Niece Motorsports Darlington Stats: Niece drivers have accounted for a combined 21 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at Darlington Raceway. Last season, Ross Chastain delivered the organization its first win at the track in an exciting dash to the checkered flag. The team has amassed one race win, four top-fives, and four top-10 finishes here over the years. No. 42 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski Matt Mills Racing @MattMillsRacing @MattMillsRacing Website
Mills’ Darlington Stats: Matt Mills has made one NCTS start at Darlington Raceway, where he finished 11th last season. Mills competed in eight NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races held at ‘The Lady in Black’, finishing as high as 22nd in 2020.
Polinski’s Darlington Stats: Landon Polinski will make his first start as a crew chief at Darlington Raceway on Saturday.
On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric, who will be featured as a co-branded primary sponsor along with DQS Solutions & Staffing and Precision Vehicle Logistics.
Honoring Cancer Heroes: The No. 42 Chevrolet will carry two special names displayed on the roof this weekend as part of a special project with The NASCAR Foundation and Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. Roger Collier and Douglas Cambron will both be featured on Mills’ driver’s side and passenger side, respectively, as part of the special program. Chambron is a survivor of testicular cancer.
Recapping Richmond: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team came away as the lead truck for the organization in Richmond. Mills started the race in 20th and had to fight for a shot to get back onto the lead lap following a quick opening stage. Through strategy, the team almost caught the break they were looking for and nearly got back onto the lead lap. Ultimately, Mills rebounded for a 17th-place result in the 250-lap race.
Points Rundown: Mills continues to hold onto 18th-place in the championship points standings following the regular season finale in Richmond. As he enters the remaining seven races of the year, Mills currently sits only eight points behind Andrés Pérez de Lara in 17th, and 29 points ahead of Jack Wood in 19th-place.
Quoting Mills: Last time trucks raced at Darlington was early in the year, so do you think coming back in the heat of the day will have a big impact on grip?
“Darlington is a high-wear track on our tires, so I think either way, the tire management is going to be a key factor. This has been another good track for me similar to Richmond and Homestead. I’m better at those places that you have to conserve your stuff at because that fits my driving style. We were good there last year till we had some issues, but we came back and were top-10 worthy. Hopefully we can capitalize on that again this time with our J.F. Electric Chevy.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners. No. 44 Telcel Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Andrés Pérez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers @AndresPLG2 @Andres.PLG Website
Pérez de Lara’s Darlington Stats: Andrés Pérez de Lara will make his first-career NCTS start at Darlington Raceway on Saturday.
Rogers’ Darlington Stats: Wally Rogers has called six NCTS races at Darlington, including one race where he picked up a top-10 (eighth with Matt Crafton in 2004). Rogers has also competed in 10 NXS races and three Cup Series events at the historic track.
On the Truck: Pérez de Lara’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Telcel, a Mexican telecommunications giant, along with associate partners, Claro and Infinitum.
Honoring Cancer Heroes: The No. 44 Chevrolet will carry two special passengers on it this week as part of an initiative by The NASCAR Foundation and Martin Truex Jr. Foundations. Jeanann Orna, who sadly passed away after battling both breast cancer and stage four ovarian cancer, will be featured on the driver’s side of Pérez de Lara’s truck. Kirsten Morrow, a breast cancer survivor of three years, will ride along on the passenger side.
Recapping Richmond: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the No. 44 team battled through adversity in Richmond and salvaged a decent night. Pérez de Lara struggled to find pace early on, but showed speed in stage two. The team made a bold strategy call to wave around onto the lead lap, but was quickly spun around on a restart where a caution did not fly. Stuck on old tires, Pérez de Lara fell back off the lead lap, but carried forward to finish in 21st-place.
Points Rundown: Pérez de Lara remains 17th in the point standings as he continues his rookie campaign. Looking ahead to Darlington, the driver is 19 points behind Matt Crafton in 16th-place, and eight points ahead of Matt Mills in 18th.
Quoting Pérez de Lara: This track is so different from your typical intermediate track, so what do you expect racing there for the first time?
“Darlington is a very technical track, so I’d say the adaptation process will be pretty big for me since I’ve never raced there before. I know my team better now since we have a race together, but there are still a lot of things to adapt to. We just have to try to execute and have a solid day as I keep learning. I think it will be a fun experience with the Telcel No. 44 team.”
