Revving Up Atlanta’s South Africa Partnership Through NASCAR
Editor’s note: When the yellow Brand South Africa car driven by Kyle Weatherman rounded the bend to see a checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway last September, it was mission accomplished for Arnout Kok. Mr. Kok, a racecar driver turned volunteer national booster, had for the first time succeeded in decking out a full car […]
Editor’s note: When the yellow Brand South Africa car driven by Kyle Weatherman rounded the bend to see a checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway last September, it was mission accomplished for Arnout Kok.
Mr. Kok, a racecar driver turnedvolunteernational booster, had for the first time succeeded in decking out a full car in the Rainbow Nation’s flag, colors and brands.
Arnout Kok, left, pictured with NASCAR driver Kyle Weatherman, center.
South Africa had been promoted on the circuit 30 times before, but only as an add-on to another car; at the Xfinity Series, Mr. Kok and Brand South Africa were launching a dedicated car and a concerted five-year plan to showcase the charms of his native land to millions of Americans.
Coming in 11th, the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro was a South African patriot’s dream, featuring a flag theme and festooned with product logos, yes, but also those of professional services firms that are stepping on the gas in their pursuit of markets in Atlanta and beyond.
This June, Mr. Kok is again bringing the South African car to Atlanta for the Quaker State 400. We caught up with him to learn why the country has chosen racing to rev up its trade and tourism partnerships with the U.S. – and how Atlanta brands with a connection to the country can take advantage.
Global Atlanta: As a stock car driver yourself and a South Africa native, would you call this a passion project? If so, how did the idea come about, and what drives you in this endeavor? Give us a bit of the back story.
Arnout Kok: I have been racing since I was 16 years old, initially in South Africa (where I was born and grew up) before heading to the United Kingdom. I have raced cars across the world, and following a chance meeting in the U.S., I was introduced to the world of NASCAR.
We have run over 30 activations in NASCAR, including two at the world-famous Daytona 500. This is definitely a passion project, I run it in my spare time whilst holding down a full-time job!
Why does NASCAR make sense as a link for the South Africa country brand; why did Atlanta make sense as the debut?
Mr. Kok: NASCAR is the most popular form of motorsport in North America, and despite this, it is somewhat affordable compared to Formula 1 and IndyCar. Given the television viewership, plus the size of the NASCAR vehicle, it’s a great platform from which to promote various brands to a large audience.
Over the years we have run activations in Las Vegas, Florida, New York, Indianapolis, etc., and it was only 2024 that we ran our first activation in Atlanta. It came about via discussions with the South African Chamber of Commerce and a desire to run the activation in a city where a number of South African brands have a base.
What are some of the companies with a presence here that you have been able to promote?
Mr. Kok: Over the years we have partnered with a number of great South African brands including Veldskoen, Ceres Fruit Juice, Superformance (manufacturer of high-performance sports cars) and Switch energy drink.
How important has the Atlanta Phambili initiative been to putting the city on the map for you and other South Africans? Did it help at all when you were seeking to make inroads?
Atlanta Phambili highlighted the collaboration between the city and South Africa, making Atlanta an obvious choice. It certainly helped in 2024, as a number of our partners were extremely positive about promoting their brand in Atlanta. Over and above promoting trade and investment between the city of Atlanta and South Africa, the initiative also promotes people-to-people as well as cultural exchanges, which is key in building lasting relations between the two markets.
South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation, a country that finds unity in diversity. Why is that so important to celebrate, especially now, and how will that be reflected in your car?
It is quite important to continue to celebrate the unity and diversity of this young democratic nation; it is what makes the country unique. As South Africa matures, it is crucial to remind its citizens and the world what the country stands for.
Promoting and collaborating with South African brands through NASCAR is one way to showcase unity and diversity whilst we also work hard to support these brands to help grow their distribution globally. The more South African products sold internationally, the more jobs are created back in South Africa. The car is branded in the South African flag colours and we also promote South African charities. Last year we promoted the Black Coffee Foundation and International Rhino Foundation on the car.
We’re experiencing a bumpy track in the U.S.-South Africa bilateral relationship right now, with trade ties strained and geopolitics casting a pall over our usually friendly engagement. How do you envision the South Africa car helping fuel closer people-to-people ties?
Despite the strained geopolitical situation, it is important to continue promoting South Africa and South African businesses in the U.S. South Africans are known to be hard working and determined, so whilst the current situation is challenging, these brands will continue to sell their products in the United States.
When reaching out to both existing and new partners in South Africa, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and there is optimism that things will improve in the future. It is also important to note that we have a sizeable number of U.S. companies who have been operating in South Africa for decades, and these companies have grown and seen a return on their investment in the country and they continue to invest, whilst we have seen a number of South African companies also investing in the U.S This to us means we need to continue nurturing business relations and keep on encouraging people-to-people exchanges despite the “strained” geopolitical situation.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports reach 4-year contract extension
Byron’s new contract will keep the 27-year-old driver with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season. CONCORD, N.C. — William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season. Financial terms of the contract were […]
Byron’s new contract will keep the 27-year-old driver with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season.
