Öncü claims Türkiye’s 1st Moto2 win with daring last-corner pass
Deniz Öncü scribed his name into Turkish motorsport history Sunday with a thrilling wire-to-wire win at MotorLand Aragon, becoming the first Turk to claim victory in a Moto2 World Championship race. Racing for Red Bull KTM Ajo, the 21-year-old snatched the lead in the dying meters from Brazil’s Diogo Moreira, crossing the line just 0.003 […]
Deniz Öncü scribed his name into Turkish motorsport history Sunday with a thrilling wire-to-wire win at MotorLand Aragon, becoming the first Turk to claim victory in a Moto2 World Championship race.
Racing for Red Bull KTM Ajo, the 21-year-old snatched the lead in the dying meters from Brazil’s Diogo Moreira, crossing the line just 0.003 seconds ahead – the closest margin in modern Moto2 history.
It was a battle of nerves, tires, and timing across 19 laps, and Öncü played it perfectly.
Race for ages
Moreira, on pole after a record-setting qualifying lap, led early, but Öncü wasted no time. Launching from third, he dove past Barry Baltus into Turn 1 and took the lead by Turn 8.
The race exploded into chaos on Lap 1 when Daniel Holgado crashed at Turn 12, collecting teammate David Alonso, both promising rookies out early.
Baltus temporarily led after Öncü ran wide at Turn 3 on Lap 2, but it was championship contender Aron Canet who stormed to the front by Lap 6. A tight lead group of Canet, Öncü, Baltus, and Moreira began to break away.
Öncü found another gear on Laps 13 and 14, setting consecutive fastest laps to reclaim the lead.
Moreira clawed back on the final lap, overtook Öncü at Turn 5, and seemed set for glory – until Öncü unleashed a stunning exit from the final corner to win by the width of a tire.
Baltus finished third, 3.2 seconds adrift.
Tears on podium
As the Istiklal Marşı (the Turkish National Anthem) echoed through Aragon, a teary-eyed Öncü stood on the podium, soaking in a moment years in the making. “I’m from Türkiye,” he said emotionally. “Kenan and Toprak are the best teachers in the world. I gave everything. My rival passed me, but I didn’t quit.”
Öncü paid tribute to his mentors – Kenan Sofuoğlu, five-time Supersport champion, and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, reigning WorldSBK ace. Both have helped shape his journey from Moto3 upstart to Moto2 trailblazer.
The Türkiye Motorcycle Federation called the victory a “historic success,” and Turkish media exploded with pride. Social media lit up with posts lauding Öncü’s grit, precision, and national symbolism.
Shaking up standings
Öncü’s 25-point haul boosts him to seventh in the championship with 62 points.
The title fight is heating up: Manuel Gonzalez and Aron Canet are tied at 118 points. Gonzalez charged from 18th to ninth after a qualifying crash; Canet faded to sixth.
Moreira’s runner-up finish places him third overall with 90 points, just ahead of Baltus (89). Joe Roberts (82 points) sits fifth after a P7 finish. Senna Agius and Filip Salač, finishing fourth and fifth respectively, remain dark horses.
While Öncü isn’t yet in the title hunt, his Aragon win hints at what’s to come – with confidence mounting and the Kalex under him, he’s poised for more fireworks.
Comeback forged in pain
This triumph marks a remarkable rebound for Öncü. After a rocky Moto2 debut in 2024 and a fractured hand that sidelined him for three rounds, he returned stronger. His third-place finish at Aragon last year was a turning point; now, he’s a winner.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo team has backed him fully, pairing him with rookie Collin Veijer and handing him the reins after parting with Celestino Vietti.
Öncü’s aggressive style suits the Kalex chassis, and Aragon proved he can outwit veterans and fellow rising stars alike.
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Denny Hamlin reaffirms support for lawsuit vs. NASCAR, saying: ‘All will be exposed’
23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin reaffirmed his commitment Saturday to the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR even as all three of his cars will run without charter status this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway. A U.S. District Court judge denied a request by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for a temporary restraining order Thursday. That […]
23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin reaffirmed his commitment Saturday to the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR even as all three of his cars will run without charter status this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.
