NASCAR’s first in-season tournament begins Saturday night at Atlanta.

The Quaker State 400 is the first race of the five that will make up the head-to-head contest. Dubbed the “In-Season Challenge,” the winner of the tournament will receive $1 million — the same amount given to the winner of the All-Star Race — and was implemented after the idea was floated by Denny Hamlin on his podcast a year ago.

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Coincidentally, Hamlin is the No. 1 seed for the tournament. He’s got Ty Dillon in the first round.

How it works

The tournament field includes 32 drivers who are paired against each other via their seeds for Saturday night’s race. The highest-finishing driver in each matchup moves on. If Hamlin finishes fifth and Dillon is 25th, Hamlin is on to the next round.

With 36 full-time drivers in the Cup Series, the field for the tournament was determined via the top 32 drivers in the points standings after the Nashville race. Over the last three races, the seeds were determined via average finish. Hamlin got the top seed for the tournament because he had the best average finish at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono.

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However, Hamlin did expose a possible flaw in NASCAR’s seeding process. He missed the Mexico City race for the birth of his son and only competed in two of the three races. Missing the race didn’t cost Hamlin at all in the seeding process. While other drivers’ seeds were determined via an average of three races, Hamlin’s seed was only from his win at Michigan and his second-place finish at Pocono.

Here is a look at the bracket:

After Atlanta, the second round will happen during the street race in Chicago on July 6 and the quarterfinals will occur at Sonoma. The final two races of the in-season tournament will be held at Dover and Indianapolis, and the champion will be crowned at the Brickyard.

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All five races of the in-season tournament will be broadcast on TNT. The network returns to NASCAR television coverage this season for the five races before NBC takes over for the rest of the season.

Here’s a look at the seeds and the 16 first-round matchups taking place at Atlanta.

NASCAR In-Season Challenge first-round matchups

• No. 1 Denny Hamlin vs. No. 32 Ty Dillon

• No. 2 Chase Briscoe vs. No. 31 Noah Gragson

• No. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 30 Todd Gilliland

• No. 4 Christopher Bell vs. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

• No. 5 Chase Elliott vs. No. 28 Austin Dillon

• No. 6 Ty Gibbs vs. No. 27 Justin Haley

• No. 7 Ryan Blaney vs. No. 26 Carson Hocevar

• No. 8 Alex Bowman vs. No. 25 Joey Logano

• No. 9 Bubba Wallace vs. No. 24 Daniel Suarez

• No. 10 Kyle Larson vs. No. 23 Tyler Reddick

• No. 11 Michael McDowell vs. No. 22 AJ Allmendinger

• No. 12 John Hunter Nemechek vs. No. 21 Josh Berry

• No. 13 Ross Chastain vs. No. 20 Erik Jones

• No. 14 Zane Smith vs. No. 19 Austin Cindric

• No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 18 William Byron

• No. 16 Kyle Busch vs. No. 17 Brad Keselowski

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25, 2025) – It’s already been a standout rookie season for Spencer Hyde in the Funny Car ranks heading into this weekend’s 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.

He’s advanced to one final round, picked up a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory and has displayed steady progress driving for Head Racing and veteran crew chief Jim Head, who is a Columbus, Ohio native.

That makes this weekend a home race for Head, but also for Hyde, who grew up racing just outside of Toronto in Stratford, Ontario. It means Hyde is bringing plenty of friends and family with him to Norwalk, as well as a special “Jack and the Green Stock” wrap on the 12,000-horsepower Funny Car. It’s an ode to the green Stock Eliminator car his grandfather’s cousin, Jack Hyde, drove almost 50 years ago.

Hyde drove a newer version of that car several years ago, had his Pro Mod car wrapped to match it and now will have the meaningful “Jack and the Green Stock” look on the Funny Car this weekend. Hyde has raced at Summit Motorsports Park a number of times in the Pro Mod and Top Sportsman ranks, over the years, but his Funny Car debut at his home track is shaping up to be a special one.

“Now that I’m in a nitro Funny Car, the closest we get to home is Norwalk, and that’s where all my friends and family will hang out (this weekend), so I thought it would be cool to wrap the Funny Car like that,” Hyde said. “How cool would it be if my first Funny Car win came in the Jack and the Green Stock wrap? That was my first big Pro Mod win was when we had it wrapped like that.

