.”

A multi-time championship winner, Larry Brooks continues to provide a wealth of experience and proven leadership to the program. His talent for matching rider strengths with exceptional Suzuki performance has been critical in the team’s preparation for the 2026 season.

“2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the HEP Suzuki team. We’re thrilled to welcome back Ken Roczen and Colt Nichols, and excited to add Jason Anderson to our team roster,” said Brooks. “That gives us three incredibly strong racers heading into the 2026 Supercross season. As a team, we’re united by a shared goal: giving our absolute best and having fun while doing what we love most—racing motorcycles for a living.”

For the 2026 season, Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports Group continue their focused commitment to the premier 450-class championship, reinforcing a clear objective: deliver peak performance and compete at the highest level of Supercross.

The team now turns its attention to the season opener on January 10 at Anaheim Stadium, where fans can expect intense, high-level racing as Roczen, Anderson and Nichols line up aboard the Championship winning Suzuki RM-Z450.

Suzuki remains proud of its deep racing heritage and moves forward with a program built on elite rider talent, experienced leadership, and strong technical expertise. With momentum on its side, the 2026 season promises plenty of excitement, and Suzuki invites fans to follow along for another action-packed year.

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Motorsports

This Is What Happens When a WRC Co-Driver Gets a Crack at Driving

Published

4 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It takes a special kind of person to willingly strap oneself into a hatchback aimed at flying through the woods at high speeds. Rally drivers are madmen full-stop, but their shotgun-riding co-drivers are a whole different breed. Don’t discount the amount of driving know-how tucked away in those high-flying passenger seats, however. Hyundai Motorsports co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe recently took the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 at the 2025 Rallye du Pays Vençois in France, making fellow co-drivers round the world beam with pride.

While you might not be familiar with Martijn Wydaeghe, you have likely heard of his teammate Thierry Neuville. The two have been driving together since the 2021 season, with Wydaeghe co-driving during Neuville’s 2024 WRC Driver’s Championship effort. This year wasn’t as successful for last year’s champs, with Neuville finishing 5th overall in the standings. The results were largely tempered by two consecutive retirements at the Central Europe and Japan rallies towards the end of the season. The pair came back to win the final event of the year at Rally Saudi Arabia.

While the automaker didn’t put Wydaeghe out in the proper Rally1 machine he’s used to riding in, the Belgian driver made his driving debut in the production-based Rally2 machine. He did previously get a go in the Rally1 car at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, however. I’m sure the co-driver-turned-wheelman wasn’t too upset about the more approachable platform for his first go either.

With co-driver Florian Haut-Labourdette alongside, Wydaeghe pushed the IXO-sponsored Hyundai through the 25-mile rally. His pace was undeniable, with Wydaeghe managing to take home a stage win on his very first attempt. The pair only managed to muster sixth place overall, but fans were more than happy to see Wydaeghe give it a shot. That said, I don’t think Neuville needs to be too worried about job security for the time being. Perhaps the WRC should look at a co-driver shootout event moving forward, though.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.

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Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports reveals rare ‘Days of Thunder’ photos with Tom Cruise, others

Published

5 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A Christmas gift from Hendrick Motorsports! A collection of rare, behind-the-scenes photos of “Days of Thunder” was revealed for fans. Featuring Tom Cruise, Rick Hendrick, Geoff Bodine, and more, the photos show moments that were largely unseen until now.

“Days of Thunder 2” is likely to happen. Tom Cruise is going to be part of it, if it does happen. It is amazing to look back at these photos, more than 35 years ago, and see how this film came to be.

The collection of photos also includes some from a 1987 IMSA race at Road Atlanta. Cruise shared a Nissan 300ZX Turbo with Rick Hendrick in the race. A mechanical issue hurt their finish in the race.

Check out the photos at the Hendrick Motorsports website. There are a lot of great snapshots into these mostly forgotten moments.

Since “Days of Thunder” came out, Hendrick Motorsports sure has changed a lot. All of the wins, championships, and so much more in the time since 1990. More than 40 years of history in the Cup Series, the story of Hendrick only continues to grow.

Kyle Larson is fresh off his second championship. William Byron was so close to becoming a champion for the third year in a row. Hendrick was not nearly the organization it is now, back when Mr. H was working with Cruise. The sport has completely changed as well.

If “Days of Thunder 2” happens, I am sure that Hendrick will be involved in that effort as well. They are involved in just about every major NASCAR promotion and new venture. Why would the sequel film be any different?

Hendrick Motorsports ready to race for championship again

In the 2026 NASCAR season, Hendrick Motorsports is going to be just as good as they were this year, if not better. Kyle Larson and William Byron are going to be good for about five wins each. Chase Elliott should be back to winning two to three races a year. You have to expect Alex Bowman to win a race or be top-16 in sports.

