Richard Childress did not need to say a word to make his message clear. 

His appearance alongside Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris at the high-profile Army–Navy Game, an event also attended by President Donald Trump, served as a quiet reminder of where his influence still sits as NASCAR navigates one of its most uncomfortable moments in years.

For the 80-year-old NASCAR legend, the timing was hard to ignore. NASCAR recently settled its antitrust lawsuit with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, agreeing to make charters “evergreen” and closing a case that had dragged the sport through months of courtroom scrutiny.

While the settlement brought relief for many teams, it left Childress in an awkward position after he was unexpectedly pulled into the proceedings.

During testimony, Childress was questioned about potential discussions involving the sale of Richard Childress Racing, information he believed was protected by a non-disclosure agreement and had never intended to disclose in court.

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Judge Kenneth Bell acknowledged Childress’ frustration, noting that the veteran owner “certainly thought it shouldn’t have been in their possession.” The moment further strained an already tense relationship between Childress and NASCAR leadership.

That tension escalated when leaked text messages from NASCAR president Steve Phelps became public.

In those messages, Phelps referred to Childress using offensive language, calling him an “idiot,” a “stupid redneck,” and suggesting he should be “flogged.” Phelps later testified that he apologized, but the damage had already been done.

One of NASCAR’s most powerful partners reacted swiftly. Bass Pro Shops, a cornerstone sponsor of the sport for nearly three decades, issued a blistering statement defending Childress and condemning the remarks.

Morris accused NASCAR leadership of disrespecting “one of the pillars of the sport” and warned that the comments were irresponsible toward sponsors, teams, and fans.

Childress’ public alignment with Morris, and by extension Trump, carried added weight. Childress has long been open about his friendship with the president, introducing Trump at a Charlotte campaign rally last year and hosting him in the Richard Childress Racing pit box during the Coca-Cola 600. Trump has repeatedly praised Childress, pointing to his success as proof of leadership and talent within motorsports.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), formerly known as Mosport Park, one of Canada’s most historic motorsport venues, has been sold to a new ownership group. The transaction was announced on December 11, 2025, marking the end of a 15-year ownership period by a group led by Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Background and History

Opened in 1961 as Mosport Park (a contraction of “motor” and “sport”), the facility quickly became a cornerstone of Canadian motorsport. Located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, approximately 100 km east of Toronto, it features a challenging 3.957 km (2.459-mile) road course with 10 turns, along with a driver development track and karting center.

The track hosted the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix from 1967 to 1977 (alternating with Mont-Tremblant initially), multiple Can-Am races, and has been a staple for series like IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, NASCAR Canada, and various sports car events.

In June 2011, Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd. – comprising businessman Carlo Fidani, Ron Fellows, and initially Alan Boughton – purchased the venue from the Panoz Motorsports Group. Shortly after, in 2012, a long-term naming rights partnership with Canadian Tire Corporation renamed it Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Under this ownership, significant investments were made in infrastructure, including paddock improvements, resurfacing, and new facilities.

The Sale

The previous owners, through Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd., sold the facility to a new group led by Peter Thomson, a venture capitalist, rally driver, and member of the Thomson family (associated with Woodbridge Company, part of Canada’s wealthiest families). Joining Thomson as partners are Chris Pfaff, owner of Pfaff Automotive Partners and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event promoter at CTMP, and Alek Krstajic.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The existing management team, led by President and General Manager Myles Brandt, will remain in place. Operations and scheduled events will continue uninterrupted.

Statements from New Owners

Chris Pfaff stated: “Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is a place with deep heritage and a loyal community. Our team is proud to be its next steward. We’re committed to respecting everything that makes CTMP special today, while building the foundation for an elevated experience in the years ahead.”

The new owners emphasized their commitment to preserving the track’s history while supporting fans, teams, and partners.

Future Plans

Detailed plans for long-term development, investments, and an enhanced role in Canadian motorsport and entertainment will be unveiled at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto (February 13–22, 2026).

This sale ensures continuity for one of North America’s classic road racing circuits, positioning it for future growth under passionate, motorsport-connected ownership.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. understands exactly what NASCAR’s milestone antitrust settlement means for the future of the Cup Series and its chartered teams. But the 18-year stock car veteran, now owner of JR Motorsports, also knows the new headaches created for new teams wishing to stamp their presence in NASCAR’s top division.

