Motorsports
Remembering the wildest Coke 600 in NASCAR history
When it comes to iconic NASCAR races, the 2005 running of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 is up there as one of the wilded and most bizarre. It was May 29th, 2005, a few hours after Dan Wheldon had won his first Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day. 43 drivers took part in NASCAR’s longest race and […]

When it comes to iconic NASCAR races, the 2005 running of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 is up there as one of the wilded and most bizarre. It was May 29th, 2005, a few hours after Dan Wheldon had won his first Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day.
43 drivers took part in NASCAR’s longest race and through 5+ hours of chaos, it came down to an aging champion searching for one last moment of glory and a new superstar on the cusp of greatness.
The race kicked off in the daylight with Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon leading the field to the green flag. Seven laps were run before the caution flew and the safety vehicles were deployed in what would be a very busy night for them. Martin Truex Jr. rubbed the wall and while it was nothing major, it was the beginning of the most caution-filled race in NASCAR history.
The first 100 laps were fairly subdued and nothing peculiar occurred. But as Kyle Busch defended the lead against then-teammate Gordon, a multi-car pileup ensued on the backstretch. No big names collected, but the free pass did go to 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte, who had started back in 34th. And you’re going to want to remember that name for later.
Chaos reigns
Things began to unravel from that point onward. The race could hardly go 20 laps without an incident. Ten cautions flew between lap 115 and 240. Perhaps the most notable incident happened on the 247th lap, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and then-teammate Michael Waltrip were battling for position. A misjudged crossover move by Earnhardt sent Waltrip spinning wildly down the frontstretch, destroying both cars in the process. Former Cup champions Matt Kenseth and Terry Labonte also got swept up in the mess and had their nights ended prematurely. Terry’s brother Bobby was able to weave through the chaos and just barely avoid the out-of-control race cars.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet
Photo by: George Tiedemann via Getty Images
When the race returned to green flag conditions, the carnage began to subside (for the moment) and everyone finally got the chance to take a breath after 375 miles of almost non-stop destruction. The cautions continued to trickle in, but they were for minor things such as a piece of debris or oil on the track. But when Kasey Kahne blew a right front tire and threw debris all over the track, NASCAR was forced to display the yellow once more. How was this yellow more significant than the others? Well, it happened in the middle of green flag pit stops and just like that, the running order was turned upside down.
The race-altering yellow
All four Hendrick cars were trapped deep in the running order, as were many other top contenders. One driver was told to pit by his crew chief seconds before the caution was displayed, but that driver called an audible and decided to wait after seeing Kahne limping around on the apron. That driver would be veteran Bobby Labonte, who now ran second to Carl Edwards. With the rules as they were back then, cars that stayed out to get a lap back weren’t waved around the pace car. Instead, they restarted just ahead of the leaders at the tail-end of the lead lap, putting Edwards and Labonte in the middle of the field — and the eye of the storm.
On lap 364, Joe Nemehcek fought his way through the traffic and took over the race lead. With the drivers tired and the race running incredibly late, tempers began to flare. Under caution, Edwards and Dale Jarrett got into a shoving match with their cars over some earlier contact.
Another massive pileup took place with just twenty laps remaining. Seven cars in total received damage including notables such as Gordon, Brian Vickers, Kevin Harvick, and Mark Martin. Jimmie Johnson was lucky to be directly in front of the accident as few behind it made it through. That wreck officially broke the old NASCAR record for cautions in a single Cup race, and they weren’t even done tearing up equipment yet.

Brian Vickers, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet damage
Photo by: Getty Images
As for Johnson, he had been quietly avoiding drama throughout the race. He entered the event as the favorite, and not just because the track was called Lowe’s Motor Speedway at the time, which was also his primary sponsor. Johnson was the defending winner of the Coke 600 and swept both races at Charlotte the previous year. He was now one of the few drivers left standing in the closing laps.
And this race wasn’t done surprising us just yet. As the laps ticked down to under ten laps remaining, race leader Nemechek lost control and backed it into the wall due to a tire failure. His mangled No. 01 machine slid down the track and directly into the path of Johnson. The No. 48 somehow made it through the blinding smoke, inches away from what would have been a terrible impact.

