Pfaff Says ‘Ciao’ to Lamborghini – Speedway Digest
If fans of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have learned anything over the past few years, it’s that the Pfaff Motorsports plaid livery looks good on a variety of racecars. Since 2023, sports car racing’s most proudly Canadian team has displayed its trademark red and black tartan and the No. 9 on Porsche, McLaren (which […]
If fans of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have learned anything over the past few years, it’s that the Pfaff Motorsports plaid livery looks good on a variety of racecars.
Since 2023, sports car racing’s most proudly Canadian team has displayed its trademark red and black tartan and the No. 9 on Porsche, McLaren (which saw the colors temporarily changed to orange and black), and now Lamborghini cars competing in IMSA’s Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class.
Pfaff Motorsports started out in the Rothmans Porsche 944 Cup in 1986 and won the championship with Scott Goodyear two years later. It systematically moved up the sports car racing ladder, joining IMSA’s top series in 2019. Zacharie Robichon won a pair of races in a Porsche to finish third in the GTD class standings while also claiming the WeatherTech Sprint Cup.
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic blunted Pfaff’s momentum, and it made only two starts in 2020. But Porsche factory driver Laurens Vanthoor and Robichon combined to win the 2021 GTD championship for Pfaff and Porsche with four race wins.
Things got even better in 2022 when – again with Porsche support – the now-familiar pairing of Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell blitzed the competition in the first year for GTD PRO. They won five races, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona, to add to the team’s 2021 victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
The 2023 season represented a step back in terms of results, as Patrick Pilet and Klaus Bachler finished fourth in GTD PRO as Porsche teams struggled with the new Type 992 version of the 911 GT3 R. That partially prompted the switch to McLaren, a move also driven by commercial reasons given Pfaff Automotive Partners’ status as McLaren’s official Canadian importer, with showrooms in Toronto and Vancouver.
Although Marvin Kirchhoefer and Oliver Jarvis scored a pair of second place finishes in 2024 in the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo (including at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where they secured their first of two), the relationship did not pan out. Pfaff Motorsports General Manager Steve Bortolotti was considering a major restructuring of the team until he was approached by Lamborghini about representing the marque in GTD PRO to accompany GTD entries fielded by Forte Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing.
The figurative journey from Germany to Italy via England has taxed the Pfaff organization, but Bortolotti believes the greater Toronto-based team is on the right track – even if the 2025 season hasn’t gotten off to a great start for full-season drivers Andrea Caldarelli and Marco Mapelli.
The No. 9 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 was eliminated in a multi-car crash in the Rolex 24 and encountered a couple delays on the way to 10th place in class at Sebring.
“Transitions are never easy, but this was far easier than we could have imagined it would be given how late it all came together,” Bortolotti said. “The welcoming of the other Lamborghini teams in the stable has made the transition much easier. We worked with Lamborghini and identified the holes we felt we had and identified staff that had really great experience with the car that we were lacking.
“Obviously our mechanics have been with the team for a number of years, so they know the expectations, but Lamborghini had individuals come to our shop and train the guys on the basics. One of the new engineers that joined the team had a lot of experience with the car from DTM, and at Daytona, Lamborghini made sure they had a factory mechanic embedded with the team. If there was anything that came up, it was nice having that immediate expert to ask questions.”
The Pfaff-Lamborghini combination got up to speed quickly at Daytona as Caldarelli was fastest in free practice and qualified fifth in class. Jordan Pepper, the fourth driver added for Daytona, was then swept into a six-car incident during the eighth hour of the Rolex 24. It was the first time a Pfaff car was retired from a race due to crash damage since 2019.
“I can’t blame anyone for that, and we’ve been very lucky in that regard,” Bortolotti admitted.
At Sebring, the No. 9 Lamborghini lost a lap early due to a torque sensor issue, then IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup driver James Hinchcliffe injured his left foot when the car was dropped onto it during a pit stop. Hinchcliffe came back to drive a double stint later in the race.
Bortolotti is impressed by the working relationship between Lamborghini factory drivers Mapelli and Caldarelli. He sees similarities between them and the successful duo of Campbell and Jaminet, who are now teamed in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 that competes in the WeatherTech Championship’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.
“Watching how Matt and Mathieu worked together when they were with us reminds me so much of what I’m now seeing with Marco and Andrea,” related Bortolotti. “They truly trust each other. There’s no worry about who is faster than who. They know how to work together to make the car faster, they know all the tools, and they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That goes a long way – drivers being self-aware and trusting that their differences, when combined, make them a better team. That’s important.
“Marco does a lot of the development on Lamborghini’s race cars as well,” he added. “He knows exactly what he wants, and he and Andrea have an amazing chemistry that really reminds me of Campbell and Jaminet. They truly get along and truly have that trust in each another where one of them can get out of the car and say, ‘Oh, this is great for me, but I know you aren’t going to like it.’ There’s not a competition between them. It’s what’s best for the team and what’s best for getting the result we want.”