A U.S. District Court judge denied a request by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for a temporary restraining order Thursday. That order would have allowed the two organizations to compete with the status of chartered teams despite not signing the charter agreement last year.
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The U.S. District Court judge did not rule on the request by both teams for a preliminary injunction on the same matter.
NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel #1
23XI Racing, Front Row to run as open teams at Dover after court’s decision
District court judge rules against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in request for temporary restraining order to run as chartered teams.
This is only a part of the antitrust lawsuit the two teams filed last October against NASCAR and NASCAR CEO Jim France. The case is scheduled for trial Dec. 1.
Asked about the ramifications of 23XI Racing competing as an open team this weekend, Hamlin told reporters Saturday at Dover:
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“This would just be my blanket answer for all questions about this. If you want answers, you want to understand why this is all happening, come Dec. 1. You’ll get the answers that you’re looking for and all will be exposed.”
Later asked if anything has caused him to second guess the lawsuit, Hamlin told reporters: “Not a chance.”
Asked if 23XI Racing has had to do anything different as an open team, Hamlin cited the trial date in his response, saying: “Dec. 1 is all that matters. Mark your calendar.”
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Chicago Street Race won’t be on NASCAR schedule in 2026
NASCAR leaves open the option of the event returning in 2027.
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23IX Racing employs Cup drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst. Front Row Motorsports employs Cup drivers Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith and Noah Gragson.
Reddick told reporters Saturday: “Everything related to the litigation, charters, I don’t have a comment for at the time.”
Last year when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports sought a preliminary injunction that would allow them to operate with charter status, Reddick’s contract was cited in that he had to be aligned with a team with a charter. In its request this past week for the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports raised the issue of driver contracts and sponsor contracts being impacted if they did not have the charter status.
AUTO: JUN 28 NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400
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Alex Bowman has four consecutive top-10 finishes at Dover, including a victory.
While denying the temporary restraining order this week, Judge Kenneth D. Bell wrote: “Finally, Plaintiffs say they face the threat of the irreparable loss of drivers and sponsor relationships and opportunities.
“With respect to drivers, the record stands in a different posture than it did prior to the season when the Court entered the earlier injunction.
“While Plaintiffs’ drivers could have realistically terminated their contracts with Plaintiffs and/or been lured away by other teams, that prospect (although theoretically still conceivable) appears unlikely at this late stage of the season, and Plaintiffs have not offered evidence that any drivers are intending to do so in the next two weeks. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not established an imminent loss of sponsorships before the Preliminary Injunction can be decided.”
In the three Dover races of the Next Gen era, which began in 2022, guess which driver has been best at the Monster Mile. Go ahead, try. But first, here’s a hint: He ain’t here. That’s right, it’s the newly retired Martin Truex Jr., who had a win and an average finish of 5.3 in […]
In the three Dover races of the Next Gen era, which began in 2022, guess which driver has been best at the Monster Mile.
Go ahead, try. But first, here’s a hint: He ain’t here.
That’s right, it’s the newly retired Martin Truex Jr., who had a win and an average finish of 5.3 in his last three visits to Dover and its one mile of high-banked, speedy concrete.
But we’re not hurting for capable favorites atop the odds pylon. There are several, but guess who else is missing.
Yep, the King of the Road, Shane van Gisbergen. After two weeks of being the heaviest of heavy favorites (and justifying it on race day), SVG has settled back in the pack, where we always find him at tracks without right-hand turns.
Let’s check the board and find some quality odds on quality drivers.
At Dover, NASCAR’s usual suspects return
+475: Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson
+650: Ryan Blaney
+700: William Byron
+1000: Chase Elliott
Looks familiar, doesn’t it? Approaching 30 of the 36 races, this is pretty much what you see up here. But you have to wonder if Byron belongs up here, given his sluggish run of late, and the fact he hasn’t always finished well at Dover.