The lawsuit settlement between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports introduced permanent and evergreen charters that stabilized team ownership and, in the minds of insiders, immediately boosted charter values. For Earnhardt Jr, the resolution also cemented a reality that could make JR Motorsports’ future entry into the Cup Series more difficult than ever.

Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports organization has established itself as one of the most successful teams in the Xfinity Series. Three team drivers, including Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Carson Kvapil, were among the final four contenders for the Xfinity championship title race in Phoenix.

Jesse Love ultimately beat all three drivers by passing Zilisch, who had won 10 regular-season races. Despite Zilisch being deeply emotional after the loss, JR Motorsports has secured four series championships and 105 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Dale Jr. said the permanence of charters fundamentally changes NASCAR’s structure. “If that happens, there is no going back. Like, it changes the sport forever,” he said on his podcast. 

“You’ll basically have 36 franchises, however many cars start a race. They’ll be the franchises, owned and valued, and they will sell and trade from one entity to another over the course of decades and centuries, however long this goes.”

Under the new system, charters are now considered long-term assets rather than temporary licenses, allowing them to be bought, sold, and relocated as needed. The change drives NASCAR toward a franchise-like model, and Earnhardt believes that the sport’s longstanding open-door tradition would be lost.

“As we’ve known racing for 75 years, if you wanted to build a Cup car and show up at a race and try to compete, you did,” he said. “Probably not gonna go all that well, you’re gonna compete against the regular teams, and that’s what it was, but you could. That’ll be gone forever.”

Earnhardt mentioned that his team considered buying a charter in the system’s early days when they could be purchased for about $1 million. JR Motorsports ultimately decided not to and industry insiders now believe that new charters might soon cost $50 million or more.

For Earnhardt and others hoping to make the leap, the path forward now depends less on racing ambition and more on financial opportunity. Dale Jr. got a jump on his ambitions last season when JR Motorsports competed in the Cup Series for the first time.

Allgaier drove the No. 40 Traveller’s Whiskey Chevy for JRM during the season-opening Daytona 500 and raced to a ninth-place finish. Dale Jr. was present for the race and expressed excitement for seeing his cars compete against the world’s top drivers again.

Charlotte Motor Speedway has sold land near its famous track in Concord, North Carolina, to the Hendrick Motorsports racing team, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.

An entity connected to Hendrick purchased the 20-acre site at 7001 Bruton Smith Blvd. in Concord’s racing hub for $14M late last month.

This is the second sale between the speedway and Hendrick in the last couple of years. In 2023, Hendrick bought more than 82 acres from the speedway for some $23M.

Earlier this year, Hendrick subsidiary Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions opened its two-building, 160K SF headquarters near the Concord campus.

The news comes a day after NASCAR announced a settlement agreement with 23XI Racing and co-owner Michael Jordan on Dec. 11 at the federal courthouse in Charlotte. 

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports Inc. had sued NASCAR in October 2024, accusing it of running a monopoly that curtailed the economic freedom of racing teams. 

As part of the settlement, NASCAR agreed to change its charter, or licensing, system for racing teams, among other concessions. Hendrick Motorsports is one of the only teams to possess four charters.

“This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders,” Hendrick team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement following the settlement.

In late November, the Charlotte City Council approved a $25M deal to renovate the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Improvements planned for the 16-year-old tourist attraction reportedly include relocating the gift shop and café, adding more event space, obtaining new security screening equipment and creating a dedicated educational space for school groups. 

Kyffin Simpson is thinking long-term with the addition of Sunoco coming onboard as his full-time sponsor in 2026.

How long-term? To the point of being synonymous in the archives of motorsports such as Rick Mears and Pennzoil, Al Unser Jr and Valvoline, Jeff Gordon and Dupont, or even Jimmie Johnson and Lowe’s.

Even Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), the organization Simpson drives for in the No. 8 Honda, shared 27 years of success with Target, with IndyCar wins and/or championships captured by the likes of Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmy Vasser, the late Dan Wheldon and Alex Zanardi, among others. Dixon, with CGR, has also since gone on to have a similar partnership with PNC Bank.

Now, with Sunoco, the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas, returning as a full-time sponsor in the IndyCar Series for the first time since 1973, Simpson hopes to carry the iconic brand and colors in a similar vein as some of the sport’s all-time greats.

“Yeah, that’d be great,” Simpson told Motorsport.com. “That really is the goal with a lot of these things: to really grow together. Obviously, Ganassi and PNC Bank have had a long-standing relationship. Before that, there was a very long-standing relationship with Target. Both worked out very well for both parties.

