O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio Friday Practice Notebook – Speedway Digest
Although rain threatened to interrupt proceedings Friday at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, three IMSA-sanctioned series completed five largely clean practice sessions Friday to kick off the O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio weekend. The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge headlines the weekend with its second four-hour race of the schedule. Practice Notes BMW […]
Although rain threatened to interrupt proceedings Friday at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, three IMSA-sanctioned series completed five largely clean practice sessions Friday to kick off the O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio weekend. The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge headlines the weekend with its second four-hour race of the schedule.
Practice Notes
BMW entries went 1-2 in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class practice, with the No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO of Jeff Westphal ahead of the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 EVO of Francis Selldorff. Westphal’s best time was 1 minute, 26.471 seconds (94.005 mph) and a full 0.343 of a second clear of Selldorff. The No. 44 Ibiza Farm Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4 was third.
The No. 93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR paced the Touring Car (TCR) class with LP Montour driving. The Honda set a best time of 1 minute, 27.017 seconds (93.416 mph) and ranked seventh among all 38 cars competing this weekend.
One red flag flew for the No. 2 GS class entry in the session, off course at Turn 5. For causing the red flag, that car will lose its fastest lap turned during qualifying on Saturday.
In IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Corey Lewis was fastest in P3 in Practice 1 with Oscar Tunjo leading Practice 2. Lewis, substituting for an injured Matthew Dicken, topped Practice 1 at 1 minute, 19.287 seconds (102.523 mph) in the No. 36 RAFA Racing Ligier JS P320. Tunjo beat that in the No. 31 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 at a quicker 1 minute, 18.028 seconds (104.177 mph) that stood as the fastest lap of the day.
AJ Muss (No. 66 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3) and Jake Walker (No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3) led the two GTDX sessions while Kiko Porto (No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2) topped both GSX sessions.
Grant West (No. 50 Spark Performance) and Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) led the two Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin practice sessions.
Ohio’s Hometown Drivers and Teams
The standalone IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge O’Reilly Auto Parts 4 Hours of Mid-Ohio serves as a home race for several drivers in the 38-car field.
In GS, Zach Veach (No. 16 CSM Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS) and Patrick Gallagher (No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 EVO) get to compete not far from their hometowns of Stockdale and Thornville, respectively.
Veach has raced at Mid-Ohio in a plethora of series, from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (he finished second in GTD in a Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 in 2021) to several open-wheel junior series on the way up to the IndyCar series. He’s known CSM team co-owner Stephen Simpson for well over a decade; in fact, Veach made his WeatherTech Championship debut standing in for Simpson at the 2015 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event, co-driving with Misha Goikhberg in the Prototype Challenge class.
For Gallagher, an Ohio State University graduate with an engineering degree who got to watch his hometown Buckeyes capture the college football national championship in January in Atlanta in-between the Roar Before the Rolex 24 and Rolex 24 At Daytona, it’s an extra special venue to compete at.
“Excited to be racing here at Mid-Ohio, my home race,” Gallagher reflected. “I’m an instructor at The Mid-Ohio School. Have done some teen schools, racing schools and other programs they offer. I have a lot of family and friends from just down the road in Thornville. Grew up and been coming here my whole life. Always love racing at home.”
They’re not alone among Ohio locals racing here. In TCR, the father-daughter duo of Larry and Riley Pegram hail from Hebron, Ohio; they’ll race in the No. 72 Pegram Racing Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
Honda’s manufacturing facility in Marysville, Ohio isn’t far from here either, and this track serves as a home race for longtime competitors HART – or Honda of America Racing Team – and drivers Chad Gilsinger (Marysville) and Tyler Chambers (Columbus). Gilsinger noted more than 20 people from HART will be here this weekend, a handful of whom are experiencing an IMSA weekend for a first time within the team’s internal development ladder.
Wright Motorsports, a multi-time IMSA champion which races this weekend in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, is also based in Batavia, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb. This marks the first time that Adam Adelson, who acquired the team from John Wright in late 2024 before it was formally announced in April 2025, gets to race a Wright car at the team’s home track since the purchase was announced.
Le Mans-Bound from Mid-Ohio
Five IMSA drivers racing this weekend will head straight from Ohio to Le Mans, France to compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe, although none will be in the 24 Hours of Le Mans itself.