While Pfaff Motorsports has become famous for its plaid livery, it is also known as one of the most fan-friendly teams in the IMSA paddock. Ironically, an online fan vote determined the non-plaid livery that Pfaff and primary sponsor Motul USA will run May 9-11 at the Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
“Our identity is the plaid and the Canadian, and there’s a lot that goes with that, including the fun way we interact with fans,” Bortolotti said. “But the reality is, racing to win is the Pfaff way. We surround ourselves with people who would rather be at the racetrack to win than just being there to be there. That culture that we’ve built, that passion for doing things the right way and wanting to win, can’t be lost. From a recruiting standpoint and adding new people, that’s one of the criteria for working with this race team. We want to work with racers.”
The Monterey SportsCar Championship features the GTP, GTD PRO, and GTD classes of the WeatherTech Championship. The 2-hour, 40-minute sprint race will be broadcast domestically from 3-6 p.m. ET Sunday, May 11 on NBC and streamed on Peacock, with international coverage available on IMSA.TV and IMSA’s official YouTube channel.
NASCAR All-Star qualifying live results: Cup starting lineup updates
The NASCAR All-Star Race weekend begins on May 16 with practice and qualifying for Sunday’s All-Star Race and All-Star Open. The qualifying format is unique to the All-Star Race, with qualifying for both the All-Star heat races and All-Star Open including three-lap runs with a pit stop at the end of the second lap. Friday’s […]
The NASCAR All-Star Race weekend begins on May 16 with practice and qualifying for Sunday’s All-Star Race and All-Star Open.
The qualifying format is unique to the All-Star Race, with qualifying for both the All-Star heat races and All-Star Open including three-lap runs with a pit stop at the end of the second lap.
Friday’s All-Star qualifying sets the lineups for the two heat races on May 17 for those already in the All-Star field, and those heats will set the All-Star field along with the top two finishers in the Open on May 18 and the fan vote winner.
Joey Logano is the defending All-Star Race champion.
Follow along with live updates of NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying at North Wilkesboro:
NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying live results, updates
Qualifying begins at 5 p.m. CT.
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Harrison Burton, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Cody Ware, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Chad Finchum, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
UNC Charlotte Partners with NASCAR Truck Series Driver for Two-Race Deal
University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte is hitting the NASCAR scene for the first time and doing it in style. They recently struck a deal with Front Row Motorsports to display the university’s branding on the No. 34 Ford F-150 driven by alumnus Layne Riggs. The truck will run in two NASCAR Truck Series races […]
University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte is hitting the NASCAR scene for the first time and doing it in style. They recently struck a deal with Front Row Motorsports to display the university’s branding on the No. 34 Ford F-150 driven by alumnus Layne Riggs. The truck will run in two NASCAR Truck Series races this May.
You can watch the truck at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 17 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 23. It will be hard to miss, since the truck’s paint scheme will match UNC Charlotte’s signature colors.
“My education is something I take a lot of pride in,” said Riggs in a team’s press release. “When I started my journey at Charlotte, I put a big emphasis on taking what I learned in the classroom and applying it to my racing career, something I still do today driving for Front Row Motorsports,” he further expressed.
The deal links Riggs’ time on track with his academic path. While earning his mechanical engineering degree from UNC Charlotte in 2024, he also won the Truck Series Rookie of the Year award, proving you can excel both in class and on track.
“At UNC Charlotte, we don’t just teach motorsports, we’re crafting the future of racing. Layne Riggs is a shining example of what happens when you combine engineering expertise with passion and grit,” stated Harish Cherukuri from the William States Lee College of Engineering.
After nine races this season, Riggs sits ninth in points. His top run came at Homestead-Miami, where he crossed the line in second place but was later disqualified after a post-race inspection. The 22-year-old driver has shown steady growth throughout the year.
Want to cheer him on? You can watch the North Wilkesboro race on FS1 or listen on SiriusXM channel 90. Green flag drops at 1:30 PM ET on May 17.
2025 Indianapolis 500 sold out – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For just the second time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 is a sellout. Well, almost. Doug Boles, president of the NTT IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced Friday that a sellout is “imminent” and he expects the remaining grandstand tickets to be sold by the end of the day. The […]
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For just the second time in its history, the Indianapolis 500 is a sellout. Well, almost.
Doug Boles, president of the NTT IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced Friday that a sellout is “imminent” and he expects the remaining grandstand tickets to be sold by the end of the day.
The first — and until now, only — grandstand sellout was in 2016 for the 100th running.
“The sheer size and scale of this crowd is going to be massive,” Boles said. “The 109th Running will be a full-scale, nonstop spectacle that draws the eyes of the world to Speedway, Indiana.”
Boles says the track will continue to sell general admission tickets until supplies run out.
