MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 15, 2025) – Defending CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour Champion and current ARCA Menards Series championship points leader Brenden “Butterbean” Queen will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Best Repair Company, Inc., will be showcased as the team’s primary sponsor. 

Queen, the full-time driver of the No. 28 Chevrolet with Pinnacle Racing Group in the ARCA Menards Series, brings a wealth of short-track experience to the team’s Allen Hart-led program.

The 27-year-old will make his fourth career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start after collecting a trio of ARCA National Series wins in 2025, including checkered flags at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.

“I’m very blessed for the opportunity to get back in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with Spire Motorsports and Chevrolet,” said Queen. “Having Best Repair Company be a part of this means a lot to me because they took a chance on me when I was working at the Port of Virginia and not sure if I would get to continue racing. It is really neat to see how far we have come in the last couple of years and hopefully, this is the first of many more CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts.”

“Butterbean’s” racing journey began at six-years-old in the Kid Kart division at Langley (Va.) Speedway. He achieved success in various divisions, winning championships in dirt racing, arena racing and INEX Legend cars. In 2013, he transitioned to Late Model Stock Car racing, securing his first win in 2016 and earning three consecutive championships at Langley Speedway (2020-2022).

The Chesapeake, Va., native, took his talents to the CARS Tour full-time in 2023 with Lee Pulliam Performance, where he captured four wins and a runner-up finish in the standings. He returned to the same program in 2024 and delivered the CARS Tour championship with four poles, two wins and 11 top-five finishes.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Brenden,” said Crew Chief Allen Hart. “We have made some gains in the simulator over the past few weeks, so I feel confident as we head to IRP. He has been a blast to work with, so we will definitely carry that enthusiasm into the race.”

The TSport 200 from Indianapolis Raceway Park will be televised live on FS1 Friday, July 25, beginning at 8 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

About BestRepair.net…
Best Repair Company, Inc. is a locally-owned full-service mechanical, electrical repairs and maintenance service provider in Norfolk, Va. With over 60 years of experience, Best Repair Company has proven to be a reputable and highly competent commercial, industrial, and marine service provider. As a leading motor repair shop, highly qualified experts specialize in a broad spectrum of services including electric motor repair alongside industrial pump, shaft, and centrifugal blower repairs.

About Spire Motorsports…
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

About BestRepair.net…
Best Repair Company, Inc. is a locally-owned full-service mechanical, electrical repairs and maintenance service provider in Norfolk, Va. With over 60 years of experience, Best Repair Company has proven to be a reputable and highly competent commercial, industrial, and marine service provider. As a leading motor repair shop, highly qualified experts specialize in a broad spectrum of services including electric motor repair alongside industrial pump, shaft, and centrifugal blower repairs.

About Spire Motorsports…
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

Source: Spire Motorspors

Sonoma Raceway Fatality Is Third Animal Death in 2025 NASCAR Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Justin Haley started 29th on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway and had a solid day, finishing 15th for his first top 15 since he recorded that same result at Texas back in early May. While it was a good day for the No. 7 driver, he didn’t leave wine country with all positive vibes.

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That’s because later in the race during a caution with 13 laps to go the Spire Motorsports driver had an unfortunate accident when he hit a fast-running rabbit crossing the track. The driver mentioned it on the team radio right after it happened.

“Oh God, I just hit a bunny,” he told his crew. A few minutes later and after a lap around the 1.99-mile circuit, the 26-year-old’s mind returned to the sad incident. “I can’t believe I killed a bunny. Oh, I feel horrible. He was running so fast.”

Interestingly, Haley’s isn’t the first such incident this year where animal has lost to machine. There have been two other deaths during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

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The first occurred back in late April at Talladega when Josh Berry obliterated a bird on his windshield coming toward the start-finish line. The most recent occurred last month in Michigan when Ty Dillon was heading down pit road and just as the No. 10 driver began turning into his pit box, a squirrel unsuccessfully tried to cross in front of his car.

“I think I just murdered a squirrel getting into my damn pit box,” the Kaulig Racing driver told his team. They confirmed it and mentioned how one team member surprised everyone with a loud scream when it happened.

It’s always an unfortunate circumstance when it occurs but something most drivers face off the track just like everyone else.

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Related: Furious Denny Hamlin Explodes in Chicago and Lets Joe Gibbs Know About It

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.

