St. Johns businesses along US 127 are preparing for one of their busiest weekends of the year as Fourth of July travelers head north through mid-Michigan.

• Businesses along US 127 in St. Johns expect more customers during the holiday weekend.
• Phillips Orchard and Cider Mill stays open during holiday weekends to serve travelers.
• US 27 Motorsports sees a boost from the holiday traffic and the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July.

WATCH: St. Johns businesses benefit from Fourth of July travel rush

St. Johns businesses see boost from holiday travelers on US 127

Phillips Orchard and Cider Mill, typically known as an autumn destination, sees significant business during summer holiday weekends too.

“Fourth of July weekend’s coming up and it’s one of our busy travel weekends,” Brian Phillips, orchard co-president said.

Those driving north on US 127 pass directly by these local businesses, creating a noticeable impact on their foot traffic.

“We are normally 10%-15% busier on a travel weekend versus just a regular weekend,” Phillips said.

Just down 127, US 27 Motorsports also benefits from the influx of holiday travelers.

“We’ll likely have a pretty big influx, likely on Saturday, of people traveling through our parts and accessory department,” said Shane Sake, operations director at US 27 Motorsports, said.

Sake told me the boost in business makes opening during the holiday weekend worthwhile. Similarly, Phillips explained that the orchard always remains open during holiday weekends.

“We know people are traveling and need a place to stop, or pick up a little gift or memento of their trip. We try to be here when they wanna stop in,” Phillips said.

Both businesses expressed appreciation for their location along the popular northern route.

“Once you pass us, you’re on the way north and we’re kinda the gateway for that,” Sake said.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — RFK Racing president Steve Newmark will depart the team and join the University of North Carolina Tar Heels athletics program.

Newmark will join Carolina as the executive associate athletic director. He will start Aug. 15. Then, in the summer of 2026, he will become the university’s athletic director.

Carolina touted Newmark for his experience with sponsorships, marketing, team operations and contract negotiations. The university believes he will be a strong fit as they look to “further adapt the Department to needs related to revenue share, NIL and commercial strategy.”

Newmark joined RFK Racing in April 2010 as the senior vice president of business operations. Then, he became the team president in December 2010.

At the start of Newmark’s tenure, the team contended for the title in 2011 and 2012. Then, as veterans Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards left, the team started to decline.

The team had just two wins and two playoff appearances from 2015 to 2021, compared to 33 and 16 in the previous seven season. Despite the struggles, they held on to several key partners – due in no small part to Newmark’s leadership.

When Brad Keselowski bought into the team in 2022, Newmark helped lead the team into a new era with a new name – RFK Racing. RFK has at least one win in each of its three completed seasons. In the previous two, they have multiple wins and at least one playoff appearance. The team even expanded to three full-time cars in 2025 for the first time in eight years.

“It has been a true privilege to learn from and represent Jack Roush and John Henry, and the entire Roush and Fenway organizations. And I firmly believe the RFK team is in a great spot and poised for tremendous success both on and off the track in the years ahead,” Newmark stated.

Newmark also served as a liaison for the teams to NASCAR. In fact, he was instrumental in the creation of the charter system in NASCAR.

The new role with Carolina brings Newmark back to his roots. A native of Chapel Hill, he was a partner at the Charlotte-based law firm Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson before joining RFK. He specialized in sports and entertainment and worked extensively with the Southeastern Conference, Conference USA and the NCAA.  

“Now, it’s time for a new chapter. I am heading back home to Chapel Hill to join one of the most respected and successful programs in college sports. I am thrilled to officially become part of UNC Athletics and look forward to joining Tar Heel Nation as we strive for wins and championships across all sports in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics,” he said.

Newmark also served on the advisory committee that assisted in hiring eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick as Carolina’s head football coach.

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

Ryan Blaney has yet to get payback on Carson Hocevar for wrecking him in the February race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Blaney might feel more inclined to get back at Hocevar after a Spire social media person stoked the flames this past weekend.

Blaney and Hocevar went head-to-head in Round 1 of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge this past Saturday, in Atlanta of all places. Hocevar, the No. 26 seed, knocked off the No. 7 seeded Blaney after a 10th-place finish. After the race, Spire decided to troll Blaney on social media.

In the development of the motorsport landscape, renowned filmmaker and ardent motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves is set to host a documentary series that delves into the behind-the-scenes efforts of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as they prepare to join the F1 grid.