Not a longshot, but kind of a sleeper
+1100: Christopher Bell
+1200: Ross Chastain
+1400: Tyler Reddick
+1600: Chase Briscoe
+2000: Alex Bowman
+2250: Kyle Busch
In his last seven Dover starts, Bowman has a win, a runner-up, a third and two fifths. Also, since bottoming out at Michigan six weeks ago, he’s been running well.
Several NASCAR winners in this list of long(ish) shots
+2500: Carson Hocevar, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher
+3000: Brad Keselowski
NASCAR FUN FACT: Brad Keselowski was the last driver to win in a Dodge, which was in 2012 at Dover during his championship winning season. Dodge has not won since then, if RAM wins a truck race in 2026 for its return, it will the first time in over a decade that a Dodge will win. pic.twitter.com/Pcb1YbZveE
With the exception of three or four of these guys, this pairing is full of potential Dover winners. For instance, it doesn’t seem like Buescher should be at a number this big.
We found Shane van Gisbergen
+20000: Zane Smith, Michael McDowell, Shane van Gisbergen, John Hunter Nemechek, Noah Gragson
+25000: Cole Custer, Justin Haley
+50000: Riley Herbst, Ty Dillon, Todd Gilliland
+100000: Cody Ware, JJ Yeley
It takes the most unusual of circumstances to see a list of longshots that includes a guy who won the past two races and three of the past five. SVG is an unusual circumstance in the recent history of NASCAR.
Monster Mile crushes Chastain the Melon Man in Dover NASCAR Xfinity race
DOVER, Del. –The Monster Mile crushed the Melon Man as Ross Chastain had mechanical issues in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy of JR Motorsports Photo: Dominic Aragon/TRE Chastain finished fifth and sixth in the first and second stages but finished 38th — last — in the race overall. “Rear […]
DOVER, Del. –The Monster Mile crushed the Melon Man as Ross Chastain had mechanical issues in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.
Photo courtesy of JR MotorsportsPhoto: Dominic Aragon/TRE
Chastain finished fifth and sixth in the first and second stages but finished 38th — last — in the race overall.
“Rear gear broke. There was no indication. I got the first vibration just before it broke,” Chastain said.
Chastain completed 106 laps before the issue. In three previous Xfinity starts this season, Chastain finished fifth at Nashville, fourth at Darlington and eighth at Circuit of the Americas.
Chastain will start 19th in the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Dover.
MORE: NASCAR Cup Series at Dover Starting Lineup
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Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
How to Watch BetRivers 200: Live Stream NASCAR Xfinity Series, TV Channel
By Kilty Cleary is a Los Angeles-based media and marketing pro with 18+ years of experience. He’s worked with top brands like Sporting News and Sports Illustrated, building key partnerships and creating engaging content. Follow him on X and IG @theonlykilty Kilty Cleary Contributing Sports Writer news article Based on facts, either observed and verified […]
Kilty Cleary is a Los Angeles-based media and marketing pro with 18+ years of experience. He’s worked with top brands like Sporting News and Sports Illustrated, building key partnerships and creating engaging content. Follow him on X and IG @theonlykilty
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The NASCAR Xfinity Series rolls into Dover International Speedway on Saturday for the BetRivers 200. Known as the “Monster Mile,” Dover’s high-banked concrete oval is one of the most unique and demanding tracks on the NASCAR circuit.
Fans can catch all the action live on The CW at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Riley Herbst, driver of the #98 Monster Energy Ford, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetRivers 200 at Dover International Speedway on April 27, 2024 in Dover, Delaware. Riley Herbst, driver of the #98 Monster Energy Ford, spins after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetRivers 200 at Dover International Speedway on April 27, 2024 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
How to Watch BetRivers 200
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM EDT
Channel: The CW
Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE)
Justin Allgaier is the current points leader with 686 points thanks to his three wins, but the rest of the pack is starting to catch up. Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, Connor Zilisch, and Jesse Love round out the current top five.
Zilisch, in particular, could mount a run at the points lead before the regular season ends. He has the best average finish in the series, but missed one race with a back injury, which has pushed him down the standings just a bit.