In the Next Gen era, Larson and Byron have been two of the most successful drivers on the track. In terms of wins, they top the list since 2022. Hendrick knows that they have three legitimate championship drivers in their stable, and a fourth that can win races and be incredibly competitive otherwise.

Hendrick Motorsports is also going to get a new Chevrolet Camaro body. What they discover with that new downforce and how they build speed with it will be very interesting to watch.

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Motorsports

Racing Ritual Announces Grand Opening of Premier Racing Simulator Experience in Tempe, Arizona

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Twelve state-of-the-art motion racing simulators with hundreds of car choices and 90+ circuits bring professional-grade sim racing to Phoenix Metro area.

TEMPE, AZ, UNITED STATES, December 26, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Racing Ritual, a cutting-edge simulator racing entertainment venue, will celebrate its public Grand Opening on Saturday, January 10th, 2025, at 10am, bringing an immersive motorsports experience to the heart of Tempe, Arizona.

The facility features twelve professional-grade racing simulators equipped with panoramic displays, a force feedback steering system, and a motion dynamics platform bringing the simulator telemetry to your seat. Whether visitors are seasoned motorsports enthusiasts or first-time drivers, Racing Ritual offers an accessible yet authentic racing environment. Customers have full control over their preferred level of driving assists, accommodating any skill level.

“We’re beyond excited to bring Arizona a facility that lets more people experience the joy and thrill of motorsports” said co-founder Brandon Garrett. “Our goal is to bring accessibility to a sport that is typically difficult to enter while also crafting a space that invites you to stay for more than just the racing.”

Key Features of Racing Ritual:
• Twelve Professional Simulators — State-of-the-art racing rigs designed for realistic driving dynamics, accommodating individuals, groups, and competitive events.

• Multiplayer Experience — Any number of simulators can run on the same car and track in a multiplayer lobby, with voice communications and a private leaderboard for your group.

• You’re In Control — You choose whether your group wants to run fastest lap competitions, practice, or race. You have the choice of your own car and track or lean on staff recommendations for popular combinations.

• Vehicles Across Every Discipline — Formula Style Open Wheel, Oval Racing, GT3, GT4, Prototypes, Group C, Touring Cars, Supercars, Sports Cars, and Classics

• 90+ World-Renowned Circuits — All Major Circuits, North American Favorites, European Legends, Global Destinations

• Event Space — For private venue rentals of our 2861 square foot space, you have control over our 140” 4k projector, sound system, and wireless streaming capabilities for any music and audio/visual content for your corporate event or private party. In addition, you have access to our coffee bar, refrigerators, and plenty of counter space to cater food. We have seating and table space for 40 spectators, and our venue capacity is 146.

Grand Opening Details:
• Date: Saturday, January 10th, 2025 from 10am to 1pm, Paid Sessions From 1pm-10pm
• Location: Tempe, Arizona
• Book: racingritual.com
• Instagram @racingritual

The Grand Opening event will feature special promotions and opportunities for attendees to experience all twelve simulators firsthand in short trial sessions from 10am to 1pm and then opens to paid sessions from 1pm to 10pm.
Racing Ritual invites motorsports fans, gamers, corporate groups, and families to discover the excitement of professional sim racing.

About Racing Ritual

Racing Ritual is Arizona’s premier full-motion sim racing center, a place where adrenaline meets precision, and the love of racing is celebrated.
Born from a deep passion for motorsport, we created a space where everyone from first-time drivers to seasoned racers can experience the thrill of world-class racing circuits in full-motion simulators that feel just like the real thing.
Located in the heart of Tempe, Racing Ritual is a hangout, training ground, and entertainment hub designed for connection, competition, and pure speed. Whether you’re here to chase lap times, battle friends, or just feel something real, we built this for you.

Thomas Balls
Racing Ritual
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

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Motorsports

Everything You Need To Know About The 2026 Tulsa Shootout

Published

8 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 2026 Tulsa Shootout is shaping up to be the largest edition in the event’s history. This year’s “Mecca of Micros,” scheduled for Dec. 29–Jan. 3 inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has drawn a record number of pre-entered drivers.

Held a week prior to the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals in the same building, the Tulsa Shootout has currently attracted 1,939 entries from all across the globe.

Whether you’re a seasoned dirt racing enthusiast or new to the sport, the Tulsa Shootout is sure to deliver thrilling and memorable moments throughout the six days of on-track action.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the 2026 Tulsa Shootout on FloRacing.