Joe Nemechek crashes from the lead
Photo by: Getty Images
The lead was put into the hands of none other than Bobby Labonte. That weekend was weird for him, even before the green flag flew. His bright green Interstate Batteries car was replaced with FedEx colors for this race because his teammate Jason Leffler, who had originally carried the scheme, failed to qualify for the event. The company then made an unusual deal with Gibbs to be placed on the No. 18 car. Labonte was also facing a winless streak that dated back to the end of the 2003 season and he was eager to return to Victory Lane.
Labonte fights to the bitter end
The race was red-flagged with nine laps to go and the commentators decided to speak with Labonte, but as they quickly found out, he wasn’t in the mood for chatting.
“You got me Bobby?” … “Yeah.” … “Do you think you can hold him off?”… “I’m gonna try.” … “How good is your car? As good as it’s been all night I guess?” … “Yeah.”
He was so focused on the mission ahead of him, knowing he had the inferior car. But he was not about to bow down in the face of such odds. That weekend was also the tenth anniversary of Labonte’s first win at the Cup level, which came at this same race in 1995. He knew that behind him, he had a hungry rookie in Edwards and Johnson’s Hendrick-powered No. 48. Johnson also had slightly fresher tires than those ahead of him.
The race resumed with just six laps left. Johnson quickly moved forward, taking second with four laps and six miles left to run Labonte down. Well, he was on him in a single lap.
Labonte fought with everything he had, but he also had a reputation as one of the cleanest drivers in the field. He wasn’t about to get physical in this tense battle for the win. Johnson sent it to the inside of Labonte in Turn 1 on the final lap, but he got too tight and had to lift. It looked as if the battle was over, but Johnson was not finished yet. He sent it deep into the final set of corners on the outside, sparks flying out from under his No. 48 Chevrolet. He clawed forward, pulling alongside Labonte out of Turn 4 as the stands erupted with camera flashes.
At the line, just 0.027s separated them in the closest finish in the entire 65-year history of the Coke 600. Johnson enjoyed the sweet taste of Victory Lane champagne that night, while Labonte endured the bitter agony of defeat, kicking the side of his car in disgust. It was not the celebration he had hoped for to commemorate his first NASCAR Cup win from ten years prior. And as fate would have it, Labonte raced on for another decade, and never won again.
The 46th running of the Coca Cola 600 was a riveting, but bizarre event that lasted five hours and 13 minutes. It featured a record number of cautions at 22, which has yet to be beat. 21 of the 43 drivers that started the race led at one point and the driver who led the most laps [Vickers] never even made it to the finish. And when the smoke cleared, only 36 inches stood between the first and second place cars. It signified the clashing of two eras with Labonte, one of the last stars of the Winston Cup era losing to the man who would turn the newly introduced NASCAR playoffs into his personal playground.
And while there have been plenty of weird and wild Coke 600s, nothing compares to what went on this Sunday evening in 2005.
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Motorsports
Time to crown the King of Brands Hatch: the NASCAR Euro Series heads to the UK for American SpeedFest 12 – Speedway Digest
Paul Jouffreau and Thomas Krasonis spearhead the electric festivities that will take place at Brands Hatch on 7-8 June – Tens of thousands of fans will attend EuroNASCAR’s most popular event 22 teams and 38 drivers will compete in the NASCAR GP UK Four thrilling races await the competitors in PRO and OPEN Brands Hatch […]

