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Rick Ware Racing agrees to sell to T.J. Puchyr, who wants to expand team

According to a report from the Associated Press, T.J. Puchyr has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing and expand it into a three-car team by 2027. Now, many fans are likely wondering who Puchyr is, but it is a name familiar to those in the NASCAR garage. He is a former owner […]

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According to a report from the Associated Press, T.J. Puchyr has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing and expand it into a three-car team by 2027.

Now, many fans are likely wondering who Puchyr is, but it is a name familiar to those in the NASCAR garage. He is a former owner at Spire Motorsports alongside Jeff Dickerson, helping to build it into the strong organization it now is. They purchased Furniture Row Racing’s charter following the 2018 season and formed Spire together, which now runs three full-time entries and has contended for multiple race wins this year. Puchyr has since sold his stake in Spire and is no longer connected to the team.

Per the AP, the deal would keep Rick Ware’s son Cody as one of the drivers. RWR currently runs one full-time, charted car, but they are also leasing another charter to RFK Racing for the No. 60 Ford in a two-year agreement. RWR is also in the middle of a lawsuit with Legacy Motor Club, who claims RWR backed out of a signed deal and that they owe them a charter for the 2026 season. 

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Photo by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Ford Mustang is currently last in the championships standings among the 36 chartered teams, placing no higher than 24th in any race this year.

“I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level, and I think we can compete with these guys,” said Puchyr in an interview with the Associated Press. “I think we can build it brick-by-brick and it’s going to take people, money and time. It’s not lost on me that [RWR] is the 36th-place car in the garage, we all see it. But I believe we can make this a competitive organization, even a winner.”

There are a lot of moving parts with this deal, and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds in the months to follow. 

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Motorsports

Pit road confrontation erupts after close call during Sonoma Cup race

In the middle of the NASCAR Cup race at Sonoma, things were getting heated between drivers and even pit crew members. Near the end of Stage 2, several drivers pitted early to gain track position ahead of the final stage. Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were two of those drivers. Their pit stalls where right […]

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In the middle of the NASCAR Cup race at Sonoma, things were getting heated between drivers and even pit crew members.

Near the end of Stage 2, several drivers pitted early to gain track position ahead of the final stage. Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were two of those drivers. Their pit stalls where right next to each other, and the tire carrier for Keselowski was already standing in the box as he prepared for the car to arrive.

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Gibbs was ahead of Keselowski both on the track and in the pits, and as he approached his stall, he cut directly through the RFK Racing stall, getting extremely close to tire carrier, Telvin McClurkin.

McClurkin later told NASCAR on TNT that the tire in his hand got clipped by the car, twisting his wrist. However, he was able to carry on with his duties for the rest of the day.

Immediately after the incident, a furious McClurkin confronted crew members from the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Some words were exchanged, and it quickly escalated into some pushing and shoving between them.

RFK Racing later released video from their pit box, showing what happened to cause the scuffle.

NASCAR reviewed the incident and felt there was no reason to penalize Gibbs as drivers are permitted to drive through (at most) three pit boxes when approaching their own, stating that the No. 54 did nothing wrong.

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Gibbs went on to finish seventh while Keselowski ended the race in 11th.  “Going in, I have the right of way,” Gibbs told NASCAR on TNT, pointing out the orange lines in the pit stalls. “They’re on the wall for a reason. They jump for a reason. Those guys like to push it and that’s kind of the consequence you pay.”

Photos from Sonoma – Race

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

General view

General view

General view

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

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William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

General view

General view

General view

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Jonathan Ferrey Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Shane van Gisbergen extends winning streak with an intense NASCAR Cup victory at Sonoma

 

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Road warrior van Gisbergen rolls on with Sonoma win

Shane van Gisbergen proved on Sunday that it’s impossible to keep a road course superstar down for more than a brief interlude. After finishing second to Connor Zilisch in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, van Gisbergen was back on top on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in wine country, winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. […]

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Shane van Gisbergen proved on Sunday that it’s impossible to keep a road course superstar down for more than a brief interlude.