“That’s definitely the goal with Sunoco. I know from our side, we’d love to work with them for as long as possible and we see this being potentially a long-term thing.”

The 21-year-old Simpson is no stranger to carrying the weight of history, either, having run the No. 4 entry at CGR during his maiden IndyCar campaign in 2024.

“That was the car that Zanardi ran and Montoya ran,” Simpson said. “With that situation, I thought that was really cool in the historical sense of getting to run a number that so many other great drivers had run.”

It’s a similar feeling for Simpson with Sunoco, which debuted on Mark Donohue’s No. 12 Eagle at Riverside in 1968 before winning the Indianapolis 500 together four years later. The likes of Gary Bettenhausen and Tony Kanaan are among others to have also carried the Sunoco colors.

“Driving a Sunoco car, a livery of a sponsor to have been with so many great drivers, it’s very cool and I hope to make them proud,” Simpson added.

And that’s likely to happen if the Caymanian continues his development. He’s fresh off a sophomore season that featured a maiden podium (Toronto), three top fives, six top 10s and a Fast Six appearance.

Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing livery

Photo by: Chip Ganassi Racing

What’s more is next season will also mark the first time in his career in any category he has spent three consecutive years in one car.

“That’ll be a big thing for me and just that continuation is very important in continuing to learn in the same car,” Simpson said. “I’m just really looking forward to that and having that consistency. My main engineering team is staying the same next year as well, so that’ll be a big help. We worked together really well last year, and I think we can just continue to build on that and improve into next year. We’re in a really good spot.”

Although Simpson hasn’t spent too much time thinking about goals for next season, which is still 75 days away, there’s one simple task that immediately comes to mind.

“The first thing would just be to knock off that win,” he said. “We’ve got that first podium this year, so next on the list is the win. Other than that, I don’t know that we’ve really said anything yet. Top 10 in the championship would be nice. We definitely could have done that this year with a couple things going our way, but we haven’t thought about it too much.”

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– The Motorsport.com Team

Inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to open Mission Foods Drag Racing Series playoffs during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season

MARTIN, MI – December 15, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – NHRA officials announced today that U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will have a Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event in 2026, with the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals set to open the 2026 Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The event will take place Sept. 18-20 at the standout facility in Martin, Mich., serving as the 15th of 20 races during NHRA’s special 75th anniversary season and the first of six playoff races. Tickets go on sale for the inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals on Feb. 1.

It marks the first NHRA national event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, giving NHRA four new national event facilities during the 2026 campaign and further displaying NHRA’s growth during the special milestone season that includes a premier list of national event tracks in 19 markets across the country.

“Hosting an NHRA national event underscores our continued commitment to excellence, safety, and delivering unforgettable motorsports entertainment,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Vice President of Operations Jason Peterson said. “We are honored to welcome the NHRA, its competitors, sponsors and fans, and we look forward to showcasing our facility, our staff and our passionate racing community that makes this region so special.”

The first two races in the Countdown to the Championship will be at two new facilities in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, as the Great Lakes Nationals in Martin, Mich., is followed by a trip to historic Rockingham Dragway for the NHRA Nationals at The Rock. Both U.S. 131 and Rockingham are preceded by first-time stops at South Georgia Motorsports Park on May 1-3 and Maryland International Raceway on May 29-31.

Known as “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has maintained its status as one of the Midwest’s premier drag racing facilities for decades, drawing fans from nearby markets in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo. A favorite for both racers and fans alike, the Peterson family has built the track into a marquee destination for more than two decades, making it a prime candidate to host an NHRA national event.

That comes to fruition in 2026, hosting a must-see playoff race during NHRA’s massive 75th anniversary season.

“We are thrilled to welcome U.S. 131 Motorsports Park to the NHRA national event schedule in 2026. It’s a historic milestone for the facility and it’s another terrific way to celebrate our 75th anniversary season, bringing the incredible action of NHRA drag racing to the passionate fan base in Michigan,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said.

“Opening the Countdown to the Championship at U.S. 131 will be extremely meaningful during our 75th anniversary season, as it reflects NHRA’s continued commitment to growing the sport and bringing championship-level NHRA racing to outstanding venues. The track’s dedication to its racers and fans, and its enthusiasm as a new NHRA Member Track makes it an excellent addition to the national tour, and we look forward to launching the Countdown there in 2026.”

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will also host an NHRA national open on July 8-9, leading into a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event on July 10-12.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.nhra.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Associations 

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