Paul Jouffreau and Thomas Krasonis spearhead the electric festivities that will take place at Brands Hatch on 7-8 June – Tens of thousands of fans will attend EuroNASCAR’s most popular event
22 teams and 38 drivers will compete in the NASCAR GP UK
Four thrilling races await the competitors in PRO and OPEN
Brands Hatch hosts the 12th edition of their crown jewel EuroNASCAR event
Brands Hatch sets the stage for the third round of the 2025 NASCAR Euro Series championship: the ever popular American SpeedFest. The festival is one of the most awaited events on the calendar for drivers, teams and fans. Tens of thousands of fans will pack the 1.938 kilometer Indy Circuit for four thrilling NASCAR sprint races and an event growing American-themed festival. The twelfth edition of the American SpeedFest promises to bring an even bigger and better spectacle to Brands Hatch.
PRO: Three drivers in four points at the top
Three primary protagonists have emerged after two exciting rounds in both Spain and Italy. Paul Jouffreau from RDV Competition battled PK Carsport’s duo of Vittorio Ghirelli and Thomas Krasonis in four highly acclaimed races. The tension is palpable and the battles between them have always been tight but fair. The three drivers are separated by just four points as they head to Brands Hatch for a continuation of their exciting championship dogfight.
Jouffreau secured wins in Valencia and Vallelunga, taking the lead both in the overall standings and the Junior Trophy. Reigning champion Ghirelli returned to the top step of the podium at his home event in Italy and wants to make it double – or even triple – in the UK. Krasonis showed great adaptability to his new PK Carsport machinery and with a win in Spain, the Greek is poised for another shot of victory at a track where he took his first OPEN podium in 2024.
Gianmarco Ercoli is not that far behind and will be there to sniff for an opportunity to grab his first win of the season. The same goes for Dutch veteran Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, who enjoyed a much better start to his 2025 campaign. Garrett Lowe’s steady performances make him a threat for not only the class win in Junior Trophy, but also potentially the overall win. Just like in Spain and Italy, seven drivers will contest the special classification for fast and exciting young drivers.
Liam Hezemans aims to bounce back after suspension drama prevented the Rette Jones Racing driver from maximizing his result in Italy. Don’t count out Vladimiros Tziortzis, Fabrizio Armetta and Martin Doubek, who all have the potential to bring out an unexpected surprise that can dramatically shake up the running order.
Claudio Remigio Cappelli enters SpeedFest as the new leader of the Challenger Trophy. The Academy / Alex Caffi Motorsport driver battled championship contenders Jouffreau and Ercoli in Vallelunga, proving that the elite amateurs can fight against the best NASCAR drivers in Europe. Fellow countryman Max Lanza and Georgia’s own Davit Kajaia will be Cappelli’s closest contenders, while drivers such as Federico Monti, Jordan Wallace and Thomas Toffel will make their first PRO appearance in 2025.
OPEN: Close battles across the board
OPEN’s reputation for unpredictability comes true once again: Only 26 points separate the top-10 drivers after four races in Spain and Italy. Krasonis and Doubek took two wins apiece, but circumstances allowed past rivals in Patrick Schober and Melvin de Groot and new faces in Thomas Dombrowski, Sandro Tavartkiladze and Bruno Mulders to make the overall championship battle more exciting than ever.
Krasonis returns to the site of his first OPEN podium and pole position of 2024. With his wins in Spain and Italy, the Greek has only one goal for the 2025 NASCAR GP UK: victory. A driver who can deny the PK Carsport driver from achieving this is RDV Competition’s Schober. The Austrian is hungry for his first win of the season and will do everything he can to find his way back to the Victory Lane.
Master and Legend Trophy leaders Dombrowski and de Groot have come narrowly close to victories before, with Dombrowski in particular being only one straight away from a maiden win in Vallelunga. The Brands Hatch races have an element of chaos written all over them due to the track’s short and twisty layout. If the cards are played right, there’s a golden opportunity for the Frenchman and the Dutchman to bring home their first top silverware award in their careers.
Doubek knows the victory experience all too well: The two-time champion has won two races in 2025 and is the driver with the most wins in the OPEN division. The Hendriks Motorsport driver has the speed, but he’d like to get rid of the issues that deprived him of important championship points.
Tavartkiladze and Mulders have impressed in their rookie season so far, delivering top performances right from their first laps. They trailed Dombrowski in the Master Trophy battle by nine and ten points respectively, while eleven points is what separated de Groot from Roberto Benedetti in the Legend Trophy. Cappelli is 27 points behind, but will have the opportunity to recover points that he lost from the preceding races. The Lady Trophy features only Happinessa, with Arianna Casoli absent as she recovers from the injuries she suffered from in Vallelunga.
PRO
New challenge for Ulysse Delsaux – Thanks to a joint venture between Speedhouse and Club Competition, the Frenchman will pilot the #22 Chevrolet Camaro
Federico Monti returns to PRO – With Marc Goossens absent, Academy / Alex Caffi co-owner Federico Monti is back in PRO for the first time since 2022
Team Bleekemolen adds one more entry – American Jordan Wallace makes his EuroNASCAR debut as part of the Dutch team’s new #25 Chevrolet Camaro
OPEN
Two British drivers at home – Gordon Barnes returns to EuroNASCAR with Club Competition, while Matthew Ellis joins Lux Motorsport as a substitute for Mario Ercoli
A wakeskater’s competitive debut – After two appearances in Rookie Challenge, wakeskating star Mike Wise is ready for a big leap forward with his OPEN debut
Return to double duty – Thomas Toffel will drive the #34 M Racing Chevrolet Camaro in both PRO and OPEN
NASCAR Euro Series PR
Motorsports
NASCAR Insiders provide latest on Corey Heim, 2026 Cup buzz
When you think of the top prospects in NASCAR, Corey Heim might be at the top of the list. The 22-year-old has been dominant in Truck Series competition this season and has a handful of Cup and Xfinity Series starts under his belt. Heim’s path to Cup is simple as he is currently signed with […]

When you think of the top prospects in NASCAR, Corey Heim might be at the top of the list. The 22-year-old has been dominant in Truck Series competition this season and has a handful of Cup and Xfinity Series starts under his belt.
Heim’s path to Cup is simple as he is currently signed with 23XI Racing as the team’s development driver. But it will not be Heim time in Cup next year. According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Heim will continue to run full-time outside of Cup while making spot Cup starts for 23XI.
Right now, Heim is blocked. Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst are all under contract for 2026. If 23XI believes Heim is capable of a full-time Cup ride, and they do, 2027 is the earliest at which he can secure his seat.
“He’s going to be a Sunday Cup guy,” 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin said. “There’s no doubt in my mind about it. He’s going to be with 23XI for the long haul.”
Corey Heim destined for Cup ride with 23XI?
Heim currently pilots the No. 11 Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage. Twelve races through the 2025 campaign, he is first in the points standings with four wins and 10 top 10s. Heim has made two spot starts in Cup this season, finishing 13th at Kansas Speedway and 37th at Nashville Superspeedway.
23XI is thus far thrilled with Heim’s performance. If it continues, he should have a Cup ride in the very near future.
“[Heim is] doing everything [he’s been] asked to,” Hamlin said. “He’s in the building multiple times per week, working on his craft, continuing to get better, waiting on the opportunity. And he knows he’s got a long-term future with 23XI Racing, and he’s happy with that. And he’s happy with the development process that we have set out for him in the future.
“But, ultimately, there’s only three cars, three charters that we’re allowed to have, and so we have to figure out in the future where we go with that.”
Motorsports
NASCAR driver averages: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott lead Hendrick Motorsports to Michigan
CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Larson visited victory lane three times in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway prior to joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. But he’s hardly been a slouch at the 2-mile, D-shaped oval since, either. Larson enters this week with four finishes inside the top seven in his last five starts at […]

CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Larson visited victory lane three times in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway prior to joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021.
But he’s hardly been a slouch at the 2-mile, D-shaped oval since, either.
Larson enters this week with four finishes inside the top seven in his last five starts at Michigan with three of those coming since taking over behind the wheel of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Michigan is one of four tracks Larson has won thrice at (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway) and his three victories came in consecutive events across 2016 and 2017.
Over the course of those seasons, Chase Elliott registered three straight runner-up finishes at Michigan but is still looking to break through for his first win there. His average finish of 10.5 is tops among all drivers to have made more than three starts in the Wolverine State.
William Byron turned in the best performance of his career at Michigan last August, scoring third- and fourth-place finishes in stage one and two respectively before coming home in second.
Here’s a look at how all four drivers have fared in Michigan as well as a quick brush up on Hendrick Motorsports history:
RELATED: From Winner to Champion, Part 3: Championship Metal
Kyle Larson averages, statistics at Michigan
Starts: | 16 |
---|---|
Wins: | 3 |
Poles: | 2 |
Top fives: | 7 |
Top 10s: | 9 |
Laps led: | 263 |
Average start: | 13.5 |
Average finish: | 12.4 |
Chase Elliott averages, statistics at Michigan
Starts: | 14 |
---|---|
Wins: | 0 |
Poles: | 0 |
Top fives: | 3 |
Top 10s: | 10 |
Laps led: | 173 |
Average start: | 10 |
Average finish: | 10.5 |

RELATED: Dale Earnhardt picks up Rick Hendrick’s first victory as owner
William Byron averages, statistics at Michigan
Starts: | 10 |
---|---|
Wins: | 0 |
Poles: | 0 |
Top fives: | 2 |
Top 10s: | 3 |
Laps led: | 40 |
Average start: | 13.8 |
Average finish: | 15.2 |
Alex Bowman averages, statistics at Michigan
Starts: | 15 |
---|---|
Wins: | 0 |
Poles: | 0 |
Top fives: | 0 |
Top 10s: | 3 |
Laps led: | 19 |
Average start: | 20.2 |
Average finish: | 24.3 |
Hendrick Motorsports at Michigan
Races: | 78 |
---|---|
Wins: | 8 |
Poles: | 11 (most) |
Top fives: | 56 |
Top 10s: | 112 (most) |
Laps led: | 2,769 (most) |
Motorsports
EUR/USD Price Forecast: Correcting lower, downside limited
EUR/USD Current price: 1.1386 EU inflation eased by more than anticipated in May, according to the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices. The focus shifts to United States employment-related data ahead of Friday’s NFP release. EUR/USD under near-term selling pressure, downside potential limited. The EUR/USD pair eases from its weekly peak on Tuesday, trading a handful […]

EUR/USD Current price: 1.1386
- EU inflation eased by more than anticipated in May, according to the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices.
- The focus shifts to United States employment-related data ahead of Friday’s NFP release.
- EUR/USD under near-term selling pressure, downside potential limited.
The EUR/USD pair eases from its weekly peak on Tuesday, trading a handful of pips below the 1.1400 threshold, as the US Dollar (USD) found some footing after edging sharply lower at the beginning of the week. The market sentiment improved just modestly after Monday’s tensions, despite the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expressing concerns about global economic growth.
“The global outlook is becoming increasingly challenging. Substantial increases in trade barriers, tighter financial conditions, weakened business and consumer confidence, and elevated policy uncertainty all pose significant risks to growth,” the OECD expressed in its 2025 Economic Outlook.
The Euro (EUR) fell amid the negative sentiment, and regardless encouraging inflation data. The EU Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose by 1.9% year-on-year (YoY) in May, below the European Central Bank’s (ECB) 2% target. The core annual figure printed at 2.3%, easing from the 2.7% posted in April and below the 2.5% anticipated by market players.
The focus now shifts to the US calendar, as the country will release April Factory Orders and the JOLTS Job Openings report for the same month. The latter will likely gather most of the attention ahead of the release of the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report next Friday.
EUR/USD short-term technical outlook
The EUR/USD pair trades around 1.1380, and the daily chart shows the slide could continue, although the risk of a steeper slide is well-limited. The pair trades above all its moving averages, with a flat 20 Simple Moving Average (SMA) providing support in the 1.1270 price zone. At the same time, the 100 SMA keeps advancing beyond a directionless 200 SMA, both far below the shorter one. Finally, technical indicators turned modestly lower but remain well into positive territory, reflecting the ongoing slide but far from suggesting mounting selling interest.
The near-term picture is pretty similar, with EUR/USD aiming to extend its decline, yet with limited downward scope. In the 4-hour chart, the pair is currently battling a bullish 20 SMA, which advances beyond directionless 100 and 200 SMAs. The Momentum indicator turned flat just above its 100 level after correcting overbought conditions, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator heads south, yet remains above its midline.
Support levels: 1.1330 1.1270 1.1240
Resistance levels: 1.1420 1.1460 1.1505
Motorsports
DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List – 6/4/25
Luke Tabor doubles up at the King of the Coast Event #3 to lead the DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. 06/04/25 – Welcome to the DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Each week we rank the best Jr. racers across the country based on […]

Luke Tabor doubles up at the King of the Coast Event #3 to lead the DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance.
06/04/25 – Welcome to the DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance. Each week we rank the best Jr. racers across the country based on their weekly performances. Nominations are accepted every Monday evening on our Facebook page.