Ford Performance Junior Team drivers Jenson Altzman and Sam Paley will compete as part of the Mustang Invitational, which has a pair of races. Altzman and Paley continue their Michelin Pilot Challenge GS season in the No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing with Aerosport Ford Mustang GT4; Altzman’s year has also included his first two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship starts in Ford’s GT3 car, the No. 66 Gradient Racing Ford Mustang GT3.
As noted a little over a month ago, there’s also a handful of IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge drivers competing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup’s Road to Le Mans race. The Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports duo of Valentino Catalano and Oscar Tunjo will race separately in a pair of Duqueine D08 chassis this weekend (Nos. 30 and 31, respectively), then share the team’s No. 70 Duqueine D09 Toyota in France. Samantha Tan will be in the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 in Mid-Ohio, then will race the No. 38 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 in the Road to Le Mans with Gustav Bergstrom.
Saturday Schedule
VP Racing Challenge teams qualify Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., with GSX out first and then GTDX and P3 combined at 9:50 a.m. Race 1 is at 2 p.m., streaming on Peacock and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel.
Michelin Pilot Challenge teams go out for a one-hour Practice 2 at 10:55 a.m. with Qualifying later Saturday afternoon. TCR is out first at 4:10 p.m. with GS following at 4:30 p.m.
Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com – June 17, 2025
Dave Mathers In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report, Dave Mathers comments on the weekend’s F1 action in Montreal, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, NASCAR’s outing in Mexico the APC Late Models’ appearance at Peterborough and much more. It seems Richard Freeman is unhappy with NHRA. Erica Enders, one of his Pro Stock drivers, had […]
In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report, Dave Mathers comments on the weekend’s F1 action in Montreal, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, NASCAR’s outing in Mexico the APC Late Models’ appearance at Peterborough and much more.
It seems Richard Freeman is unhappy with NHRA. Erica Enders, one of his Pro Stock drivers, had her fourth qualifying run disqualified at Bristol due to “unapproved” rear wheels. That should have been the end of it, right? Nope. A $5,000 fine and a 100-point deduction followed. This didn’t even happen during eliminations, so why the harsh penalties? That’s what Freeman wants to find out. Stay tuned!
I’m going to add my personal opinion on F1’s decision to schedule next year’s Montreal Grand Prix on the same day as the Indy 500: all the goodwill built in the U.S. and Canada by the Netflix series and the strong attendance at the three U.S. races could disappear. F1 will appear to be big bullies, and the reaction could be costly. Just saying!
The weather was fantastic for the Montreal F1 race this past weekend. Will it be so good, next year, when the date moves to May? Photo by Greg MacPherson / InsideTrackNews.com
In a truly head-scratching move, Formula One has rescheduled the 2026 Montreal F1 race to the same day as the Indy 500. This feels like an intentional effort to phase out the Montreal race in favor of another “sand trap” venue. Just saying! Also, I doubt F1 has reviewed the weather history in Montreal for Memorial Day weekend over the past decade. UPDATE: In the days following the Montreal race, it was announced that it has been extended to 2035!
I find it interesting that CTV has chosen to broadcast the Canadian Grand Prix. Insert your own comments here!
FAMILY FUN WEEKEND AT ST. THOMAS DRAGWAY – THIS WEEKEND!
The group that brings you the exciting 660 Sportsman Nationals is presenting the inaugural Family Fun Weekend June 20-22 at St. Thomas Dragway.
The jam-packed drag racing event will feature: Rick Ream’s Wheelstanding Studebaker Firetruck, Neale Armstrong’s Northern Warrior Jet Dragster, Nostalgia Funny Cars – Matt Stambaugh Generation X vs Paul & Brian Noakes new ’67 Chevy II dubbed Wheeler Dealer (below), CJR Hellcats, Canada’s fastest Durango & 9-second Trackhawk, a Batmobile, the Ecto1 from Ghostbusters, the Blues Brothers Car, Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racing and bracket racing. First Responders and Service Club members receive special discount pricing!
Click on the flyer at right for more info, and visit the 660 Sportsman Nationals Facebook page for the latest news and everything you need to know about this first-time event.
Reports from Ohio indicate that the major No Prep Kings event scheduled for Toronto Motorsports Park on the weekend of July 12 has been canceled. No official announcement has been made yet, but it’s possible the other Canadian dates have been dropped too. More to come.