After finishing second to Connor Zilisch in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, van Gisbergen was back on top on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in wine country, winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

As has become his custom of late, the New Zealander reached a trio of milestones, winning his third straight road/street course race from the pole position to equal Jeff Gordon’s feat from 1998 and ’99.

The victory was van Gisbergen’s third of the season in his first trip around the 1.99-mile, 12-turn circuit in a NASCAR Cup Series car. SVG won for the fourth time in 34 starts, becoming the quickest to four wins since Parnelli Jones won at Riverside in 1967 in his 31st Cup start.

His 97 laps led are the most by a Sonoma winner, eclipsing Jeff Gordon’s high-water mark of 92 set in 2004.

“We had an amazing car,” van Gisbergen said. “Chase Briscoe, what a great racer and gave me respect. Jumped the last (restart) a little bit, and it was pretty tense, but amazing. So stoked for Red Bull, Trackhouse, Chevy. I believe we had a really fun weekend here, some great races, and I hope everyone enjoyed that.”

The winner of 81 Australian Supercars races on the way to three championships in the series, van Gisbergen already is being touted as perhaps the best road course racer in NASCAR history.

“I had an amazing time in Australia, and then to come here and the last couple weeks or years actually has been a dream come true,” said the 36-year-old driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in NASCAR. Thanks, everyone, for making me feel so welcome. I hope I’m here for a long time to come.”

Winning the second stage despite short-pitting to preserve track position, van Gisbergen advanced to third on the current Cup Playoff grid with 17 Playoff points. He arrived at the finish line 1.128s ahead of consistent Chase Briscoe, but the win was far from guaranteed, given the chaos of the final 15 laps.

SVG had to survive three cautions and subsequent restarts in the late stages of the race to seal the win, as a large group of drivers on better tires chased those who had stayed on the track (including the race winner) after the No. 51 Ford of Cody Ware jettisoned a tire and caused a yellow on lap 97.

Briscoe qualified second and finished where he felt he deserved.

“I thought there was one restart I was maybe going to get clear of him, but truthfully, even if I cleared him, he was probably going to pass me back by the end of the lap,” he said. “Yeah, proud of the effort. We were a second-place car all day and obviously ended up second with it.”

Chase Elliott pitted on lap 97 for fresher tires and came home third after restarting 14th on lap 100. Michael McDowell, on the same strategy as Elliott, climbed to fourth at the finish, while Christopher Bell held fifth on older tires.

“It was nice to be on offense and give ourselves a shot,” Elliott said. “I wish I could have made it happen there. I was trying, but I just couldn’t get going like we needed to there at the end.”

The action on the final few laps was attributable in part to battles within the NASCAR Cup In-Season Challenge. In Sunday’s third round at Sonoma, 32nd seed Ty Dillon bumped the No. 48 Chevrolet of Alex Bowman out of the way on the final lap to finish 17th to Bowman’s 19th and keep his hopes for the $1-million prize alive.

Dillon will face John Hunter Nemechek in next Sunday semifinals at Dover Motor Speedway. Nemechek finished one spot ahead of Legacy Motor Club teammate Erik Jones (28th to 29th) to advance to the fourth round.

“It was a rough couple of laps there,” Dillon acknowledged. “Alex and I race really clean. I told him, ‘Man, if it wasn’t for the million dollars, I probably wouldn’t have done that,’ but I had to. It’s been an incredible run for this No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team. We’ve worked so hard for this opportunity…

“We’re going to give it all we’ve got at Dover; put pressure on the guys. I think you’ve seen through this that our team doesn’t quit. I saw the No. 48 there at the end, and I knew it was our opportunity to race hard and go get him. Just proud of this team’s effort.”

Ty Gibbs moved into the tournament semifinals with a seventh-place finish to Zane Smith’s 27th, and Tyler Reddick ousted Ryan Preece with a sixth-place run to Preece’s 12th. Gibbs and Reddick will face off at the Monster Mile for a trip to the finals.

William Byron, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch completed the top 10 in a race that featured six cautions for 17 laps.