Racecar insurance is more affordable than you think! Laris Motorsports Insurance policies are handled in house so they can provide quotes within minutes and they offer the broadest coverage available. Call (985) 746-4663 today to learn how Laris Motorsports Insurance can protect your racing operation both on and off the track! If you’re a business owner, Laris also offers commercial insurance. Protect your business with a trusted name.
Click here to view previous Top 10 Lists.

DragChamp Jr. Racer Top 10 List
1 – Luke Tabor

Luke Tabor claims the #1 spot after winning on both Saturday and Sunday at King of the Coast Event #3. He has now made eight finals in eight races, totaling six wins. This includes four straight victories at Events #2 and #3 for the KOC series at Gulfport Dragway.
2 – Riley Sherbondy

Riley Sherbondy dominated the Junior Dragster class, winning both days at the US 60 Dragway Bluegrass Big Bucks event.
3 – Isabella Pires

Isabella Pires claims the #3 spot on this week’s Top 10 list after doubling up with wins in both the 15–17 Junior Dragster Age Group and Jr. Comp this weekend at the NHRA Pacific Division Jr. Divisional at Top Gun Dragstrip.

4 – Luke Hutchinson

Luke Hutchinson picked up two wins this past weekend at the NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
5 – Kendall Stephenson

Kendall Stephenson earns a spot on this week’s Top 10 list after winning both days in the 10–12 Age Group at King of the Coast Event #3.
6 – Ellie Lindberg

Ellie Lindberg returns to the Top 10 list after doubling up in her Junior Dragster, earning wins on both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend at Rock Falls Raceway.
7 – Emmalin Rogers

Emmalin Rogers had a strong showing at CP Racing Promotions’ Knoxville Bracket Nationals. She won the Saturday night Junior Dragster Shootout, reached the semifinals in Saturday’s main event, and finished as the runner-up on Sunday.
8 (Tie) – Parker Novak

Parker Novak secures the #8 spot after cashing in at Bunker Hill Dragstrip with a win and a runner-up finish this past weekend. The weekend prior, he also picked up a $1,000 win at Kil-Kare Raceway’s Memorial Day weekend event.
8 (Tie) – Brandon DuPont

Brandon DuPont claims the #8 spot after earning a runner-up finish on Saturday and a win on Sunday at
Summit Motorsports Park.
9 (Tie) – Claire Russell

Claire Russell ties for the #9 spot after reaching two final rounds and earning two runner-up finishes this past weekend at King of the Coast Event #3.
9 (Tie) – Grayson Herbert

Grayson Herbert picks up the #9 spot after claiming two runner-up finishes this past weekend at the King of the Coast Event #3.
10 – Everett Black

Everett Black earns a spot on this week’s Top 10 list after making two semifinal appearances and picking up a $1,050 win at the CP Racing Promotions Knoxville Bracket Nationals.


Let us what you think about the DragChamp Jr. Top 10 List. We want to hear from you. Check us out on Facebook and share it with your friends.
And remember, look for our DragChamp Jr. Top 10 List nominations Facebook post every Monday evening. You can nominate your favorites in the comments of the post for consideration on the list.
If you nominate a racer, please
include their name, their accomplishment, which track(s), and a winners circle
photo. Some racers have missed the list because we didn’t have enough
information and couldn’t find anything online.
DragChamp is your online source for sportsman drag race results, news, and updates.
Motorsports
Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com – June 3, 2025
Dave Mathers In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers laments the soggy Spring weekends, catches us up on the major international series and looks ahead to some local action this coming weekend. Once again on the weekend, the Weather Gods were NOT kind to racetracks around Ontario with several events cancelled due […]