CONCORD, N.C. — William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Financial terms of the contract were not released.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion has emerged as one of the sport’s most competitive drivers, having already earned 14 Cup Series wins and six consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2024. He has won 13 Cup Series races since being paired with crew chief Rudy Fugle in 2021 — the second-highest total in the series over that span.
Now in his eighth season, Byron won this year’s Daytona 500 for the second straight year, becoming the youngest multi-time winner in the event’s storied history.
NEWS: @WilliamByron will drive the iconic No. 24 through 2029
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) May 23, 2025
Byron, who grew up in Charlotte, currently ranks second in the Cup standings after 12 points-paying races.
“We’ve built something special with the No. 24 team,” Byron said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue working with amazing people at Hendrick Motorsports who believe in me, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick. We’ve accomplished some great things that we’re really proud of, but we have even bigger goals ahead. I’m excited to go after them with this team and this organization.”
Byron first signed with Hendrick Motorsports when he was 18.
He earned Cup Series rookie of the year honors in 2018 and has become a factor in the Cup Series championship with six straight playoff appearances, including back-to-back Championship 4 appearances in 2023 and 2024. Byrson is the only driver to win in Hendrick Motorsports iconic No. 24 Chevrolet other than Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.
“William is the real deal,” Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said. “What makes him so special is that he combines natural ability with an unrivaled work ethic. You see it in the great ones — the drivers who could get by on talent alone but choose to outwork everyone anyway. That’s William. On top of it all, he’s a person of high character and embraces his role as a leader. We’re proud to have him in our lineup and look forward to many more wins together.”
Byron will race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the season.
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How to bet racing: Everything you need to bet Monaco, Indy 500, NASCAR
Matt WillisMay 23, 2025, 07:03 AM ET Close Matt Willis has been a studio researcher at ESPN since 2006, working on “NASCAR Now” and “SportsCenter,” among other shows. He graduated from Ithaca College in 2006 with a degree in journalism. While there, he worked on ICTV, on shows such as “Ya Think You Know Sports?” […]
Matt Willis has been a studio researcher at ESPN since 2006, working on “NASCAR Now” and “SportsCenter,” among other shows. He graduated from Ithaca College in 2006 with a degree in journalism. While there, he worked on ICTV, on shows such as “Ya Think You Know Sports?” and “Sports Final.” He also was a member of the IC Comedy Club and figures about half of the jokes he makes in his column are actually funny.
No matter which style of racing you prefer, there’s a little of something for you Sunday. Formula 1’s prestigious Grand Prix of Monaco starts us off at 9 a.m. ET, with IndyCar’s historic Indianapolis 500 at 12:45 p.m., and NASCAR’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600, from Charlotte Motor Speedway at 6 p.m. to finish the day.
For racing enthusiasts, it’s the most compelling day of the year for on-track racing, but for casual sports fans, it might be your first time tuning in this season. If you’re looking to get in on the action yourself, there’s no shortage of ways to bet the races, from the pits to the checkered flag. Let’s get you caught up on your options.
All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go to ESPN BET.
Outright winner bet
As former Raiders owner Al Davis said, “Just win, baby!”
Or maybe more fitting, “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” by Ricky Bobby from “Talladega Nights.”
This bet is as straightforward as it sounds: Pick the winner. Any other result is a loss, but you’ll get the highest payout compared to other results-based bets.
With how competitive each of the three series have been so far, all three race favorites are still at plus-money odds in Oscar Piastri (F1, +190), Pato O’Ward (Indy, +450) and Kyle Larson (NASCAR, +550). However, long shots have had their day in Victory Lane, as it wasn’t too long ago when Takuma Sato won the 2017 Indy 500 as a 30-1 long shot or when Ryan Blaney won the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 at 22-1.
Top 3/5/10 finish
Maybe you feel like a driver will do well, but don’t want to fully commit to betting the outright winner. If so, Formula 1 offers odds to finish in the top three (a podium), in the top six or 10 (drivers who finish in the top 10 receive points). With a 20-car field, you’re looking for drivers you feel confident will either have a strong day or exceed expectations.
For example, the McLaren duo of Piastri and Lando Norris have finished in the top three in six of the seven races this season, with Piastri winning four times and Norris once. However, with how consistently successful the pair have been, their odds to finish in the top three are shorter than their odds of a win.
Top five and top 10 bets are available in NASCAR and IndyCar as well.
Race Props
Winning manufacturer: Instead of betting on the winning driver, we’re betting on the winning car. In IndyCar, your choices are either Chevrolet or Honda, while NASCAR features Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.