About Telcel: Telcel is Mexico’s leading telecommunications company, providing nationwide coverage, cutting-edge mobile connectivity, and high-speed internet services to millions of users. With over 30 years of experience, Telcel continues to innovate in digital communication, offering solutions that keep people connected anytime, anywhere. No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Phil Gould Bayley Currey @BayleyCurrey @BayleyCurrey05 Website
Currey’s Darlington Stats: Bayley Currey has competed in three NCTS races at Darlington Raceway. Currey’s best result of 12th-place came in 2020, and the driver finished 22nd last year after suffering a flat tire with just a handful of laps to go. In six NXS starts at the legendary track, Currey’s best finish of 19th happened in 2022.
Gould’s Darlington Stats: Phil Gould has called six NCTS races at Darlington, resulting in one win and four top-fives. Gould is the defending race-winning crew chief for this event, having led Ross Chastain to victory lane here last season. In six NXS starts here, Gould’s best finish was 11th-place (twice).
On the Truck: Currey’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing, who will be featured as a co-branded primary sponsor along with J.F. Electric and Precision Vehicle Logistics.
Honoring Cancer Heroes: As part of the annual Honor a Cancer Hero program with The NASCAR Foundation and Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, Currey’s No. 45 Chevrolet will feature a special passenger on it this weekend. Donna Benallie, a breast cancer survivor and mother of a Niece Motorsports pit crew member, will also be in attendance for the race.
Eldora Bound: Next week from September 4-6, Currey will compete in the 55th Annual World 100 race at Eldora Speedway with the Niece Motorsports dirt team. He will race a special throwback paint scheme which pays homage to Charles ‘Chuck’ Efaw, father of the organization’s CEO, Cody Efaw. The iconic Super Late Model race showcases the best talent in the country and will be broadcast live on FloRacing.
Recapping Richmond: Bayley Currey and the No. 45 team put up a valiant effort in Richmond, but unfortunately were unable to get the result needed to qualify for the Owner Playoffs. Currey qualified the highest for the team in 13th, but fell back early in the race. At the end of the first stage, the team fell off the lead lap and had to fight hard to get their position back the rest of the night. Through various strategy calls, the No. 45 nearly got back into the picture, but had to settle for a 20th-place finish.
Owner Points Rundown: Though the No. 45 team did not qualify for the Owner Playoffs, the team now assumes the position of ‘best of the rest’ in 11th-place. With a sizable 63-point gap over ThorSport Racing’s No. 13 entry, the team’s goal remains to finish in the same spot they started in – 11th.
Quoting Currey: Your team has a pretty good track record here at Darlington, so how optimistic are you in this weekend?
“Yeah, I’m very confident going to Darlington this weekend. It’s a really fun racetrack, and it’s a place that has been good to Niece Motorsports and I in the past. I’ve got a lot of experience there between Xfinity and Truck Series races, so it should be a good place for us to go and bounce back from Richmond at. I’m looking forward to going there with Phil (Gould) and the rest of our No. 45 team.”
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., together with Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd. (NMC), has revealed the Aura NISMO RS Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, showcasing a bold vision for a next-generation high-performance electrified hot hatch and hinting at potential future production.
Developed as a technical validation model, the concept evolves from the Aura NISMO and integrates the high-output e-POWER system from the X-Trail NISMO, combining motorsports-inspired engineering with mass-production vehicle technologies. Nissan confirmed it is exploring the feasibility of bringing the concept to market.
Aggressive design with functional aerodynamics
The Aura NISMO RS Concept builds on the brand’s “Agile Electric City Racer” philosophy with a more muscular and track-focused design. Wider fenders expanded by 145 mm, a 20 mm lower ride height and a broader stance give the car a low center of gravity and commanding road presence.
A full aerodynamic package — including a front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser with signature NISMO red accents, airflow-optimized front fenders, side air splitters and a dedicated rear spoiler — has been developed to increase downforce while minimizing drag. The concept is finished in an exclusive Dark Matte NISMO Stealth Gray, designed to maintain visual consistency under varying light conditions.