In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers laments the soggy Spring weekends, catches us up on the major international series and looks ahead to some local action this coming weekend.
Once again on the weekend, the Weather Gods were NOT kind to racetracks around Ontario with several events cancelled due to the weather. And when is this Global Warming stuff supposed to kick in? I’ve had my shorts on twice this year, and we are into June.
TV numbers have come in for Memorial Day Sunday and they show great improvements year over year for all three races. That’s really good news.
Apparently several IndyCar drivers are not happy with the extra 100 pounds that the hybrid system adds to their cars. It seems the extra weight hurts the handling and is harder on tire wear. Interesting.
Recent complaints about the IndyCar Technical Inspection Team have reached an all new level after the head-scratching post race penalties issued at Indy against three cars. Two Andretti Hondas were hit hard. Marcus Ericsson finished 2nd but was dropped to 31st after ‘modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved spacers and parts’!! Kyle Kirkwood finished 6th but was relegated to 32nd for ‘All parts provided by an Approved Supplier must be used as supplied without modification unless otherwise approved by IndyCar’. No mention of the parts that were ‘modified’ although most likely the same parts as Ericsson.
The third car, the Chev of Callum Iliott, was found to have violated the rules ‘ Front wing must adhere to the following Technical Inspection dimensions: Failure of the left side minimum endplate height Rule 14.7.6.4., which requires endplates, wing flaps and mainplanes remain in the designed location’. How did those ‘modifications’ get past pre-practice, pre-qualifying, post-qualifying and pre-race technical inspection?
And penalties of 29, 26 and 21 spots? Roger Penske fired his three top officials after the qualifying debacle early on at Indy and he now must immediately fire the entire technical inspection team and hire an outside company to provide independent, competent and unbiased technical services.
How do you think Honda feels after having the second place finisher punted to the bottom? The credibility of the series is in great jeopardy. And there is this – ‘each car receives a $100,000 fine and the team/competition managers for the three entries have been placed on a one-race suspension to be served at the next IndyCar Series event at the streets of Detroit’!! Hopefully the entire tech team also gets a ‘time out.’
FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY – APC UNITED RACING SERIES LATE MODELS
This Saturday night (June 7) at Flamboro Speedway, the APC United Racing Series Late Models are in action with the Grisdale Racing Products 150. The busy racing card will also feature the Can-Am TQ Midgets and Pure Stocks with practice, qualifying and 150 laps for the Late Models as well as practice, heat races and features for the TQs and Pure Stocks.
It’s finally starting to warm up in the region and Saturday night looks like a great night to head to Flamboro Speedway to see the amazing APC Late Models in action at the high-speed Flamboro oval. Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with the APC Series – NTN Triple Crown event Grisdale Racing Products 150 scheduled to take the green flag at 8:30 p.m. For more information, click HERE to visit the Flamboro Speedway homepage.
WASAGA BEACH CRUISERS – CRUISE FEST WEEKEND
The Wasaga Beach Cruisers are holding their Cruise Fest Weekend on 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.
FAMILY FUN WEEKEND AT ST. THOMAS DRAGWAY
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.
BARRIE AUTOMOTIVE FLEA MARKET
This weekend… The 41st annual Spring Barrie Automotive Flea Market (BAFM) takes place June 5-8 at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds just off Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte. BAFM offers everything from collectibles and classic cars to those hard-to-find car parts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you likely can’t find it anywhere. BAFM is a car lover’s dream! Visit www.thebafm.com or call (705) 487-3663 for info.
BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY
Brockville Ontario Speedway: The BOS heats up this Saturday, June 7 with an evening of racing sponsored by Polite Sand & Gravel. On track will be the Surprenant Truck Shop Crate Sprints, Modifieds, Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Mini Stocks and the Vintage division. Click HERE for more info. And looking ahead, the Empire Super Sprints make their way to The BOS on June 21. And on July 12, the Ogilvie’s Triple Crown Series takes to the track. And you won’t want to miss the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds on July 30!
CASC-OR
CASC-OR held its SMP Cup at Shannonville this past weekend. Watch InsideTrackNews.com for results and photos from that event, in the coming days. The VARAC Vintage Grand Prix returns to CTMP June 12-15. And the BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races are slated for July 26-27 at CTMP. Click HERE to visit the CASC-OR homepage.
NASCAR Cup – Chase Briscoe (Toyota) picked up another pole for the Cup race Sunday night at Nashville Superspeedway over Kyle Larson and William Byron (both in Chevs). All 40 entries qualified with 17 Chevs, 13 Fords and 10 Toyotas. Those numbers were from Saturday but on Sunday the Starting Lineup showed 39 cars and 16 Chevs. One car must have dropped out.

Stage 1 ran clean and green with Denny Hamlin getting the stage win. On lap 105 two ‘protagonists’ got together as Carson Hocevar punted Ricky Stenhouse up and into the wall for the first race caution. On lap 113 Alex Bowman slid up into Noah Gragson sending both into the wall for another yellow. Gragson’s right front wheel was pointing the wrong way as he slid down the track. As always is the case yellows breed yellows and on the restart Christopher Bell and Erik Jones got together with Bell just touching the wall. Caution flag. On lap 129 Brad Keselowski got together with Corey Heim causing Heim to spin into the wall. Yellow. Ryan Blaney won Stage 2. On lap 194 Ryan Preece looped it between 3 & 4 just touching the wall and kept going. Yellow. At the flag it was Ryan Blaney over Hocevar and Hamlin.
Next race – Mexico City, Sunday, 3 P.M. on TSN 3.