Glen Treadwell, Kevin Helms, and Joe Santangelo led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division was in action at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at South Georgia Motorsports Park:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Glen Treadwell, Eustis, Fla., ’23 23T, M/AA, 19.869, no speed  def. James Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., ’23 T, G/EA, broke. 

SUPER STOCK

Kevin Helms, Plant City, Fla., ’95 Achieva, SS/BM, 9.001, 145.16  def. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., ’96 Avenger, FGT/E, 9.160, 150.83. 

STOCK ELIMINATOR

Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.445, 118.26  def. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’23 Copo, FS/C, 9.522, 136.46. 

SUPER COMP

Chris Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’00 Horton, 8.911, 176.77  def. Ashley Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’04 Racetech, foul. 

SUPER GAS

Jim Perry, Niota, Tenn., ’00 S-10, 9.934, 167.20  def. Keith Mayers, Ellendale, Del., ’88 Spider, 9.929, 151.29. 

SUPER STREET

Keith Mayers,  ’92 968, 10.874, 146.54  def. Michael Ruff, Orlando, Fla., ’92 Camaro, 10.862, 134.11. 

TOP SPORTSMAN

Thomas Schmidt, Lakeland, Fla., ’10 GXP, 7.018, 198.38  def. Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 7.575, 179.73. 

TOP DRAGSTER

Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’14 American, 6.342, 205.47  def. Robert Houston, Newland, N.C., ’23 Race Tech, 7.156, 183.44. 

FRIDAY

The following are Friday’s final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at South Georgia Motorsports Park:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Glen Treadwell, Eustis, Fla., ’23 23T, M/AA, 7.832 seconds, -0.548 (under index)
2) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., ’32 Bantam, A/AA, 7.761, 0.611
3) James Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., ’23 T, G/EA, (no time)

SUPER STOCK
1) Mark Alvey, Chesterfield, Va., ’04 Sunfire, GT/GA, 9.423 seconds, -0.977 (under index)
2) John Fogle, Norway, S.C., ’05 Cavalier, GT/HA, 9.562, -0.938
3) Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., ’96 Avenger, FGT/E, 9.091, -0.909
4) Russell Ghent, Mooresville, N.C., ’94 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.095, -0.905
5) Dan Starko, Nashville, Tenn., ’16 Copo, FSS/C, 8.766, -0.884
6) Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., ’06 Cobalt, GT/FA, 9.382, -0.868
7) Frank Beasley, Taylorsville, N.C., ’08 Cobalt, GT/JA, 9.935, -0.865
8) James Schaechter, Cumming, Ga., ’03 Cavalier, GT/H, 9.493, -0.857
9) Jarrod Granier, Labadieville, La., ’66 Nova, SS/F, 9.524, -0.826
10) Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., ’08 G5, SS/DM, 8.956, -0.794

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) James Marshall, Indian Land, S.C., ’79 Malibu Wagon, G/SA, 10.955 seconds, -1.045 (under index)
2) Thomas Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., ’90 Corvette, G/SA, 10.981, -1.019
3) Anthony Hughes, Mcdonough, Ga., ’66 Nova, K/SA, 11.747, -0.903
4) Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, ’71 Chevelle, D/SA, 10.671, -0.879
5) Joel Warren, Clinton, N.C., ’94 Formula, H/SA, 11.294, -0.856
6) Orion Riley, Longwood, Fla., ’74 Nova, I/SA, 11.454, -0.846
7) Blake Hickman, Laurinburg, N.C., ’83 Camaro, J/SA, 11.633, -0.817
8) Joseph Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.439, -0.811
9) Timothy Fletcher, Selma, N.C., ’69 Camaro, F/SA, 11.065, -0.785
10) Darrell Bargeron, Jesup, Ga., ’72 Duster, E/SA, 10.922, -0.778

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Douglas Crumlich, Douglasville, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 6.610 seconds, 211.00 mph
2) Paul (jackie) Robison, Greer, S.C., ’66 Nova, 6.714, 208.84
3) Thomas Schmidt, Lakeland, Fla., ’10 GXP, 6.964, 199.46
4) Jeff Windholz, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., ’63 Corvette, 7.208, 197.91
5) James Hinkle, Danville, Ky., ’05 Grand Am, 7.273, 189.90
6) John Gifford, Naples, Fla., ’10 Cobalt, 7.395, 185.82
7) Frank Altilio, Longwood, Fla., ’02 S 10, 7.404, 184.02
8) Bruce Thaxton, Butler, Ga., ’03 Mustang, 7.457, 185.56
9) Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 8.012, 180.31
10) Daniel (danny) Leibham, Tomball, Texas, ’01 Camaro, 12.400, 69.51