Motorsports-driven performance upgrade
At its core, the concept pairs the compact, lightweight Aura NISMO platform with Nissan’s high-output series-hybrid e-POWER drivetrain, delivering a significant increase in power to the wheels and sharper throttle response.
Handling and stability are enhanced through the widened body, high-grip tires and NISMO-tuned e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology, offering improved traction and cornering capability. Braking is reinforced by large opposed-piston calipers — four-pot units at the front and two-pot at the rear — ensuring strong stopping performance despite an approximate 100-kg weight increase over the standard Aura NISMO.
Nissan and NMC stated that the concept will continue to be refined, with possible applications in motorsport as well as future commercialization.
Strategic importance for NISMO
“Under our Re:Nissan strategy, we are committed to introducing heartbeat models at speed that resonate with customers,” said Yutaka Sanada, President and CEO of NMC. “The Aura NISMO RS Concept is our first offering born from the collective expertise of NMC. NISMO has always pushed people and technology to the limit in motorsports, and we will continue delivering that excitement to customers and fans worldwide.”
Key specifications (Aura NISMO RS Concept)
Length: 4,262 mm
Width: 1,880 mm
Height: 1,485 mm
Kerb weight: 1,490 kg
Front motor: 150 kW / 330 Nm
Rear motor: 100 kW / 195 Nm
Power generation engine: 1.5-litre turbo (106 kW / 250 Nm)
Drivetrain: e-POWER with e-4ORCE AWD
Wheels: NISMO LM GT4, 18×9.0J
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (245/45R18)
With its blend of aggressive styling, electrified performance and motorsports DNA, the Aura NISMO RS Concept highlights Nissan’s intent to redefine the future of performance-oriented hybrid vehicles.
Isack Hadjar recently swapped asphalt for the dunes after he hit the desert in one of motorsport’s toughest machines.
The Red Bull Racing driver took on a challenge in the Ford Raptor T1+, alongside Dakar veteran Mitchell Guthrie.
In the video shared by Red Bull Motorsport, Hadjar was tasked with setting a time within 15 seconds of the benchmark set by Guthrie over five laps.
Isack Hadjar during F1 post-season testing – Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
The young French driver, upon taking the wheel of the Ford Raptor, initially set 4 minutes 18 seconds – well off the 3 minutes 16 seconds set by Guthrie.
Hadjar continued to improve his lap time with more attempts, and his final two runs saw him come within two seconds of the benchmark.
Sharing his reaction to his outing in the rally car, Hadjar stated:
“I rarely have this much fun, best thing ever. To be fair, this car gives you so much confidence.”
Hadjar’s outing recently followed that of former Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo, who also tackled the desert in the Ford Raptor T1+.
Hadjar set to be handed Tsunoda’s engineer
Earlier, GPblog reported that Hadjar will have Richard Wood as his race engineer for his debut season at Red Bull Racing.
The 21-year-old, who swapped the Racing Bulls outfit for the Milton Keynes team, will have ‘Woody,’ as he is fondly called, as his engineer.
Woody has served as race engineer for several former Red Bull drivers, including Liam Lawson and, more recently, Yuki Tsunoda.
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(Indianapolis, IN) – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has named longtime motorsports executive Michael Good as its new president, with Good scheduled to officially begin his role Feb. 2.
Good replaces Joe Hale, who stepped down in June after leading the museum through a period of significant change that included major fundraising efforts and a sweeping, multi-year renovation project.
Before being selected to lead the IMS Museum, Good served as president of Performance Racing Industry, where he oversaw the PRI Trade Show and worked on expanding membership programs, partnerships, and digital initiatives. Museum officials said his background in motorsports business operations and event management played a key role in his selection following a national search.
The museum’s board said Good is expected to help guide the institution through its next phase of growth, building on momentum generated by its recent reopening. The IMS Museum reopened in April 2025 after an extensive renovation that modernized galleries, expanded exhibit space, and introduced more immersive experiences tied to the history of the Indianapolis 500 and American auto racing.
Good, a longtime Indianapolis-area resident, has said the Speedway and its history have been a constant presence throughout his life, making the opportunity to lead the museum especially meaningful.
The IMS Museum operates as an independent nonprofit organization separate from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is responsible for its own fundraising, operations, and long-term sustainability.