Double top 3/6/10: The aforementioned McLaren duo individually don’t have great odds to finish on the podium, but if you want to take both of them to finish on the podium in Monaco, that’s much closer to even money.
Race winning margin: Expecting a blow out? Or a late caution/safety car to bunch the field back up? Monaco is famous for its tight quarters not giving drivers many passing opportunities, and thus, a wide margin can build up. On the other side, NASCAR can feature late yellow flags to tighten the pack and spur close finishes.
Race winner number: This bet is much more random, essentially the equivalent of bringing a roulette wheel to the racetrack. The NASCAR number is set with an over/under of 17.5, and there’ll be a No. 1 (Ross Chastain) all the way to No. 99 (Daniel Suarez) in the field. The Indy 500 number is set at 9.5, with the under listed at -140 odds. O’Ward (No. 3) and third-favorite Scott Dixon (No. 9) both sport car numbers under that line, while second-favorite Álex Palou (No. 10) and pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman (No. 83) have higher numbers.
Top driver for manufacturer:This is specific to NASCAR, and you’re looking for the best finisher a driver to be in a Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota. Each manufacturer is expected to have between 10-17 cars in a race.
Number of leaders: For NASCAR, it’s set at 12.5 drivers, out of a 40-car field, to lead at least one lap. Last year, there were 10 leaders compared to 13 in each of the three prior years, but those are the only instances since 2012 in which we’ve seen such a high number.
Fastest lap: This is for which driver ran the single fastest lap of the entire race. F1 used to offer a bonus point for fastest lap from 2019-24, but has scrapped that as of this year, so there’s a lot less maneuvering to steal the point late in the race.
First driver/car retirement: In F1, this refers to a car pulling out of the race either for a mechanical issue or damage from a wreck, so you’re going to get longer odds here due to the unpredictability of it. Currently the favorite is “no retirements’ at 7-1, with each of the 20 starters between 10-1 to 25-1.
Safety car: A safety car is deployed in F1 when a wreck or adverse track conditions necessitate slowing the field. At Monaco, the safety car came out in 2022 and 2024, but not in 2021 or 2023. Currently it’s -650 to have one, +400 for none.
Fastest pit stop: This is another F1-specific wager in which you bet which team can get their driver in and out of the pits with four fresh tires the fastest. Each team fields two drivers, and Ferrari is the odds-on favorite at -160 with Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc.
Race matchups/group winners: These will be matchups for one driver to finish better than another, or a driver to win against a group of three other drivers. For head-to-head matchups, you’ll get closer to even money return on your bet with a win. For the groups, you’ll get better odds than a head-to-head, due to the nature of needing to beat three other drivers.
Betting tips
Formula 1: I alluded to it earlier when discussing Piastri and Norris, but give me the Double top three: McLaren (-110) in Monaco.
Monaco is also famous for a lack of overtaking, making it hard for drivers to advance their position. I mean, you’ve seen that famous hairpin corner, right? So, if you get a surprise in Saturday’s qualifying, I’d sprinkle in a top-six finish for that driver. Especially if you’re getting somebody like Alexander Albon (+325) or Yuki Tsunoda (+400) at a good price.
Indy 500: Out in Indianapolis, I’m going to take the three-time series champion Álex Palou (+550), as my outright winner.
Coca-Cola 600: Turning our attention to NASCAR, where I’d pick Kyle Larson (+500) as my winner. That’s a good price for the favorite who led more than 80% of the laps in a win at a similar track in Kansas, an intermediate 1.5-mile track similar to Charlotte. Larson plans to run both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one day, a feat he attempted last year before rain prevented him from taking the wheels in Charlotte. A bet on Larson to finish first would still be valid, even if he were to miss the start of the race.
If you’re looking for drivers with slightly longer odds that I think could master the 600 on Sunday night, check out Josh Berry (25-1), Chris Buescher (25-1) and Carson Hocevar (40-1).
William Byron receives 4-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports
William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season. Financial terms of the contract were not released. The two-time Daytona 500 champion has emerged as one of the sport’s most competitive drivers, having already earned 14 […]
William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Financial terms of the contract were not released.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion has emerged as one of the sport’s most competitive drivers, having already earned 14 Cup Series wins and six consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2024. He has won 13 Cup Series races since being paired with crew chief Rudy Fugle in 2021 — the second-highest total in the series over that span.
Now in his eighth season, Byron won this year’s Daytona 500 for the second straight year, becoming the youngest multi-time winner in the event’s storied history.
Byron, who grew up in Charlotte, currently ranks second in the Cup standings after 12 points-paying races.
“We’ve built something special with the No. 24 team,” Byron said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue working with amazing people at Hendrick Motorsports who believe in me, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick. We’ve accomplished some great things that we’re really proud of, but we have even bigger goals ahead. I’m excited to go after them with this team and this organization.”