Message to NASCAR: if you brought the Cup and Xfinity Series to Canada – where there are lots of fans – instead of Mexico, you wouldn’t need armed security for the teams. And we speak the same language! I also noticed many empty seats during Saturday’s Xfinity race, but not one empty seat during Formula One qualifying in Montreal – where the Xfinity Series has raced in the past.
Ford Performance has announced it’s returning to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2027. Ford President Jim Farley, who participated in the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational, revealed that Ford has selected ORECA – the French manufacturer known for building LMP2 cars – to construct its new Hypercar entries.
Apparently, Formula One stewards are not allowed to publicly share personal opinions on races. Race steward and former driver Derek Warwick commented on the Verstappen-Russell incident at the Spanish Grand Prix during an interview and was subsequently suspended for one race – Montreal. It seems the FIA is intent on imposing 19th-century-style morality on the series. I wonder where that mindset is coming from… hmm.
The Wasaga Beach Cruisers are holding their Cruise Fest Weekend this Saturday, June 21 in Klondike Park in Wasaga Beach, ON. Their weekly Monday night cruise events started May 12 at the Stonebridge Gazebo across from the Walmart parking lot. The cruise nights start between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. and run until dusk. Click HERE for more information about Cruise Fest.
NASCAR Cup: Aussie Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen (Chevy) won the pole for Sunday’s Cup race in Mexico City, ahead of Ryan Preece (Ford) and Ross Chastain (Chevy). Of the 37 cars entered, there were 16 Chevys, 12 Fords, and 9 Toyotas. Very cool facility, with the cars racing through a stadium section.
Officials declared the race wet, giving teams the option to use rain tires. On lap 7, Kyle Busch spun under braking, continuing a frustrating season. The incident collected Zane Smith, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and Justin Haley. Preece won Stage 1. There appeared to be no track limits enforcement, as drivers used every inch of asphalt. On lap 32, Ryan Truex spun, bringing out the second caution. Van Gisbergen, the polesitter, won Stage 2. On lap 65, Carson Hocevar spun, bringing out the third caution. A close call on lap 73 saw William Byron and Riley Herbst trading bumps, leading to a spin by Herbst, narrowly avoided by Ricky Stenhouse – no yellow.
Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
At the flag, Van Gisbergen dominated with over a 15-second lead over Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott. He celebrated with a major burnout and laughed about being told by his crew chief to “slow it down!” Thirty-one cars finished on the lead lap. And, of course, Ricky Stenhouse flamed out post-race – again. In the points, William Byron leads Larson by 67 and Bell by 80.
This Saturday night (June 21) at Flamboro Speedway, the track hosts one of its Meet The Drivers nights. The Steel City Super Stocks, Pro Late Models, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks and Pro-4s will be in action on the track. Click HERE for more Flamboro info.
In other Flamboro news, the track will hold a Hall of Fame Reunion event on Saturday, July 26. There’s a sign-up form here. It’s billed as a celebration of the rich legacy of Flamboro Speedway. If you raced at Flamboro between 1962 and 2009, you’re invited to join us as an honoured guest. Register online by July 12, 2025 to secure free admission for yourself and one guest. Unregistered attendees will be required to pay standard admission at the gate.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Teenage phenom Connor Zilisch (Chevy) continued his road course dominance, grabbing the pole in Mexico City over Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell (both in Toyotas). Canadian road racer Alex Labbe (Chevy) qualified 21st. The 39-car field included 27 Chevys, 5 Fords, and 7 Toyotas – still no Rams (yet)!
Daniel Suarez, driver of the #9 Quaker State Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Chilango 150 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
On lap 3 of the 65-lap race, Sam Mayer appeared to wheel-hop under braking and slid driver’s side into the tire wall, causing a quick caution. He continued. Carson Kvapil won Stage 1, while Sammy Smith won Stage 2. On lap 46 came the big one! Daniel Suarez shoved Gibbs past Zilisch for the lead, then attempted a risky three-wide move. Zilisch was turned, then hit by Mayer. Gibbs, having sustained a flat tire, spun in Turn 3, collecting at least eight others. Caution #2.
With 7 laps remaining, Smith and Jesse Love clashed – Smith tagged Love, who went off track and then returned the favor by spinning Smith. Love then spun himself in the final corner before the start/finish line, bringing out a yellow.