American Communications Construction (ACC) and Aloha Beauty Lounge have extended their primary sponsorship of NHRA Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher through 2032. This partnership ensures Schumacher will continue racing the No. 15 Top Fuel dragster for Rick Ware Racing, aiming to add to his record of 88 event wins and eight championships. Both sponsors are committed to investing resources for competitive success starting in 2026. Schumacher praised the alignment of values with the sponsors, emphasizing a shared commitment to family and teamwork. As the NHRA prepares for its 75th season, Schumacher looks forward to capitalizing on this stability in his racing career.
By the Numbers
Schumacher aims to secure additional wins to his current total of 88.
He has achieved eight championships in his racing career.
State of Play
Schumacher will collaborate with renowned crew chief Jim Oberhofer this season.
Teammate Clay Millican, another top driver, adds depth to the racing lineup.
What’s Next
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will kick off its 75th season with the NHRA Gatornationals on March 5-8, 2026. With a strengthened team structure and strategic investments, Schumacher is positioned to contend for additional championships.
Bottom Line
The long-term sponsorship extension reflects a serious commitment to excellence in NHRA racing, enhancing Schumacher’s chances of further cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest drivers.
(TestMiles) – I’ve covered racing long enough to know that most people don’t actually understand how drivers get to NASCAR. The mythology says talent rises, sponsors appear, and everything works out. Reality is messier, quieter, and usually dictated by access. That’s why this caught my attention.
Ram isn’t just returning to NASCAR. It’s using entertainment as a scouting tool, a marketing platform, and a filter for something far harder to measure than lap times. Heart. Grit. Composure under pressure. Race For The Seat isn’t about discovering a driver who already made it. It’s about watching someone become one in real time.
That’s worth your time, even if you’ve never watched a full NASCAR Truck Series race.
Kaulig Racing Named Anchor Team for Ram’s Return to NASCAR
Why does this matter right now?
Motorsports is at an inflection point. Costs are high, sponsorships are concentrated, and traditional ladders are narrowing. At the same time, audiences are fragmenting. Younger fans don’t discover racing through Sunday broadcasts alone anymore. They find it through clips, personalities, behind-the-scenes access, and stories that feel human rather than institutional.
Ram understands this moment. Instead of simply fielding trucks and hoping fans notice, it’s turning the return to NASCAR into a narrative event. Race For The Seat makes the process visible. Fifteen drivers. One opportunity. Eight episodes. No illusion that the path is easy or fair.
This matters to fans because it restores context. Racing stops being abstract and starts looking like work again. It matters to aspiring drivers because it reframes access. And it matters to brands because it shows how motorsports relevance can be rebuilt without pretending it’s still 1997.
How does it compare to rivals or alternatives?
Other manufacturers return to racing quietly. Press releases, paint schemes, sponsor decks. All necessary. All familiar. What Ram is doing here is different.
Instead of talking about heritage alone, it’s manufacturing relevance through participation. Ford and Chevrolet dominate the Truck Series through continuity. Ram is re-entering by disruption. Not technical disruption on the track, but cultural disruption around it.
Reality competition isn’t new. Racing documentaries aren’t new. What’s unusual is tying an actual factory-backed seat to an open competition and broadcasting the process before the season even begins. This isn’t simulated. The outcome matters. Someone wins. Someone doesn’t.
That’s a sharper hook than most traditional motorsports marketing, and it acknowledges that modern audiences want to see the work, not just the trophy.
Kaulig Racing Named Anchor Team for Ram’s Return to NASCAR
Who is this for and who should skip it?
This series isn’t just for diehard NASCAR fans. It’s for people who like competition, pressure, and watching individuals tested in unfamiliar environments. If you enjoy sports documentaries, talent competitions, or behind-the-scenes business storytelling, this fits.
It’s also clearly for Ram’s core audience. Truck owners value toughness, endurance, and function over polish. Race For The Seat leans into that mindset. No glamour shots. No shortcuts. Just people being evaluated under stress.
Who should skip it? Anyone expecting scripted drama or manufactured conflict. This isn’t that. The tension comes from reality. From knowing that only one person walks away with a career-altering opportunity.
What is the long-term significance?
Zooming out, this signals a broader shift in how brands and motorsports may intersect going forward. Access, transparency, and storytelling are becoming as important as outright performance metrics. Not instead of them. Alongside them.