“I’m not saying I’m expecting to win, but it’s our home race, it’s Jim’s home race, so it’s a pretty special event for all of us. That would be a perfect world – my first win in a Funny Car coming in Norwalk with my home crowd and wrapped as Jack and the Green Stock. Norwalk has kind of been our home away from home for a long time.”

In 2024, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at a race that will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1 in 2025, including eliminations coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday.

It is the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA season and the race in Norwalk is always a premier stop on the NHRA tour. The weekend includes two rounds of qualifying on Friday, including a must-see night session and fireworks, two rounds of qualifying – and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. The race also plays host to the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout for the first time, as the specialty event features eight Pro Stock drivers battling for the win.

The race finishes off a busy four race in five week stretch, but Hyde has enjoyed the back-to-back race weekends this month. He’s built consistency and made improvements, which should only help this weekend in Norwalk when he takes on the likes of points leader and defending world champion Austin Prock, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd.

It’s a group with plenty of Funny Car experience, which is something every first-year driver lacks. But Hyde can see his confidence building and he hopes it translates into more positive results in Norwalk

“Just less time out of the seat,” Hyde said of the back-to-back weekend. “You take a few days off and you’re right back in the seat and you really don’t have to think about anything,” Hyde said. “I’m sure these guys who have done it for many years don’t have to think about much when they get in there. I’m still relatively new and it’s still a thought process for me. So, the back-to-back weekends definitely help.”

Brown is after a repeat Top Fuel win in Norwalk, but it won’t be easy against a field that includes points leader and racing legend Tony Stewart, former champs Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force, Justin Ashley and Clay Millican.

Pro Stock standout Stanfield took home his first Norwalk win last year, but this season has been dominated by points leader Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn. Anderson has four wins and the points lead, while Glenn has three victories in what has been an impressive season by the KB Titan Racing teammates.

The GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout field features reigning six-time champion Anderson, who will have the first pick of the eight-car field made up of Glenn, Matt Hartford, standout Stanfield, multi-time champions Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin, Eric Latino and Troy Coughlin Jr.

Two-time reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Herrera took the win last year over his rival Matt Smith. Herrera continues to lead the field, while others to look for at Norwalk will be Gadson, who won in Bristol, Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and Chase Van Sant.

Also on the track will be the standouts in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock.

All weekend, fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits. The stage hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, autograph sessions and more. Norwalk race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. Fans are also invited to congratulate the winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 28 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 29. The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, with the semifinals at 1:20 p.m. and the finals at 3:50 p.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Callout will be broadcast at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.

To purchase tickets to Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

ABINGDON, Va. (WBTV) – A longtime NASCAR team owner died this week at a hospital in Virginia, according to reports.

Larry McClure, who was a co-owner of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, died on Wednesday, June 25 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, CBS Sports reported.

McClure — who was 81 years old — fielded Cup Series cars from 1983-2007. His team won 14 races over that span, including the 1991, 1994 and 1995 Daytona 500s.

Among the drivers who raced for McClure’s team were Mark Martin, Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton.

Irvan won McClure’s first race in 1990 at Bristol. Five years later, Marlin gave McClure his best season, when he drove the iconic yellow No. 4 Kodak car to a third-place finish in the season point standings, behind only Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt.

Marlin took to social media on Wednesday to remember his former car owner.

“My heart hurts finding out Larry McClure passed away this morning,” Marlin wrote. “He took a chance on me saying ‘I know you’ll drive the hell out of it.’ He gave me a fast race car and back to back Daytona 500s. He was innovative, smart and a hell of a guy. Glad I got to see him last year. I’m gonna miss him.”

It is not clear how McClure died.

Also Read: Rising NASCAR star fined $50K for comment prior to Mexico City race

Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.

The Thermal Club will not return as an IndyCar Series race in 2026.

The anticipated development was confirmed by Thermal founder Tim Rogers, whose private facility held its first professional motor race earlier in March where approximately 3000 fans saw Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou overtake Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward to secure victory.

“Not next year,” Rogers told local CBS affiliate KESQ. “The main thing is we need to get a title sponsor and I need to get the infrastructure. It was great working with Indy. It’s a great job FOX Sports is doing on the Indy events. Our members loved it. The Coachella Valley loved it. We just need to make sure it works for all parties.”

IndyCar took its first trip to Thermal for pre-season testing in 2023, returned for a non-points exhibition race in 2024, and pivoted to making the motorsports country club a full championship round in 2025.