Tickets have been in high demand all spring, with less than 10,000 grandstand seats available at the end of April. Brian Kaltenmark, senior marketing director for IMS, said May 1 that sales were up 4% year-over-year.
With packed grandstands and space for 100,000 fans in the infield, race day attendance could hit 350,000 — more than enough for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” to continue its reign as the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
A sellout doesn’t just mean more people at the track — it means the race will be shown live on TVs across central Indiana for just the fourth time in 75 years.
The speedway implemented a local TV blackout in 1951 after two years of live broadcasts, believing the race would draw bigger crowds if people could not stay home and watch it. Officials promised to lift the local TV embargo if the race ever sold out — and both of those things happened in 2016. The blackout was lifted again in 2020, when the race was held in August due to the coronavirus pandemic, and a third time last year following a four-hour rain delay.
The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is still 9 days away, but plenty of fans will be at the track on Friday for “Fast Friday.” In the final practice session before qualifications, cars will receive a turbocharger boost to reach the speeds they will run during qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.
Practice is scheduled to run from noon to 6 p.m. The qualification draw is set for 6:15 p.m. in Pagoda Plaza.
The 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 25. Join WISH-TV’s Daybreak starting at 5 a.m. for live coverage from IMS.
StarKist® Joins Forces with the Busch Family to Fuel a Healthy Lifestyle On and Off the Track
StarKist® Joins Forces with the Busch Family to Fuel a Healthy Lifestyle On and Off the Track StarKist Co., America’s favorite tuna brand, is proud to announce a dynamic new partnership with two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, his wife, wellness advocate Samantha Busch, and their youth racer son Brexton. The collaboration brings together […]
StarKist® Joins Forces with the Busch Family to Fuel a Healthy Lifestyle On and Off the Track
StarKist Co., America’s favorite tuna brand, is proud to announce a dynamic new partnership with two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, his wife, wellness advocate Samantha Busch, and their youth racer son Brexton. The collaboration brings together StarKist’s commitment to fueling healthy, active lifestyles with the high-energy world of motorsports and the everyday hustle of family life.
“We’re thrilled to launch this partnership with Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, and their incredible family,” said Michael Merritt Jr., Head…
How to watch 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race: Schedule, start time, TV channel for North Wilkesboro
The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race roars back to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for four days of short-track action, concerts and Cup-Series bragging rights. The non-points exhibition expands to 250 laps this year, promising even more drama under the lights. Here’s everything you need to know: When is the All-Star Race? The NASCAR All-Star Open is […]
The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race roars back to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for four days of short-track action, concerts and Cup-Series bragging rights. The non-points exhibition expands to 250 laps this year, promising even more drama under the lights. Here’s everything you need to know:
When is the All-Star Race?
The NASCAR All-Star Open is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th at 5:30 p.m. ET. The NASCAR All-Star Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th at 8 p.m. ET.
Where is the race?
The NASCAR All-Star Open and Race will take place at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
How long is the race?
The NASCAR All-Star Race Heat 1 and Heat 2 are 75-lap heats. The NASCAR All-Star Open is a 100-lap event with a break around lap 40. The NASCAR All-Star Race is a 250-lap event.
Where can I watch the NASCAR All-Star Races? What channel will it be on?
The races will be broadcast live on FS1 and the FOX Sports App.
NASCAR Cup Series: Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY Highlights | NASCAR on FOX
How can I stream or watch the race without cable?
The NASCAR All-Star Races can be streamed on the FOX Sports App or FOXSports.com.
For those without cable, there are live-streaming services that carry FS1, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV.
What is the North Wilkesboro Speedway Schedule?
Friday, May 16th
Pit Road Qualifying Entry/Exit Practice (Open) – 4 p.m. ET (FS2)
Pit Road Qualifying Entry/Exit Practice (All-Star) – 4:30 p.m. ET (FS2)
Practice (Open and All-Star entries) – 5 p.m. ET (FS2)
Qualifying/All-Star Pit Crew Challenge (Open) – 6 p.m. ET (FS1)
Qualifying/All-Star Pit Crew Challenge (All-Star) – 7 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, May 17th
NASCAR Craftsman Window World 250 – 1:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150 – 2 p.m. ET (FloRacing)
NASCAR All-Star Open – 5:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
NASCAR All-Star Race – 8 p.m. ET (FS1, MAX)
Who is driving in the race?
Twenty drivers are already locked into the main event, including Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Ryan Blaney and reigning champion Kyle Busch. Additional spots will be filled by:
All-Star Open winners (top 2 finishers)
Fan Vote winner
The final 24-car grid will be set after Saturday’s heat races and Sunday’s Open.
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StarKist Co., America’s favorite tuna brand, is proud to announce a dynamic new partnership with two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, his wife, wellness advocate Samantha Busch, and their youth racer son Brexton. The collaboration brings together StarKist’s commitment to fueling healthy, active lifestyles with the high-energy world of motorsports and the everyday hustle of family life.