Ram’s return to NASCAR isn’t framed as nostalgia. It’s framed as relevance. By the time the winning driver lines up in Daytona in 2026, fans won’t just recognize the truck. They’ll recognize the person inside it.
That’s powerful. And it suggests a future where motorsports doesn’t just crown champions, but introduces them.
In the high-octane world of stock car racing, where fortunes are made and lost at 200 mph, a bombshell rumor is revving up the engines of speculation: the France family, the iron-fisted stewards of NASCAR since its dusty beginnings in 1948, might finally be eyeing the exit ramp.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Valued at a staggering $5 billion by Goldman Sachs back in 2023, the empire that Bill France Sr. built from beachside bootlegger races could be up for grabs—just weeks after a bruising legal defeat and settlement that exposed cracks in the family’s once-unassailable control.
The spark? A landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which accused NASCAR of monopolistic practices and unfair charter agreements. The case, settled in December 2025 for undisclosed terms, didn’t just cost the France family millions—it peeled back the curtain on internal frustrations, with leaked texts revealing NASCAR execs like Steve Phelps dismissing team demands as “insanity” and threatening to revoke charters. Adding fuel to the fire, Phelps announced his resignation as commissioner on January 6, 2026, leaving the sport’s leadership in limbo and fans howling for change.
Insiders whisper that the fallout has pushed the Frances—led by 81-year-old Jim France and his niece Lesa France Kennedy—to consider outside investors or even a full sale. Puck News reported on January 9 that media giants and private equity sharks are circling, with names like Liberty Media (owners of Formula 1), TKO (UFC and WWE), Ares, Arctos, and Sixth Street in the mix. This isn’t the first pit stop for sale rumors; back in 2018, the family flirted with Goldman Sachs on a potential deal but backed off. Now, with team valuations skyrocketing and revenues from a new $7.7 billion media deal on the horizon, the timing feels ripe—or desperate, depending on who you ask.
Picture this: It’s a crisp January morning in Daytona, the spiritual heart of NASCAR, where the ghosts of legends like Dale Earnhardt still echo in the grandstands. Jim France, the reclusive patriarch who’s rarely seen without his signature sunglasses, huddles with advisors in a sleek boardroom overlooking the tri-oval. The lawsuit’s sting lingers—teams like 23XI demanded equity stakes, and while the settlement included evergreen charters and revenue tweaks, it didn’t heal the divide. “The France family’s commitment to keeping NASCAR private is being tested after these turbulent months,” noted Sports Business Journal, highlighting fan backlash, declining attendance, and a sense that the sport’s golden era is fading.
On social media, the rumor mill is overheating. Fans and insiders alike are buzzing: “Merry Christmas to everyone who wanted the France family to sell,” quipped a Reddit thread, while X users like @DavidfromMd2 demanded, “When does the France Family announce the sale of NASCAR?” Even team owners are intrigued; Race Team Alliance’s Jonathan Marshall hinted during the lawsuit that squads might bid for equity, turning NASCAR into a more collaborative beast. But not everyone’s cheering—some fear a corporate takeover could dilute the sport’s gritty, American roots, with one X poster warning, “Screw Red Bull, at least these owners are American.”
Dig deeper, and the plot thickens. NASCAR’s CFO testified in court about $400 million in distributions to the France family from 2021-2024, mostly for taxes under their S-Corp setup. Critics call it “wetting their beak” like a mafia cut, with one fan labeling it “pure mafia right there.” And Jim France’s own salary? A cool $3.5 million annually, per his testimony. With charters now fetching nine figures and international expansion lagging, could private equity inject the cash needed for a global push—or just strip-mine the sport for profits?
Yardbarker speculates the Frances might seek “strategic partners” like real estate firms to develop tracks, avoiding a full handover. But The Express reports Jim France is pondering a historic move post-settlement, potentially selling stakes to ease the pressure. Phelps himself floated equity sales in February 2025, signaling the family might bend for the first time.
As the 2026 season looms, with the Clash at the Coliseum just weeks away, the question hangs like exhaust smoke: Will the France dynasty hold the wheel, or hand over the keys to a new era? One thing’s certain—in NASCAR, rumors travel faster than the cars. Stay tuned; this story’s got more laps to run.