Supported by TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM), Cadillac is gearing up for its debut in Formula 1 for the 2026 season, having received final approval to become the sport’s 11th team in March of this year.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Keanu Reeves, shared: “I’m very honoured and excited to be a part of telling the remarkable Cadillac Formula 1 Team story and its incredible journey into the world of Formula 1 racing.”

“Our goal with the docuseries is to bring audiences into the heart of this journey and showcase what it takes to participate in one of the most exclusive sports arenas in the world,” Reeves expressed.

Echoing his sentiments, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Dan Towriss, added: “This is a story of bold ambition and relentless drive. We’re honoured to work with Keanu, whose passion and knowledge of racing runs deep, and proud to partner with GM on this incredible story.”

“We have an opportunity to welcome a new generation of fans to Formula 1, and Keanu’s creativity is the perfect spark to ignite that journey,” Towriss mentioned.

GM President, Mark Reuss, concluded: “General Motors and TWG Motorsports joined forces on a bold mission – to build a uniquely American Formula 1 team.”

“It’s a thrill to have Keanu Reeves document the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s journey to our first season in the FIA Formula One World Championship,” Reuss concluded.

This entry marks an important moment for the American automotive giant as it seeks to carve out a presence in a sport traditionally dominated by European teams.

The docuseries, which has been granted exclusive access by the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, TWG Motorsports, and GM, will document the inception and development of F1’s newest team as they anticipate their first appearance at the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, next March.

Reeves, through his KR+SH company, will collaborate with North One to produce the series, stepping into the roles of host and executive producer.

This announcement comes shortly after his recent Emmy win for the acclaimed Disney+ documentary series “Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story.” The project will be led by Emmy-winning director and executive producer Simon Hammerson, alongside three-time BAFTA-winning executive producer Neil Duncanson.

Audiences can expect an intimate look at the unique challenges of assembling a competitive team on an accelerated timeline, alongside a first-hand account of the vision behind establishing a distinctly American presence in a sport long dominated by European powerhouses.

The docuseries is expected to air before Cadillac’s highly anticipated debut at Melbourne’s Albert Park in March 2026.

As the countdown to their inaugural season begins, Cadillac has yet to disclose the names of its two drivers for 2026, but will initially utilise Ferrari power units, with plans to run their own engines in the future.

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I’m blessed to have my dad still around after all these years. He turns 88 today, the second day of July. He’s always been such a big part of mine and my sisters’ lives that I know they feel the same.

Heading into the weekend at Chicago, Kevin Harvick and his crew from the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast have made their picks for the race. Harvick has an interesting winner in mind.

The former driver and current NASCAR analyst weighed one factor that might disproportionately affect the race. In fact, he made the call while surveying things live on the show.

“I’m going to look at the weather forecast,” Harvick explained. “I’m going to make this super technical. Let’s see. And I’m not going to tell you if it’s raining, because you’re not changing your pick. 10-day, 50% chance of rain on Sunday. Hmm. Yep. I’m going to go with Ty Gibbs.”

Gibbs is a solid enough choice to win the race. He’s had some recent success at Chicago, having finished third there last year.

His last few times out on road courses haven’t been great, though. He finished 11th at Mexico City, but that came after a 34th place finish at COTA, 35th at the Charlotte Roval and 22nd at Watkins Glenn

In any case, Gibbs has finished in the top 10 in both street races at Chicago to date. He’s had six top-10 finishes at road courses and four top-five finishes.

Harvick’s co-hosts on the podcast both went with different drivers. Kaitlyn Vincie went for one of the heavy favorites.

“My pick for the winner in Chicago is (Shane van Gisbergen),” she said. “SVG. Low-hanging f*cking fruit. I need help right now. I need help!”

While Vincie’s pick was a safe one, designed to get her back in the running in Harvick’s weekly picks segment, co-host Mamba Smith had a more adventurous selection. He picked the guy who was closing things down on winner Alex Bowman at Chicago before a late mishap last year.

“I’m really, honestly, I’m really up in the air about who I should pick on this one,” Smith said. “And I think I’m going to go with Tyler Reddick. He’s had speed there before. I think he kind of gave one up there before. And they need to keep these good runs going. So I’m going to go Tyler Reddick.”

Last year, Reddick appeared to have the speed to chase down Bowman and get there for the win. Then he clipped a wall, slowing him down enough in the final lap to ruin a shot at the win.

Could he get things straightened out this time? We’ll see. Sunday’s street race at Chicago begins at 2 p.m. ET on TNT.