Byron first signed with Hendrick Motorsports when he was 18.
He earned Cup Series rookie of the year honors in 2018 and has become a factor in the Cup Series championship with six straight playoff appearances, including back-to-back Championship 4 appearances in 2023 and 2024. Byrson is the only driver to win in Hendrick Motorsports’ iconic No. 24 Chevrolet other than Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.
“William is the real deal,” Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said. “What makes him so special is that he combines natural ability with an unrivaled work ethic. You see it in the great ones — the drivers who could get by on talent alone but choose to outwork everyone anyway. That’s William. On top of it all, he’s a person of high character and embraces his role as a leader. We’re proud to have him in our lineup and look forward to many more wins together.”
Byron will race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the season.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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2-time Daytona 500 champ William Byron receives 4-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports |
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season. Financial terms of the contract were not released. ×
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CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — William Byron received a four-year contract extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Friday that will keep the 27-year-old driver with the team through the 2029 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Financial terms of the contract were not released.
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Hendrick Motorsports Locks Down Long-Term Driver Plans
What’s Happening? Friday morning, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed that they have re-signed William Byron through at least the 2029 season. This means that the current HMS driver lineup is under contract through the 2026 season. Byron earned this contract by becoming one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR over the past few seasons. This includes […]
Friday morning, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed that they have re-signed William Byron through at least the 2029 season. This means that the current HMS driver lineup is under contract through the 2026 season.
Byron earned this contract by becoming one of the most consistent drivers in NASCAR over the past few seasons. This includes 10 wins since 2023, three Championship Four appearances, and two Daytona 500s since 2023.
However, it wasn’t always this way; after making his Cup Series debut in 2018 at 20 years old, Byron struggled, going winless until 2020 and not having a multi-win season until 2022. With this new contract, he will remain at HMS until he is 32 years old.
In a press release from HMS, team owner Rick Hendrick said, “What makes him so special is that he combines natural ability with an unrivaled work ethic. You see it in the great ones – the drivers who could get by on talent alone but choose to outwork everyone anyway.”
This contract locks down HMS’ lineup for at least another season, as Byron was on a contract year. Currently, the next HMS driver to be on a contract year will be Kyle Larson in 2026, then Chase Elliott in 2027, and finally Alex Bowman in 2028.
What’s Happening?
Like any other sport, Free Agency is a key part of NASCAR. However, driver-free agency is not covered like…
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Subaru Motorsports Finishes In The Top Spots At Oregon Trail Rally!
Subaru Motorsports USA came out swinging at the tough Oregon Trail Rally, putting both of its factory teams on the podium after a wild weekend of racing. The crews battled through everything from slick tarmac stages at Portland International Raceway to punishing high-speed gravel, showing off what their WRX rally cars can do in the […]
Subaru Motorsports USA came out swinging at the tough Oregon Trail Rally, putting both of its factory teams on the podium after a wild weekend of racing.
The crews battled through everything from slick tarmac stages at Portland International Raceway to punishing high-speed gravel, showing off what their WRX rally cars can do in the American Rally Association (ARA) championship.ARA championship leader Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams flat-out dominated in their Subaru WRX, taking first overall and the Open Four-Wheel Drive (O4WD) class win.Semenuk was pumped about the car’s handling all weekend. After tackling the rally’s famous punishing gravel on Saturday, he said the stages were “Tricky, fast stages but really fun,” adding that “Ending the day up Maryhill Road was so much fun.
That’s the best the car’s ever felt up there.” After sealing the deal on Sunday’s fast stages, Semenuk exclaimed, “Great weekend! Really happy with the car. Clean sweep on all the stages and a Power Stage win. Amazing.”Meanwhile, teammates Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino had a stellar run in their new WRX ARA25L. In only their second event with this new car, they impressively snagged third overall and won the Limited Four-Wheel Drive (L4WD) class.Pastrana had commented early in the event about the team “working our hardest to do the best we can and have a lot of fun with this vehicle.” That effort clearly paid off.
A thrilled Pastrana later reported, “Third overall, first in class … This vehicle right here … absolutely awesome! So stoked to be able to drive it.”
Co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino shared his enthusiasm, noting they both loved the event and were already looking forward to the next round in Ohio.The strong performances in Oregon significantly boost both teams. Semenuk and Williams extended their lead in their quest for a potential fourth straight ARA championship, while Pastrana and Gelsomino quickly proved they were finding serious speed in their new L4WD entry.This big Oregon Trail Rally win gives both Subaru Motorsports USA crews a serious shot of confidence as the ARA championship heads east.
Next up is the Southern Ohio Forest Rally on June 12-14, and you can bet Subaru will be looking to keep their hot streak going.