“It’s been our third year of losing money but it was a points race,” Rogers added. “It was exciting.”

Still, Rogers indicated he’s still interested in having Thermal could make a return to IndyCar’s schedule as early as 2027.

“That would be our plan and we’ll work with Indy to see if we can fit in their schedule,” Rogers said. “We’ll have discussions about if we can do a term deal for three years and I’ll invest in the stands and the suites.”

With The Thermal Club on the calendar, IndyCar has four West Coast races to balance the heavy rotation of Midwestern events. Three trips to California for Thermal, Long Beach and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, along with a lone visit to Oregon for the Portland Grand Prix, are part of the series’ 17-race schedule, and with the inaugural Arlington Grand Prix set to debut in 2026 and the possibility of a Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez landing next year, the deletion of at least one current race to make room has been expected.

EuroNASCAR car to debut on iRacing, giving simracers and drivers worldwide access to the most authentic racing action of Europe.

• NASCAR Euro Series signed a partnership agreement to bring the EuroNASCAR car to iRacing
• Simracers, gamers and drivers from all over the world will enjoy the Pure Racing spirit of the NASCAR Euro Series
• The iRacing brand will be featured on all NASCAR Euro Series cars

The NASCAR Euro Series is proud to announce a new partnership with iRacing, the world’s leading motorsport simulation platform. This agreement marks a significant step forward in bringing the “Pure Racing” spirit of the official European NASCAR championship to simracers, gamers, and professional drivers around the globe.

As part of the collaboration, iRacing will become an official partner of the championships and the NASCAR Euro Series cars will soon be available on iRacing, allowing users to experience firsthand the raw, mechanical feel and great balance of the EuroNASCAR V8 machine. With no electronic assistance, a roaring engine, and a European style light and dynamic chassis, the EuroNASCAR car is the best combination of American and European racing cultures. It is surely one of the most fun to drive on road course circuits, just as it does on real tracks across Europe with hundreds of drivers including some of the best in the world.

The partnership was already visible during the NASCAR GP UK at Brands Hatch, where iRacing was featured on the doors of all cars competing. Now, the collaboration deepens as development continues to integrate the NASCAR Euro Series experience into the simulator.

“We’re thrilled to partner with iRacing and give our fans, drivers, and simracers the opportunity to experience the unique feel of a EuroNASCAR car,” said Jerome Galpin, President of the NASCAR Euro Series. “This collaboration is a fantastic way to share our vision of Pure Racing with a global audience and open the door to new talents and future champions.”

“We have a long and deep relationship with NASCAR and we are excited to extend our partnership to the NASCAR Euro Series brand of motorsport. Our global membership of 325,000 members is going to love racing the V8-powered cars at some of Europe’s finest tracks on iRacing”, said Tony Gardner, iRacing president. “The iRacing community has been following the NASCAR Euro Series with great interest as one of our pro eSports drivers in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, Garrett Lowe, made the step from sim racer to real world racer this season, debuting in the series at Valencia this past April – now all of members will be able to experience the series for themselves.”

The introduction of the EuroNASCAR car into iRacing will not only offer fans a new way to engage with the championship but also provide current and aspiring competitors with an invaluable tool to train, race, and grow their skills in a true-to-life environment. The Series is already working on providing opportunities for the best iRacing simracers on the EuroNASCAR car to test it in real life and show their skills.

Several iconic European NASCAR venues are already available on iRacing, including:

• Brands Hatch (UK)
• Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (Germany)
• Circuit Zolder (Belgium)

In addition, Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain — host of the season-opening NASCAR GP Spain — has been confirmed to be added to iRacing in the future , further enhancing the realism and authenticity of the series in the sim world.

Further details, including car release timing and special events, will be announced soon.

The NASCAR Euro Series will return to action on August 30-31 with the NASCAR GP Czech Republic at Autodrom Most. Tickets are available on https://www.autodrom-most.cz/, while Qualifying and all races will be streamed live on the EuroNASCAR Youtube channel.

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DEX FingerLight is proud to sponsor U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Josh White at the 9/11 NASCAR ARCA Menard Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway

CHESTERFIELD, MO, UNITED STATES, June 26, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wild M Brands, LLC has announced that its DEX FingerLight brand is sponsoring Josh White Racing at the NASCAR ARCA Menard Series Race being held at the Bristol Motor Speedway on September 11th, 2025.

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