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Robert May, Kinsey, Ala., ’24 Nelson Racecra, 6.128 seconds, 225.97 mph
2) Wayne Brooks, Monroe, Ga., ’19 Worthy, 6.168, 226.77
3) Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., ’14 Miller, 6.214, 228.15
4) Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’14 American, 6.253, 223.69
5) Darryl Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’25 Maddox, 6.615, 200.47
6) Tisha Wilson, Salisbury, N.C., ’25 Racetech, 6.704, 200.74
7) Alexis Whitaker, Telford, Tenn., ’21 Mike BOS, 6.808, 196.02
8) Chad Taylor, Laurens, S.C., ’19 Maddox, 6.846, 195.76
9) Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’19 M&M, 6.948, 196.02
10) Kelsea Hinkle, Danville, Ky., ’11 Miller, 6.983, 191.81

Following their fourth victory of the 2025 season at Sonoma Raceway, Trackhouse Racing Team has revealed that Todd Meredith began serving as the president of racing operations this week.

Meredith is a veteran of the industry, working at Joe Gibbs Racing for decades and even serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the legendary team between 2013 and 2016. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome someone of Todd’s caliber and experience to help guide Trackhouse from the top,” said Trackhouse team owner Justin Marks. “His focus on culture, strategy, quick decision making and organization will be a massive shot in the arm for this company as we navigate a pivotal growth period in the history of Trackhouse Racing.” 

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Meredith said of his hiring: “I feel at home in NASCAR and wanted to return in some form. The more I talked with Justin, the more I was excited by his vision of Trackhouse Racing. The team is very talented and quite successful, as you have seen in the last few months, but we want even more.”

Meredith does not replace anyone in his new role, and Marks said all business, marketing, and partner relationships will continue to operate under Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Lukanich.

The team currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 1 of Ross Chastain, the No. 88 of Shane van Gisbergen, and the No. 99 of Daniel Suarez. They have also run a fourth, open entry in a limited capacity this year. 

Suarez is set to exit the team at the end of the 2025 season, and while unofficial, the expectation is that rising star Connor Zilisch will replace him in the Cup Series.

Along with SVG’s record-matching three wins as a rookie, the organization also won a crown jewel event earlier this year with Chastain’s last-to-first victory in the Coca Cola 600.

What is all the fighting about? Charters, which are at the heart of NASCAR’s business model. Having one is vital to a team’s survival.

The legal wrangling is only making the the charters skyrocket in value. When Spire Motorsports debuted in 2019, it had bought a charter for $6 million. Now, one of Spire’s founders brokered the now-disputed deal for Ware to sell one of his two charters to Legacy for $45 million.

Johnson is not enjoying the legal brawling, including the higher-profile antitrust fight. He called on those parties to settle.

“I’m just sitting back watching it all play out, learning a lot about the legal process and the amount of injunctions and appeals that can take place,” Johnson said. “It’s a big game of chess and I’m watching all the strategy that goes into it all.

“I would love to see a settlement of some kind. I really don’t think that getting into a knock-down, drag-out lawsuit is good for anybody.”

The NASCAR lawsuit

23XI and FRM filed a federal antitrust suit against NASCAR last year after they were the only two organizations out of 15 to reject NASCAR’s extension offer on charters.

The case has a Dec. 1 trial date, but in the meantime, the two teams are fighting to be recognized as chartered for the current season, which has 16 races left. A charter guarantees one of the 40 spots in the field each week, but also a base amount of money paid out each week.

Jordan and FRM owner Bob Jenkins won an injunction to recognize 23XI and FRM as chartered for the season, but the ruling was overturned on appeal earlier this month. Both teams were set to be stripped of a combined six charters on Wednesday, which would force them to compete as “open cars.”

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin co-owns 23XI with Jordan and said they are prepared to send Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst to the track each week as open teams. But they still filed for a restraining order Monday and claimed that through discovery they learned NASCAR upon revocation planned to immediately begin the process of selling the six charters which would put “plaintiffs in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.”

NASCAR said it has asked multiple times for settlement proposals but heard nothing. NASCAR also has no intention of re-negotiating the charter agreements held by 30 other teams.

Jordan has the money to keep 23XI running without charters, but FRM doesn’t have the same level of funding. Additionally, if the teams aren’t chartered, they will have to qualify on speed each week to make the field.