2026 Tulsa Shootout Schedule

View the schedule for the 2026 Tulsa Shootout below. All times are in Central Time.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29

Practice: 9:00am (One round per class)

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw

K&B Motorsports Restricted

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints

JST Motorsports A-Class

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing FuelTech Heats

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints FuelTech Heats

JST Motorsports A-Class FuelTech Heats

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

Racing: 9:00am

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw FuelTech Heats

K&B Motorsports Restricted FuelTech Heats

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw FuelTech Heats

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing E-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing D-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing C-Mains

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing Qualifiers

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints Qualifiers

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw Qualifiers

K&B Motorsports Restricted Qualifiers

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw Qualifiers

JST Motorsports A-Class Qualifiers

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw D-Mains

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw C-Mains

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2

Racing: 9:00am

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw E-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw D-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw C-Mains

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints C-Mains

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints B-Mains

K&B Motorsports Restricted C-Mains

K&B Motorsports Restricted B-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class E-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class D-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class C-Mains

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

Racing: 9:00am

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing B-Mains

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw B-Mains

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw B-Mains

JST Motorsports A-Class B-Mains

OPENING CEREMONIES, PARADE OF STATES

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing LCQ

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw LCQ

K&B Motorsports Restricted LCQ

JST Motorsports A-Class LCQ

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw LCQ

Joe’s Racing Products Stock Non-Wing A-Feature

Flying A Motorsports Junior Sprints A-Feature

Sawyer Chassis Winged Outlaw A-Feature

K&B Motorsports Restricted A-Feature

JST Motorsports A-Class A-Feature

Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw A-Feature

**Schedule is subject to change without notice. Any updates will be posted to http://www.tulsashootout.com.

What Classes Race At The Tulsa Shootout?

OUTLAW (Wing & Non-Wing)

This is your headlining division at the Tulsa Shootout.

The sky’s the limit in this class. Many engines are professionally built nowadays with a 640cc max displacement, there are bigger 14 sq. feet wings to provide extra downforce, and cockpit adjustments to tweak your shocks and wings are allowed.

The unique distinction in car count for Winged Outlaw to Outlaw Non-Wing is because a good majority of racers will simply run their “Stock” car in the Outlaw Non-Wing class. Due to the size of the track and the nature of non-wing racing, the smaller motor is less of a disadvantage when the wing is not a factor. In fact, many of the Outlaw Non-Wing champions over the years have done it with a “Stock” engine under the hood.

STOCK (A-Class & Non-Wing)

More of an entry level type class, these are year-in and year-out the biggest divisions at the Tulsa Shootout and all across the country for that matter.

The “Stock” in this class is pretty simple, these are traditionally pulled right off 600cc motorcycles and plucked right into a micro sprint. Offering about 25 less horsepower, you’ll notice this group also has smaller 10 square foot wings. There are no cockpit adjustments of any sorts allowed.

RESTRICTED

The final kid class as a stepping stone before reaching Stock then Outlaw is this division intended for 8-16 years old.

Essentially the same as A-Class, the only difference in Restricted simply comes down to the motor under the hood. You’ll take a stock 600cc powerplant but similar to NASCAR, you’ll use a ¾ inch restrictor plate to tone the motor down for the kids. It’s a great entry level class for kids to understand the feel of the car and get to race competitively without the consequence of the power yet.

Like the Stock divisions, no cockpit adjustables are allowed and you’ll notice the smaller 10 square foot wings.

JR. SPRINT

The most obvious division to decipher at the Tulsa Shootout for a casual fan is the Jr. Sprints, intended for young kids 6-12 years old.

As you’d expect, everything is smaller with a Jr. Sprint from the car itself, the motor, the wings, the tires, you name it. It’s simply about getting the kids behind the wheel and learning how to race with each other. And don’t underestimate these kids either, the Jr. Sprints have often delivered some of the most exciting races of the night; and they’re certainly bringing the best interviews each and every single year.

For the complete technical breakdown of each class, you can find the official class rules at https://www.tulsashootout.com/classes/.

How To Watch The 2026 Tulsa Shootout

The 2026 Tulsa Shootout will stream live on FloRacing. You can follow the action as it happens and watch the replays and exclusive content on-demand after it’s all over on FloRacing. The 2026 Tulsa Shootout starts on Dec 29, 2025 and runs until Jan 3, 2026.

On Your TV: Now Available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast & Apple TV.

Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio, Samsung and LG TVs.

On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android.

When Does The 2026 Tulsa Shootout Start?

The 2026 Tulsa Shootout starts on December 29 at 9:00 a.m. CT and runs through January 3, 2026.

2026 Tulsa Shootout Entry List

The entry list for the 2025 Tulsa Shootout features nearly 2,000 entries across the six divisions and features a star-studded line-up at the SageNet Center. Among the entries are NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch and Ty Gibbs in the Stock/Outlaw divisions, along with future stars Audrey Larson, Owen Larson and Brexton Busch.

View the full 2026 Tulsa Shootout entry list here.

FloRacing Race Replays On-Demand

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.