At the flag, the crowd erupted as local hero Daniel Suarez, starting dead last in a backup car, took the win over Taylor Gray and Austin Hill. Labbe finished a strong 15th. I even heard a few “Arriba, arriba, ándale, ándale!” Good stuff.
BTW: special thanks to USA Network for broadcasting the race. Coverage on CW this year has been marginal at best. Not sure if it’s our local affiliate or the network itself. Justin Allgaier leads the points by 54 over Hill and 99 over Mayer. Labbe, despite just three starts, is 40th in points.
Next race: Pocono, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on CW and USA.
The VARAC Vintage Grand Prix took place this past weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. There’s a report from the weekend here. And there are some videos on the Inside Track Facebook ‘Reels’ page here. Up next for CASC-OR is the BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races, July 26-27 at CTMP. Click HERE to visit the CASC-OR homepage.
Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Third placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Sam Bloxham/LAT Images)
Formula One: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was fastest in FP1, George Russell (Mercedes) in FP2, and Lando Norris in FP3. Russell claimed pole for the Canadian Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen and championship leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren). Canadian Lance Stroll started 18th. During qualifying, Alex Albon’s engine cover detached, causing a full-course red flag and a 20-minute cleanup.
The race ran smoothly for the most part, with decent midfield action. At halfway, Russell led Verstappen and Antonelli, while Stroll ran 19th. On lap 66, Lando Norris made an ill-conceived move on teammate Piastri, hit the wall, and lost his front wing – safety car! That Monday team meeting must have been fun.
Shockingly, there was no green-white-checker finish – the race ended under yellow, with Russell winning over Verstappen and Antonelli. See, NASCAR? It can be done!
In the Drivers’ Championship, Piastri extends his lead to 22 over Norris and 43 over Verstappen. In the Constructors’, McLaren leads Mercedes by 175 and Ferrari by 191.
This Saturday (June 21) is Oil & Gas and Construction Workers Appreciation Night at EIR, which means workers in those industries are admitted FREE if they register in advance at the EIR website. Taking to the track will be the Thunder Cars, Pure Stocks, Future Stocks and IMCA cars, as well as the Cooper Equipment Hit to Pass. The EIR homepage is loaded with information about all the race events and other happenings at the track.
IndyCar: At Gateway, Will Power took pole over Scott McLaughlin and Pato O’Ward. Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco started 17th. Strange choice by IndyCar: instead of placing Live Timing on the homepage, they buried it a few pages deep. NASCAR keeps theirs front and center!
The first caution came on lap 4 after DeFrancesco hit the wall in Turn 2. On lap 47, Power hit the wall exiting Turn 4. Christian Rasmussen’s car caught fire exiting the pits – not serious, but dramatic. At halfway, Josef Newgarden led over David Malukas and McLaughlin. On lap 132, Louis Foster spun and collected Newgarden, who flipped and slid down the front stretch. Very late yellow!
Kyle Kirkwood won over O’Ward and Rasmussen. Fourteen cars finished on the lead lap.
Next race: Road America, Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on FOX.
This Saturday night (June 21) is LA Knapp Construction Night at The BOS. The ESS Super Sprints are the headline guests on the card, and will be joined by the Modifieds, Sportsman, Novice Sports and Mini Stocks. Here is the report from June 14 when Gabriel Cyr scored his first ever 358 Modified feature win. Click HERE to view the BOS homepage.
Next race: Six Hours of The Glen, Sunday at noon on REV TV.
24 Hours of Le Mans: Cadillac secured the top two spots in Hypercar qualifying, with the #5 Penske Porsche third. The second Penske Porsche failed tech (too light) and started at the back. TDS Racing topped LMP2, and Heart of Racing (Aston Martin) led LMGT3 over Vista AF Corse Ferrari and Team WRT BMW. Canadian AWA Racing’s Corvette was among the 62 qualifiers.
As expected, the second Penske Porsche led within two hours. In the end, the AF Corse Ferrari (Kubica/Ye/Hanson) took the win over the Penske Porsche and another AF Corse Ferrari. LMP2 was won by Inter Europol (Kurtz/Dillman/Yelloly). In LMGT3, the Manthey Porsche took class honors. The A
WA Corvette finished 10th in class, 43rd overall. An impressive 50 of 62 cars were still running at the end – a testament to modern endurance racing.