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Ty Dillon’s last lap gamble bumps Alex Bowman from NASCAR’s $1 million challenge

Motorsport photo When NASCAR and TNT introduced the in-season challenge, a bracket-style tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning driver, absolutely no one would have realistically picked Kaulig Racing’s Ty Dillon as a potential winner. Advertisement And yet, the No. 32 seed defeated Denny Hamlin at Atlanta after Hamlin’s early exit from the race, […]

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Motorsport photo

Motorsport photo

When NASCAR and TNT introduced the in-season challenge, a bracket-style tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning driver, absolutely no one would have realistically picked Kaulig Racing’s Ty Dillon as a potential winner.

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And yet, the No. 32 seed defeated Denny Hamlin at Atlanta after Hamlin’s early exit from the race, later doing the same with Brad Keselowski when the former Cup champion crashed in Chicago.

At Sonoma, however, it wasn’t going to be another easy advancement. Dillon had to actually race head-to-head with Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday.

And as fate would have it, the duo found each other in the closing laps of the race. Dillon got passed by Bowman, but he remained close as they were both stuck in the middle of the pack.

On the final lap, Dillon gave Bowman a bump in the hairpin, pushing the HMS driver up the track. There was more contact on corner exit, but he passed him mere seconds before they reached the finish line. With that move, he ensured his advancement into the semi-finals with just four drivers left in the entire tournament.

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Both Bowman and Dillon shared a friendly chat after the race, even shaking hands after the tense battle.

“It was a rough couple of laps there,” said Dillon. “Alex (Bowman) and I race really clean. I told him – man, if it wasn’t for the million dollars, I probably wouldn’t have done that, but I had to. It’s been an incredible run for this No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team. We’ve worked so hard for this opportunity … I’ve worked so hard to get here and I’m just grateful. All of our partners that are on board, this has just been so much fun.

“We’re going to give it all we’ve got at Dover — put pressure on the guys. I think you’ve seen through this that our team doesn’t quit. I saw the No. 48 there at the end, and I knew it was our opportunity to race hard and go get him. Just proud of this team’s effort.”

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Dillon will now face John-Hunter Nemechek of Legacy Motor Club at Dover, another driver that few pundits expected to make it this far in the tournament. On the other side, it will be Tyler Reddick versus Ty Gibbs in a battle between two Toyota drivers.

Photos from Sonoma – Race

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

General view

General view

General view

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

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William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

General view

General view

General view

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Katherine Legge, Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

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Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Graythen – Getty Images

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota

Jonathan Ferrey Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Read Also:

Pit road confrontation erupts after close call during Sonoma Cup race

Shane van Gisbergen extends winning streak with an intense NASCAR Cup victory at Sonoma

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Loop North News – Southeast Side better fit for permanent NASCAR track

Residents and local officials are advocating for NASCAR to move its annual event out of Grant Park, citing disruptions to daily life and opportunities for more beneficial events. (Above) Driver Shane van Gisbergen competes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Grant Park on July 6 (AP Photo/Erin Hooley). By Don DeBat Jul. 14, 2025 […]

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Residents and local officials are advocating for NASCAR to move its annual event out of Grant Park, citing disruptions to daily life and opportunities for more beneficial events.

(Above) Driver Shane van Gisbergen competes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Grant Park on July 6 (AP Photo/Erin Hooley).

Jul. 14, 2025 – Whether you love NASCAR or hate it, now is the time to start planning to move this redneck racing show out of Grant Park to save Chicago’s Game, 16-inch slow pitch softball, and to promote other more profitable events.

“While NASCAR has brought Chicago business, tourists, and a spectacle unique to sports culture, it has also brought noise, disruption, and road closures,” noted 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins, who along with four other alderpersons – Bill Conway (34th Ward), Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), and Lamont Robinson (4th Ward) – is not a fan of the event.

Brian Hopkins

“This past year alone, I heard from numerous 2nd Ward residents whose commutes and daily lives were altered drastically by these street closures,” Hopkins (left) said in a letter to NASCAR officials. “Other large-scale downtown events, whose economic impacts are as much or greater than this event, cause less disruption.”

Hopkins said it is his hope that in the future, the city can create a NASCAR deal that “sufficiently benefits Chicago without putting undue burden on downtown residents and businesses.”