NASCAR Xfinity Series – William Sawalich (Toyota) won the pole for Saturday night’s Xfinity race at Nashville Superspeedway over Austin Hill (Chev) and Sam Mayer (Ford) 40 cars vying for the 38 starting spots. 26 Chevs, 6 Fords and 6 Toyotas.
Not sure what was going on with the race but the TV broadcast on CW showed ‘We are currently experiencing technical difficulties….’ and NASCAR Live Timing showed incomplete Cup qualifying.
From jayski.com – on lap 35 Kyle Sieg got loose and collected Parker Retzlaff in 4 for a yellow. On lap 44 Corey Day looped it for another yellow. Jeremy Clements won Stage 1. On lap 61 Thomas Annunziata hits Blaine Perkins sending him through the infield grass for a caution. Points leader Justin Allgaier won Stage 2. On the stage restart chaos broke out. It appeared the leaders started late and they stacked up behind them. Involved were Christian Eckes, Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, Ryan Ellis, Kyle Sieg, Anthony Alfredo, Josh Williams and Annunziata. Lots of damage. Yellow. At the flag it was points leader Allgaier for the win over Connor Zilisch and Mayer. In the points Allgaier now leads Austin Hill by 92 and Mayer by 110.

Next race – Mexico City, Saturday at 4.30 P.M. on CW.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks – points leader Corey Heim (Toyota) won the pole for the Truck race Friday night at Nashville Superspeedway over Kaden Honeycutt (Chev) and Layne Riggs (Ford). Canadian Stewart Friesen (Toyota) started 13th. 32 trucks, 16 Chevs, 10 Fords and 7 Toyotas. Two laps into the race and the yellow came out for ‘fluid’ in corner 1. Two laps after that Frankie Munoz retired from the race due to ‘engine troubles’. Hmm, any connection? Riggs grabbed the Stage 1 win. On lap 55 Jack Wood spun in 4 but kept it off the walls but Akinori Ogata looped it checking up. Caution. Heim got back to the front to win Stage 2. At the flag it was Rajah Caruth (started 10th) ahead of Heim and Riggs. Friesen finished 21st.

In the points Heim stretches it out over Hemric with a 122 point cushion and he is 125 ahead of Chandler Smith. Friesen sits 12th.
Next race, MIS, Saturday at noon on Fox.
Formula One – At the Spanish Grand Prix on the weekend Lando Norris (McLaren) was quickest in FP1while teammate Oscar Piastri topped FP2 and FP3 and also won the pole over Norris and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Canadian Lance Stroll qualified 14th but did not start the race after experiencing ongoing pain in his hand and wrist. At the start Verstappen quickly dispatched Norris and moved into 2nd while Leclerc moved up from 7th in short order. At the halfway mark it was Piastri over Norris and Leclerc.

Things went clean and green until lap 55 (of 66) when Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) ran off track into the gravel trap while running 7th. Safety car. After five safety laps the green came back out. On the restart Verstappen appeared to have no grip on his tires and got passed by Leclerc for third. George Russell (Mercedes) and Verstappen traded some paint on the penultimate lap with Russell getting the spot. At the flag it was Piastri over Norris and Leclerc. Good race, lots of passing on track and only one caution period. The stewards deemed that Max was the aggressor and he was dropped to 10th in the finishing order.
In the Drivers’ Championship Piastri now leads Norris by 10 and Max by 49.
In the Constructors’ Championship McLaren leads Ferrari by an eye-popping 197 and Red Bull by 203.

Next race – Montreal, Sunday, June 15.
IndyCar – In a run that I didn’t see coming Colton Herta won the pole for the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix over David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood. 27 cars. The start was actually almost perfect as opposed to the brutal start at Indy. Action started almost immediately as spots up front were swapped right away. Kirkwood got around Malukas while Christian Lungaard and points leader Alex Palou followed him past Malukas. It was really good to see a bunch of different leaders at the front instead of just a ‘follow the leader’ show. At the halfway mark it was Kirkwood over Herta and Pato O’Ward. On lap 67 Callum Ilott got into the wall due to losing a left front wheel right after a pit stop. Yellow. Shortly afterwards Malukas punted Palou into the tire barrier for another caution. With a little more than 20 laps to go Kirkwood’s front wing was dragging on the track at speed after contact. Tense!! On lap 83 Felix Rosenqvist and Louis Foster got together with both ending up in the tire walls. Foster appeared to run out of brakes and climbed up onto the back of Felix. Yellow. Then red due to the damage to the tire barriers.
At the flag it was Kirkwood over Santini Ferrucci and Herta.
Next race – Gateway, Sunday, June 15.

IMSA – Acura took the top two GTP spots at Detroit with the Yelloly/van der Zande pair ahead of Braun and Blomqvist. 11 P cars. In PRO the two Canadian Multimatic Mustangs of Priaulx/Rockenfeller (below) and Vervisch/Mie topped the 11 PRO cars.
Five minutes in and the first yellow came out for a big piece of debris on the track. At the halfway mark it was the Penske Porsche of Felipe Nasr leading the P class and the Ferrari of Albert Costa tops in PRO. Another full course yellow came out with just over an hour expired when more debris ended up on track after some ‘rubbing is racing’ amongst the PRO cars. After about ten minutes of yellow the green came back out.
Things went smoothly to the flag with pole sitter Renger van der Zande (Acura) winning over Ricky Taylor (Cadillac) and Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche). In PRO the pole sitting Multimatic Mustang of Mike Rockenfeller got the win over Alexander Sims (Corvette) and Marco Mapelli in the Pfaff Racing Lambo. A good race with some cool passing. Well done.
Next race – Mid-Ohio, Sunday, June 6.