The NASCAR Canada Series returns to Sunset Speedway, south of Barrie, Ontario, for its second race of the season this Saturday night (June 21). The race will air live on REV TV. Go to NASCAR.ca for series info.
Next race: Sunset, Saturday at 7 p.m., live on REV TV.
APC Series: At Peterborough Speedway, Carson Nagy took Super Stock pole ahead of Lane Zardo and Nic Ramsay (11 cars). In Late Model qualifying, Jake Sheridan led points leader Josh Stade and Jo Lawrence. In the Super Stock feature, it finished Nagy, Ramsay, Zardo. The Late Model feature saw Sheridan win over Dale Shaw and Ray Morneau. There’s a full report from the night here.
Jake Sheridan won the APC Late Model race at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday. Photo by Jim Clarke.
Next race: Delaware, Saturday, June 28.
Ontario Sportsman Series: At Sunset Speedway, points leader Connor James grabbed pole with a 15.680 over Brad Robinson and Kevin Trevellin (12 cars). James took the win over Brendan Patrick and Robinson.
Looking for some NAPA swag and merchandise, including items featuring NASCAR Canada Series racer Kevin Lacroix? Then be sure to visit the NAPA Store. New items are featured regularly, including hats, racing clothing, drinkware, accessories and more.
Delaware Speedway: Friday was Autograph Night with Bone Stock and V8 Stocks. In Bone Stock qualifying, Donovin Clark set a new record with a 23.000. Charlie Verhoeven won the main over Clark and Paul Fothergill. In V8 Stock, Barry Watson won the feature over Jeff Ferguson and Jordan Morris. Steve McCaw won “King of the Hill” in a Corvette but got “treed” every run – time to visit a dragstrip!
Next race: Earl Ross Memorial Late Model 75, Friday.
Introducing the All-New “K-SPEC” Race Trailer Lineup! Kemp Motorsports is proud to unveil K-SPEC — their purpose-built, all-aluminum race trailers engineered to deliver premium performance and sleek styling without the premium price tag. Built with the same top-tier quality and aggressive design as our flagship models, K-SPEC fills the gap for racers who want it all — looks, durability, and value. Budget-friendly. Track-ready. 100% Kemp quality. Explore the full lineup and pricing now at www.kempmotorsports.ca.
NASCAR announces penalties from Mexico City weekend
The weekend at Mexico City was pretty clean from an operational standpoint, with very few teams dinged for a penalty by the NASCAR governing body. In fact, only one team was penalized. The No. 54 car of Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series — Taylor Gray‘s car — was penalized. The crew was fined […]
The weekend at Mexico City was pretty clean from an operational standpoint, with very few teams dinged for a penalty by the NASCAR governing body. In fact, only one team was penalized.
The No. 54 car of Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series — Taylor Gray‘s car — was penalized. The crew was fined $5,000 for an unsecured lug nut found in a post-race inspection.
There were no other penalties stemming from the inaugural race weekend at Mexico City. A pretty clean affair.
Carson Hocevar draws plenty attention
If there was anything particularly noteworthy from the weekend at Mexico City, it was perhaps the driving of Carson Hocevar in the Cup Series. Hocevar got into it after the race with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who got all the way up in his face.
The two had previously run afoul of each other at Michigan a few weeks back. Then it was more of the same this weekend.
Hocevar spun Stenhouse during the race at Mexico City, leading to his ire. And the driver of the No. 47 car was heated after the race, promising that he would beat Hocevar’s ass when they got back to the States.
Others say Hocevar’s act is wearing thin, with Mexico City perhaps the last straw. Kevin Harvick, for one, is on that train.
“I feel like at this point, everybody looks at it as it’s just a bunch of horseshit,” Harvick said. “They don’t trust him because it’s happened so many times over and over and over. I love the speed, but now the garage is looking for results and things to progress in the right direction, or all the rest of that talk is just irrelevant.”
Harvick also pointed out that the incidents with Hocevar, including at Mexico City, have left Stenhouse in an appreciably worse position. It is affecting his playoff contention.
“What’s crazy about that is when you talk about those points is how fast that got so far behind,” Harvick said. “That’s a race. Now they are a race behind from a points standpoint.”