After three years of NASCAR madness, which essentially kicked Grant Park Chicago softball to the curb, the good news is the racing venue now is considering an offer to move its July 4th event to San Diego.

Sixteen-inch softball’s 138-year history started near Grant Park

Time for a history lesson. Sixteen-inch softball was invented in Chicago in 1887, and the first indoor game was played at the Farragut Boat Club at Lake Park & 31st Street, only a couple of miles from Grant Park.

(Right) The first softball team in action in Grant Park, circa 1897. Photo by X.O. Howe.

Photo by X.O. Howe

So, softball lovers are cheering any plan to move the annual NASCAR event out of Grant Park. Now is the time to stop closing parts of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and major downtown streets, building temporary bleachers, and breathing exhaust fumes every Independence Day weekend, they say.

To raise tax revenues and help Chicago avoid bankruptcy, city planners should follow the words of legendary Windy City architect and urban planner Daniel H. Burnham: “Make no little plans.”

Planners and politicians should back construction of a permanent NASCAR track for four to six major races a year on 440 acres of the toxic U.S. Steel land along South DuSable Lake Shore Drive south of 79th Street in the long-forgotten South Chicago section of the East Side neighborhood.

Now overgrown with weeds and dotted with relics of its industrial past, the U.S. Steel site has been vacant for 30 years and until recently wasn’t high on Alderman Peter Chico’s 10th Ward agenda.

However, 128 acres along the southeast edge of the site has recently been targeted by PsiQuantum, a Silicon Valley firm, and Chicago developer Related Midwest, as the anchor in the Southeast Side research park by the planned Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park at 8080 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park

(Left) Rendering of the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park. The 128-acre campus is planned as a hub for quantum computing and advanced microelectronics research and development. The north end of the site will be anchored by Advocate Health Care, which is planning a $300 million, 53-bed hospital on 23 acres.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is an advocate for building a major quantum computer facility in Chicago, and the city would benefit greatly if anything positive happened on vacant South Works land, which has had several failed startups announced for the acreage over the past decade.

The city has already spent $60 million to bring in Route 41 (South DuSable Lake Shore Drive) and create Steelworkers Park and Park 566 on the site, but most of the land sits empty.

A big problem is the South Works site has serious environmental concerns that have blocked residential developers for decades and need to be addressed. Layers of slag, toxic waste caused by steelmaking, is buried underground and would need to be remediated or capped.

So, a permanent, concrete-paved NASCAR racetrack, paid for and leased by the racing giant, might be better long-term use for a major section of the site on weekends for six to eight annual race events.

The proposed NASCAR track, which could run for two or three miles around the perimeter of the Southeast Side research park, likely would not interfere with the weekday work for computer scientists at the microelectronics facility.

Imagine the TV skyline views of the Loop and downtown Chicago from the racetrack, which would have permanent stands and elite seating just like the arena provided at Grant Park, without traffic congestion and displacement of softball leagues and other summer park events.

Or just build a casino

Here are this writer’s other whimsical proposals to help anchor the South Chicago section of the East Side neighborhood as a major tourist attraction:

• Once the racing mecca is established, NASCAR could invite participants from the Road American races, currently run in Elkhart, Wisconsin, to participate and use the track. Now in its 70th year of racing, Road America currently sponsors a series of 50 motorsport events ranging from Formula 1 European and American sports cars to muscle cars and motorcycles. Maybe it is time for Road America to show off its talents in Chicago?

• With Indiana only minutes away by car, the track also could be utilized on weekends for other blue-collar sports such as drag racing and demolition derbies when NASCAR is out of town.

• Racing investors likely will jump at the chance to build the Chicago NASCAR Museum on land near the track, along with a 200-room South Works hotel and Country & Western concert venue for after-race entertainment and frolicking fans.

• Since the U.S. Steel site likely belonged to Native American Indians originally, why not toss in the land for the South Works Casino and plenty of parking? The casino will help Chicago and Illinois, which generated more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue last year, lock in its place as the third largest gaming market behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

• There still will be enough acreage left over to build a small airport, similar to the city’s long-gone private Meigs Field, to fly in music concert fans and politicians. Why not name the new airport after Richard M. Daley, who razed Meigs?