Last week at Sonoma, Zilisch took the victory over Shane Van Gisbergen, outdueling one of the best road course drivers in the world.
Last year in this race, Ryan Truex won by 1.662 seconds over Carson Kvapil. Neither driver was racing full-time last year, with the top finisher among full-time drivers being Sam Mayer in third. Among this year’s title contenders, Allgaier was 17th, Hill was 15th, and Love was 24th. Based on that, this could be a big race for Mayer.
All NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season air on The CW. If your local CW affiliate is on Fubo, that means you can watch the full season on the platform. Don’t miss out on the racing action.
Live stream the BetRivers 200 on Fubo: Start your free trial now!
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NASCAR Xfinity at Dover: Connor Zilisch tames the Monster Mile in the rain
DOVER, Del. — Rain tamed the Monster Mile and made Connor Zilisch the winner of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images Zilisch claimed his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win after rain cut the race short by 66 laps. He led twice for 77 laps and won […]
DOVER, Del. — Rain tamed the Monster Mile and made Connor Zilisch the winner of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.
Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
Zilisch claimed his fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win after rain cut the race short by 66 laps. He led twice for 77 laps and won the second stage before NASCAR called the race after 134 laps due to rain.
NASCAR called the race at 7 p.m. ET with light rain reported all the way around the track. The race had a predetermined finishing time of 8:10 p.m. ET, making it highly unlikely the race was going to get going again before that time.
TOP-10 FINISHERS (LAP 134): Connor Zilisch, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love, Ryan Sieg, Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed, William Sawalich, Christian Eckes.
No cautions for cause fell in the bulk of the race Saturday until the caution for rain ultimately ended the race.
Jake Finch and Lavar Scott finished 17th and 28th, respectively, each on the lead lap for the NASCAR Xfinity Series debut.
Nick Sanchez and Ross Chastain finished 37th and 38th after having mechanical issues in the final stage.
Justin Allgaier leads Connor Zilisch in the points by 56. Here is what the playoff cutline looks like after Dover:
Sam Mayer +162 to the playoff cutline
Carson Kvapil +86
Sheldon Creed +61
Taylor Gray +36
Jeb Burton +7
Harrison Burton -7
Ryan Sieg -30
Dean Thompson -62
Christian Eckes -71
DOVER STAGE ONE WINNER: Taylor Gray
Early on, Nick Sanchez, Connor Zilisch and Ross Chastain had nothing for Taylor Gray from second, third and sixth, as Gray jumped to the lead from the pole. His three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates filled positions four through five and seventh. Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola soon jumped ahead of Sanchez and Zilisch, making it a JGR 1-2-3 as they raced through lap traffic.
Further back, Zilisch and Chastain’s JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier went from the rear of the 38-car field to seventh in the stage.
Still, JRM couldn’t beat JGR in the stage and Almirola couldn’t beat his JGR teammate. Almirola closed to Gray’s bumper but Gray went flag-to-flag in the first stage for his second career Xfinity stage win.
STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 45): Taylor Gray, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Connor Zilisch, Ross Chastain, Nick Sanchez, Justin Allgaier, William Sawalich, Jesse Love, Sheldon Creed.
Creed edged Ryan Sieg for 10th before the stage caution that saw Josh Williams get the free pass from 32nd.
Under caution, Taylor Gray had a 23.3-second pit stop that dropped him from the lead to 15th.
“The [tire] changer had to chase the car a long way so the hose got underneath the car and when the jack dropped, the hose was stuck underneath it,” Gray was told on the radio.
Meanwhile, teammate Brandon Jones beat Zilisch, Almirola, Allgaier, Sawalich, Love, Chastain, Creed, Sanchez and Ryan Sieg off of pit road.
DOVER STAGE TWO WINNER: Connor Zilisch
Connor Zilisch took the lead in the first stage while Jones dropped to third behind Almirola and ahead of Allgaier and Sieg who showed strong long-run speed.