New PRI Study Finds Motorsports Industry Has $69.2 Billion Economic ImpactPerformance Racing Industry
Motorsports Industry Powers $69.2 Billion U.S. Economic Engine, Supports Over 318,000 Jobs, New Study Finds Groundbreaking PRI economic industry study highlights how motorsports businesses serve as a key driver of American economic activity. PRI today released a landmark study that underscores the motorsports industry’s pivotal role as a key contributor to the U.S. economy, […]
Motorsports Industry Powers $69.2 Billion U.S. Economic Engine, Supports Over 318,000 Jobs, New Study Finds
Groundbreaking PRI economic industry study highlights how motorsports businesses serve as a key driver of American economic activity.
PRI today released a landmark study that underscores the motorsports industry’s pivotal role as a key contributor to the U.S. economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, generating billions in economic activity and delivering substantial tax revenue.
PRI, the leading voice for the motorsports industry in the U.S., commissioned the research, which was conducted by John Dunham & Associates, based on 2025 U.S. economy data. The study encompasses automobile, truck, motorcycle and UTV/side-by-side racing activity.
Traditionally, economic impact reports about racing are focused on the impact of a single event–major race weekend events for a specific local and state economy. Those are studies that examine the impact of the tourism dollars that come into the economy as a result of that single event. PRI’s report is different because it determines the economic impact of the businesses that support the existence of racing in the first place.
PRI’s research represents the most comprehensive assessment of motorsports’ economic footprint ever undertaken to quantify the scale and significance of the business of racing to the U.S. economy. It evaluates the economic contributions from multiple racing businesses–including tracks and promoters, parts manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers and incorporated race teams.
Key findings from the study include:
The industry contributes more than $69.2 billion in annual economic impact to the American economy.
Nationwide, the motorsports industry supports more than 318,000 American jobs.
American workers in the motorsports industry earn more than $22.1 billion worth of wages and benefits.
The industry generates more than $8.2 billion in tax revenue, including $5 billion in federal taxes and $3.2 billion in state and local taxes.
As part of this study, PRI also launched an interactive economic impact map, enabling users to explore motorsports-related data by state and county–highlighting the industry’s reach and relevance in communities of all sizes across the country. The website also offers downloadable infographics that can be shared with policymakers and other businesses to show the impact motorsports has on individual states and communities.
The PRI Economic Impact Study provides valuable data about the economic footprint of the motorsports industry in the U.S. PRI undertook this effort to provide policymakers, industry stakeholders and the public with credible, data-driven insights into racing’s role as a major driver of economic activity, employment and tax revenue. The study not only affirms the industry’s significance but also serves as a foundational resource to inform advocacy, investment and long-term planning.
“Racing holds a special place in American life, and this milestone report highlights the broad scope of the motorsports industry as an economic driver at the local, state and federal levels,” said PRI President Michael Good. “Using these results as a foundation, PRI will continue to seek ways to foster the motorsports industry, from racetracks to manufacturers, and from small businesses to major national employers, to ensure motorsports continues to touch every part of the country and bring together people from all walks of life for competition and community. We’re proud to serve as the leading voice for the motorsports industry in the U.S. and will continue delivering the data needed to demonstrate the industry’s economic strength and value.”
This economic impact study represents an important bookend to PRI’s 2024 Racing Market Report, a consumer trends analysis that found that consumers spent $8 billion on track-use-only parts for motorsports in 2023.
In 2023, a study commissioned by the SEMA found that the automotive aftermarket industry generates an economic impact of $337 billion annually to the American economy. While the motorsports study found small areas of overlap in the parts, repair and facilities areas, the motorsports study results are a complement to the SEMA report. PRI was acquired by SEMA in 2012 to connect, protect and advocate for the motorsports industry.
Report Methodology
The PRI Economic Impact Study estimates the economic contributions made by the motorsports industry, which includes manufacturers, distributors and retailers of automotive racing parts plus racetracks, race promoters, and professional race teams. Data are for the United States economy in 2025. John Dunham & Associates (JDA) conducted this research, which was funded by Performance Racing Industry (PRI). This work used standard econometric models first developed by the U.S. Forest Service, and now maintained by IMPLAN Inc. Data came from the PRI, Data Axle, and other government sources.
About Performance Racing Industry
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.
Carson Hocevar fined for making insensitive comments about Mexico
Spire Motorsports have taken action against their own driver, Carson Hocevar. The NASCAR Cup Series competed in Mexico City for the first time last weekend in an event that was positively received by most of the garage. But while the 22-year-old rising star was iRacing and live-streaming on Twitch, Hocevar chose to refer to Mexico […]
Spire Motorsports have taken action against their own driver, Carson Hocevar. The NASCAR Cup Series competed in Mexico City for the first time last weekend in an event that was positively received by most of the garage.