24 Hours of LeMans – Sat, Jun 14 & Sun, Jun 15.
NHRA – the series stopped at New England Dragway on the weekend.
Top Fuel – Doug Kalitta, once again, topped the 15 cars running a 3.670 at 337.24. Canadian Dan Mercier qualified 11th. Kalitta also won the #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge over points leader Tony Stewart. In the final Brittany Force ran a 3.694 at a VERY stout 340.39 to take out Tony Stewart. 4 ‘upsets’ (lower qualified car wins) and 7 ‘smokers’ (1 or both cars lose traction).
Funny Car – Austin Prock, not surprisingly, was quickest of the 16 floppers running a 3.860 at 334.48. Canadian Spencer Hyde qualified 8th. ‘Fast Jack’ Beckman won the #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge over Matt Hagan. J.R. Todd ran a 3.888 at 332.43 to beat Canadian Spencer Hyde who lost traction in the final. 8 upsets and 10 smokers.

Pro Stock – Cody Coughlin topped the 16 cars in Pro Stock running a 6.537 at 210.28. Matt Hartford won the #2Fast2Tasty Pro Stock Challenge over Dave Connolly who was filling in for Canadian Eric Latino who is recovering from knee surgery. It was interesting to see Connolly tree Greg Anderson in the second round and then lift. Hmmm, team orders perhaps? Anderson went on to win with a 6.469 at 212.19 over Erica Enders who got loose. 3 upsets and 3 smokers.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock – Chris Powers ran a 6.288 at 223.62 for top spot of the 8 entries. Powers won the final over Pluchino, who was shut off at the line, running a 6.723 at 223.47. 1 upset and 1 smoker.
Next race – Bristol, Sunday at 3 P.M. on Fox Sports Racing.
NASCAR Canada Series – The race scheduled last Sunday for Chaudière has been postponed until Saturday, August 2 due to the weekend weather concerns. Next race – Sunset, Saturday, June 21
APC Series – next race – Flamboro, Saturday.
Ontario Sportsman Series – in qualifying for the race at Full Throttle Speedway Saturday night Brad Robinson won the pole over Brendan Patrick and Shawn McGlynn. 9 cars. Connor James won the race over Patrick and Robinson.
Next race – Sunset, Saturday, June 14
Delaware Speedway – 44 Bone Stocks – Taylor Everest won Heat 1, Sterling Roberts won Heat 2, Gary Triska won Heat 3, Paul Fothergill won the B-Main while Jo Lawrence (left) won the Main over Roberts and Colin Willems. 10 V/8 Stocks saw Jeremy Taggart win the heat while Barry Watson (middle) won the Feature over Taggart and Doug Stewart. There was actually a Chrysler 300 in the race driven by Chad Clutterbuck. Yup, a Chrysler 300!! In the 12 car Late Models Logan White won Heat 1, Jesse Kennedy won Heat 2 and in the closest finish (0.01 seconds) in a very long time Jake Sheridan (right) won the Main over Kyle Steckly and Ray Morneau. Rumours have it that Sheridan was too light in the Room of Doom. Photos by Chris Culos.
Next race – SUPER MODS, Super Stock and V/8 Stock, Friday.
Ohsweken Speedway – next race – Art Hill Memorial, Friday.
Flamboro Speedway – next race – APC Series, Saturday.
660 Sportsman Nationals – Family Fun Weekend – St. Thomas Dragway, June 20-22.
Buxton Speedway – next race – Southern Ontario Sprints, Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – next race – Bailey’s Repair Center Night, Saturday.
Sunset Speedway – next race – Super Late Models, Saturday.
Grand Bend Speedway – next race – NASCAR Weekly Series, Saturday.
Grand Bend Dragway – next race – Great Canadian Truck Show, June 13 & 14.
St. Thomas Dragway – next race – ONDR & Points Series, this weekend.
Toronto Motorsports Park – next race – Canada Heads Up, this weekend.
Speed Promotions Racing (No Prep) – TMP, weekend of July 12.
Can Am Stock/Super Stock – next race – Empire, this weekend.
Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) and 5.50 Super Series, weekend of June 21, Empire Dragway.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series – next race, June 15, Luskville.
Shannonville Drags – first race – June 7 & 8.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
-
College Sports2 weeks ago
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
-
Rec Sports3 weeks ago
The Program, a New Basketball Training Facility, Opening in Greenpoint This September
-
College Sports2 weeks ago
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago
Jon Jones answers UFC retirement speculation as fans accuse champion of 'holding the belt …
-
NIL1 week ago
2025 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Women’s College World Series bracket, schedule set
-
Health2 weeks ago
BYU women's basketball guard injures ACL twice
-
Youtube2 weeks ago
Xavier Legette taught Marty Smith his signature celly
-
Motorsports2 weeks ago
Why IHOP Rode With Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Amazon NASCAR Debut
-
High School Sports2 weeks ago
Today in the MHSAA
-
College Sports2 weeks ago
NCDC Commitment Profiles: Cyclones’ Martins Moving On to Saint Anselm College • USPHL