It won’t be an issue this weekend at Dover as fewer than the maximum 40 cars are entered. But should 41 cars show up anywhere this season, someone slow will be sent home.

“We’re not worried because our cars have the speed. We’ve always said we’re racing no matter what. If we have to race open, we have to race open,” Hamlin said at Sonoma Raceway last weekend. “We worked to get an injunction and obviously feel like Dec. 1 is all that matters.”

Legacy vs. RWR

This case is actually a dispute over agreed-upon terms for Ware to sell one of his two charters to Johnson and his partners at Knighthead Capital Management.

Ware this season is leasing a charter to RFK Racing and was already under agreement with that team to get the charter back in 2026, then lease RFK its second charter next season. He never had a charter to sell for 2026 unless he ceased operations.

Yet when he signed the contract with Legacy, Ware has said, he didn’t read it through and catch that the sale terms were for next season and not 2027, when he’d have both charters in his possession.

RWR is alleging Legacy pulled a bait-and-switch, and if true, it is on Ware for not seeing it in the contract he signed.

The curveball came when T.J. Puchyr, the Spire co-founder who now acts as a consultant and brokered the deal between Legacy and Ware, said last month he plans to buy Ware’s team. Legacy argued in court Monday it was blindsided by the news, that if Ware is selling then the charter rightfully belongs to them, and they urgently needed depositions before Ware sold his race team out from under them.

It didn’t help when Ware’s lawyers couldn’t answer questions about a potential sale: “I think you need to talk to your client,” the judge told them before warning Ware may be in contempt of court and ordering depositions for later this week.

Ware, meanwhile, apparently accepted the Legacy offer for his charter despite a second bid of more than $50 million from another party. With NASCAR indicating through discovery in the 23XI/FRM suit that it has interested buyers for the six charters, it is a seller’s market.

Johnson, with financial backing from Knighthead, is certain he will be getting the Ware charter one way or another to expand Legacy to three full-time Cup Series drivers.

“I’m not sure there is a plan B,” Johnson said of his confidence level at winning the case.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Dover Event Info:
Date: Sunday, July 20
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Dover, Delaware
Format: 400 Laps, 400 miles, Stages: 125-250-400
TV: TNT
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 11 a.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 12:05 p.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1:35 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2:45 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Race (TNT, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• Dover Motor Speedway hosts its lone race date of the season this weekend as the 21st points race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
• Sam Mayer holds the best average finish (10.6) among full-time Xfinity drivers this season.
  • Mayer has started inside the top 10 in each of his last six starts dating back to Nashville Superspeedway in May.
• Sheldon Creed has recorded two consecutive top-10 finishes, both on road courses, at the Chicago Street Course (3^rd) and Sonoma (10^th).

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: HaasTooling.com

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Friends of Jaclyn

Sam Mayer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: Audibel

Custer at Dover (Cup)
Starts: 4
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

• Custer makes his fifth Cup start at Dover this weekend, where he has finished no worse than 15^th over his four starts. Both top-10 finishes came back-to-back in 2020 (10^th) and 2021 (10^th).
• His 11.5 average finish at Dover is the highest of any track on the NASCAR circuit this season (min. two starts).
• His best start came in 2020 (10^th), and he boasts a 22.8 average starting position.
• Custer has seven top-10 results in eight Xfinity Series starts at Dover, leading 332 total laps and earning the checkered flag in 2019. He also has three Truck starts at the “Monster Mile”.

Creed at Dover (Xfinity)
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

• Creed is set to make his fourth Xfinity start at Dover on Saturday, where he is coming off a fourth-place finish in last season’s race. His other top-10 result came in 2022 when he finished eighth after starting 11^th.
• He has started inside the top 10 in each of his last two starts and carries a 6.3 average starting position into the weekend.

Mayer at Dover (Xfinity)
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

• Mayer is in line for his fourth Xfinity start at Dover this weekend, coming off a third-place finish in last season’s race. He also finished ninth two seasons ago and fifth in 2022.
• His best start was on the front row in 2022, and he holds an average starting position of 15.3.

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 34^th): Custer is 34^th in the Cup Series points standings with 255 points heading into Dover this Sunday.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 8^th, 00: 10^th): Mayer sits eighth in the Xfinity points standings with 627 total points on the season, behind the seven winners, while Creed is in 10^th place with 518 points.

HFT PR