But while the 22-year-old rising star was iRacing and live-streaming on Twitch, Hocevar chose to refer to Mexico as a “s***hole” in comments that received immediate pushback. Hocevar quickly apologized for the comments, but the team later chose to launch an internal review of the incident.
As a result, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year has been fined $50,000 and must now complete mandatory cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. The money will be split between three Mexican charities, including Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross), Un Kilo de Ayuda (a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early-childhood development in rural communities), and Fondo Unido México (funding local NGOs that improve education, health, and housing).
Spire Motorsports statement
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
The team released a statement as well, explaining the decision to penalize the driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet: “These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel. Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we “walk the walk” in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.
“Spire Motorsports has informed NASCAR of these penalties, and NASCAR has confirmed that our team-imposed discipline satisfies the sanctioning body’s requirements. Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity.
“We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”
Carson Hocevar apology
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
Hocevar, who had a run-in with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during the race, which led to a post-race confrontation, released the following statement before the penalties were even announced on Sunday night:
“Maybe a kid that had never been out of the country until Thursday should ever give an opinion about what any place is like other than Portage, Michigan. When I answered that question on a stream, I was skeptical about the trip so far and believed everything I read or heard about Mexico City from people who more than likely also had never been here.
“Now that I’ve actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever seen, my opinion has changed. I am embarrassed by my comments, by the race I ran, and I may have to move here to hide out from Ricky [Stenhouse] anyway (referring to incident with the driver of the #47 car).
“Count this as another lesson for me in a season I’ve learned so much. Don’t believe everything you hear without seeing it yourself. If anyone should give anyone or any place the benefit of the doubt it’s me. I’m sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes.”
New statement from Hocevar
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
In the hours following Spire’s decision, Hocevar released a new statement on social media, addressing the influx of people coming to his defense.
“Whoa everybody, the truth is the truth. I said something that not only was wrong, I said it without even laying my own two eyes on CDMX or turning one lap in an actual race at an amazing facility that welcomed me with open arms and I go and say that? Thank you for the support but I’m not sure we’re on the same page. You guys want me to be me? It was me who said it and it was me who apologized after actually taking the time to explore the city and feel the passion of every fan in attendance. I appreciate the opportunity to learn and I knew before this weekend what respect means to this organization and I didn’t meet the standard so I got what I deserved.
“I hate learning these lessons in the public eye and bringing any negative attention to Spire or me. We’ve been fast just about every week and I’m sure I have plenty of mistakes left in me. I appreciate growing up in front of all of you and you guys get to see the good and the bad. I’m just me. I’m trying. It just doesn’t always go the way I want and I bring a lot of this on myself. However, I love being in this garage, with this team surrounded by the best drivers and fans in the world. See you in Pocono.
NASCAR is unlikely to to issue any penalties of their own as the team noted how they worked in “close consultation” with the sanctioning body before making this decision.
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Federal judge calls on NASCAR, teams to settle bitter antitrust battle
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal judge urged NASCAR and two of its teams, including one owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal judge urged NASCAR and two of its teams, including one owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing on Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR and the teams — 23XI Racing, which is owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins — on what they hoped to accomplish in the antitrust battle that has loomed over the stock car series for months.
“It’s hard to picture a winner if this goes to the mat — or to the flag — in this case,” Bell said. “It scares me to death to think about what all this is costing.”
23XI and Front Row were the only two organizations that refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it offer from NASCAR last September on a new charter agreement. Charters are NASCAR’s version of a franchise model, with each charter guaranteeing entry to the lucrative Cup Series races and a stable revenue stream; 13 other teams signed the agreements last fall, with some contending they had little choice.
The nearly two-hour hearing was on the teams’ request to toss out NASCAR’s countersuit, which accuses Jordan business manager Curtis Polk of “willfully” violating antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in negotiations. NASCAR said it learned in discovery that Polk in messages among the 15 teams tried to form a “cartel” type operation that would include threats of boycotting races and a refusal to individually negotiate.