On the long run in the second stage, no one had anything for Zilisch. He won the stage by over a second, continuing a strong seven-race stretch that has seen him accrue an average finish of 2.43.
STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 90): Zilisch, Almirola, Jones, Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Chastain, Love, Creed, Sawalich, Austin Hill.
The free pass went to Lavar Scott who made his series debut Saturday at Dover with Alpha Prime Racing.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DOVER FINAL STAGE
Saturday marked the 13th stage-era NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover — and the third to not have a caution for cause. The others, in fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, had two cautions and three cautions respectively in the final stage.
The final stage Saturday fit the occasion of chaos. Kyle Sieg stayed out and led but dropped quickly. Then, Nick Sanchez and Ross Chastain had issues that took them out of the top 10 and to the garage in 37th and 38th — second-to-last and last. Sanchez had steering issues while Chastain had driveshaft issues.
Connor Zilisch picked up where he left off, showing why his ARCA Menards Series East win in 2024 wasn’t a fluke and how he isn’t just a road course ace. Zilisch took the lead by over a second until a caution for rain on lap 132.
NEXT: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 26
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
Kevin Harvick predicts winner at Dover NASCAR race
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Dover International Speedway this weekend. The trip to Delaware is a welcome one for many drivers, after Shane van Gisbergen kicked some ass at a couple road courses over the past two weeks. There’s a bevy of wheelmen hoping a return to NASCAR’s more traditional track type lands […]
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Dover International Speedway this weekend. The trip to Delaware is a welcome one for many drivers, after Shane van Gisbergen kicked some ass at a couple road courses over the past two weeks.
There’s a bevy of wheelmen hoping a return to NASCAR’s more traditional track type lands them in Victory Lane. The crew over at Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour has locked in its predictions for which drivers they believe will thrive in Delaware.
First, Kevin Harvick is a believer in Kyle Larson getting the job done: “He was fast last year,” the former champion stated. “I like the speed, I like that you have to drive the crap out of it and I think they know that they have to get their stuff together.”
At Sonoma, Larson returned to his home state, hoping for a repeat of 2024 and another trip to Victory Lane. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. His attempt at winning the second stage didn’t work out, and the Hendrick Motorsports wheelman finished P35 when the checkered flag waved.
Harvick’s prediction has some legs, as Larson won at Dover back in 2019. He’s also come close multiple other times, including last season’s runner-up finish to Denny Hamlin. He’ll be motivated to get back to Victory Lane after some struggles over the past couple of weeks.
Alas, it’s easy to see why Harvick is riding with Larson, but his co-host in Kaitlyn Vincie is looking at a different former champion to get the job done: “Someone I’d say is in a similar situation (as Larson) is Joey Logano,” she added. “I’m going with driver No. 22 for the Dover win.”
It’s been a struggle for Logano, as he doesn’t always show off his best stuff on road courses. However, he was solid throughout the afternoon at Sonoma, finishing P9. He’ll take that for sure, as NASCAR returns to some ovals.
Moving to Dover, this will be Logano’s 29th time racing at the track. He’s never won, though, so Vincie’s prediction is a little bold. His best finish came in third, which he’s done three times. Maybe this will be his best performance in Delaware yet.
Who else could win at Dover? Mamba Smith’s prediction might surprise you
Finally, Mamba Smith went a bit off the grid, believing Bubba Wallace can end his winless streak in Delaware: “I’m just going to send it. I said it earlier, he needs it and this is one of his best race tracks. We’re going with Bubba Wallace,” he proclaimed. “Send it in.”
Wallace certainly needs the win in the worst way. He’s only three points above the cut-line for the playoffs, but as we’ve seen in the past, it doesn’t take much for that to evaporate. If he doesn’t get back to Victory Lane, he’s in grave danger of missing the playoffs once again.
All told, there’s a myriad of wheelmen who could get to Victory Lane at Dover, and it’s a bit of a surprise no one is riding with last season’s winner at the track in Denny Hamlin. Regardless, the crew over at Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour has made its picks, and we’ll see if it comes to fruition for them this time around.