One of NASCAR’s attorneys even cited a Benjamin Franklin quote Polk allegedly sent to the 15 organizations that read: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the teams, was angered by the revelation in open court, contending it is privileged information only revealed in discovery. Kessler also argued none of NASCAR’s claims in the countersuit prove anything illegal was done by Polk or the Race Team Alliance during the charter negotiation process.
“NASCAR knows it has no defense to the monopolization case so they have come up with this claim about joint negotiations, which they agreed to, never objected to, and now suddenly it’s an antitrust violation,” Kessler said outside court. “It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not going to help them deflect from the monopolizing they have done in this market and the harm they have inflicted.”
He added that “the attacks” on Polk were “false, unfounded and frankly beneath the dignity of my adversary to even make those type of comments, which he should know better about.”
NASCAR attorneys said Polk improperly tried to pressure all 15 teams that comprise the RTA to stand together collectively in negotiations and encouraged boycotting qualifying races for the 2024 Daytona 500. NASCAR, they said, took the threat seriously because the teams had previously boycotted a scheduled meeting with series executives.
“NASCAR knew the next step was they could boycott a race, which was a threat they had to take seriously,” attorney Lawrence Buterman said on behalf of NASCAR.
Kessler said outside court the two teams are open to settlement talks, but noted NASCAR has said it will not renegotiate the charters. NASCAR’s attorneys declined to comment after the hearing.
Bell did not indicate when he’d rule, other than saying he would decide quickly.
Preliminary injunction status
Kessler said he would file an appeal by the end of the week after a three-judge federal appellate panel dismissed a preliminary injunction that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI and Front Row as chartered teams while the court fight is being resolved.
Kessler wants the issue heard by the full appellate court. The injunction has no bearing on the merits of the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in December. The earliest NASCAR can treat the teams as unchartered is one week after the deadline to appeal, provided there is no pending appeal or whenever the appeals process has been exhausted.
There are 36 chartered cars for the 40-car field each week. If 23XI and Front Row are not recognized as chartered, their six cars would have to compete as “open” teams — which means they’d have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and they would receive a fraction of the money guaranteed for chartered teams.
Discovery issues
Some of the arguments Tuesday centered on Jonathan Marshall, the executive director of the RTA. NASCAR has demanded text messages and emails from Marshall and says it has received roughly 100 texts and over 55,000 pages of emails.
NASCAR wants all texts between Marshall and 55 people from 2020 through 2024 that contain specific search terms. Attorneys for the RTA said that covers more than 3,000 texts, some of which are privileged, and some that have been “deleted to save storage or he didn’t need them anymore.”
That issue is set to be heard during a hearing next Tuesday before Bell.
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Spire Motorsports punishes Carson Hocevar for derogatory comments about Mexico City | Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend. Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Spire Motorsports fined Carson Hocevar $50,000 on Tuesday for derogatory comments he made about Mexico City on a live stream as NASCAR raced there last weekend.
Hocevar walked back the comments Sunday night with an apology and the 22-year-old admitted it was the first time he’d ever been outside the United States and believed all the negative things he’d read and heard about Mexico City.
“I am embarrassed by my comments,” he posted in a lengthy apology.
Spire also ordered Hocevar to attend cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.
Spire said the $50,000 fine will be donated in equal portions to three organizations that serve Mexican communities:
— Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).
— Un Kilo de Ayuda, a nonprofit combating childhood malnutrition and supporting early-childhood development in rural communities.
— Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico), which funds local NGOs that improve education, health, and housing in 22 Mexican states.
“These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports’ core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel,” the team said in a statement. “Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we ‘walk the walk’ in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport.
“Carson Hocevar’s recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. He has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud.”
Spire said it informed NASCAR of Hocevar’s penalties and that it satisfied the sanctioning body’s requirements.
“Together we remain committed to showcasing NASCAR’s global growth, celebrating the passionate Mexican fanbase we experienced firsthand last weekend, and ensuring every member of our organization treats hosts, competitors, and communities with dignity,” Spire said.
“We look forward to turning the page by racing hard, representing our partners, and living our values on and off the track.”
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This Saturday night (June 21) at Flamboro Speedway, the track hosts one of its Meet The Drivers nights. The Steel City Super Stocks, Pro Late Models, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks and Pro-4s will be in action on the track. Click HERE for more Flamboro info.
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY
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+ Travis Hunter PLAYING BOTH SIDES | The Pat McAfee Show