(Right) Meigs Field on April 6, 2003, a few days after its runway was closed. Wikimedia Commons.

Wikimedia Commons

All this activity will give Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism organization, plenty of ammo to attract tens of thousands of tourists to the Windy City.



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Motorsports

Shane van Gisbergen wins intense NASCAR Cup race at Sonoma

Shane van Gisbergen started Sunday’s Cup race from Sonoma Raceway on pole position, and he stayed there for most of the day. SVG has now won the last three road/street courses on the schedule, securing Red Bull’s first win as a primary sponsor in the Cup Series since the 2011 season. “Yeah, it was pretty […]

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Shane van Gisbergen started Sunday’s Cup race from Sonoma Raceway on pole position, and he stayed there for most of the day. SVG has now won the last three road/street courses on the schedule, securing Red Bull’s first win as a primary sponsor in the Cup Series since the 2011 season.

“Yeah, it was pretty tough stuff,” said SVG, who led 97 of 110 laps. “We had an amazing car. Chase Briscoe, what a great racer and gave me respect. Jumped the last one a little bit and it was pretty tense, but amazing. So stoked for Red Bull, Trackhouse, Chevy. I believe we had a really fun weekend here, some great races, and I hope everyone enjoyed that.”

Watch: Cabernet Shane! No. 88 driver collects third Cup win of 2025 at Sonoma

Van Gisbergen was cruising out front when Cody Ware lost a wheel with 15 laps to go, setting up a dramatic sprint to the finish. SVG chose to stay out on older tires, and 13 other drivers did the same.

Chase Elliott led the way among the drivers who pitted for fresh rubber, but his forward progress was hindered by a series of cautions, burning up several laps.

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

A crash from Noah Gragson and a spin into the tire barriers by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. both forced restarts, but in both situations, van Gisbergen remained in form control of the race.

Elliott got all the way up to third while Chase Briscoe finished exactly where he started — second. Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five with Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch filling out the rest of the top ten.

Stage 1  and 2

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

At the start of the race, things were mostly clean as SVG drove off with the lead. However, he and most of the field chose to flip the stage, short-pitting before the scheduled caution.

His teammate Ross Chastain took another path, staying out and earning his first stage win of the year. Despite pitting, van Gisbergen still managed to end the stage in second place.

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

As the second stage got underway, there was some more contact throughout the pack, with A.J. Allmendinger and John Hunter Nemechek both going for a spin.

SVG again chose to pit from the lead while Kyle Larson stayed out to try and win the stage. However, that didn’t work out for him as van Gisbergen ran him down and passed him for the stage win.

Stage 3

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

The final stage was the wildest of all as Ryan Blaney got sent into the dirt by Chris Buescher, getting stuck on a hill off-track and causing the first caution for an incident. 

At the same time, both Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin spun. And while tensions were rising on the track, it was also getting heated in the pit lane as the RFK Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing pit crews got into a small scuffle.

The final round of green-flag pit stops began with about 30 laps to go, but van Gisbergen waited until 26 laps to go to make his final stop. 

He continued to lead for the remainder of the race, despite multiple restarts where he had to fend off Briscoe.

Photos from Sonoma – Race

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Jimmie Johnson Hails Connor Zilisch for Holding off SVG in JR Motorsports’ Dominant Sonoma 1-2 Finish

Defeating Shane van Gisbergen on a road course is one of the most daunting tasks that a Cup Series driver can face today. The Australian Supercars champion reaffirmed his expertise once again at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday by capturing the checkered flag in style. But while all the stars struggled against him, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch […]

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Defeating Shane van Gisbergen on a road course is one of the most daunting tasks that a Cup Series driver can face today. The Australian Supercars champion reaffirmed his expertise once again at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday by capturing the checkered flag in style. But while all the stars struggled against him, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch gave him a run for his money.

The JR Motorsports recruit won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Sonoma after a long battle against SVG. Notably, the victory came in the aftermath of a 1-2 finish between them in Chicago the previous weekend, in which Zilisch finished as the runner-up. One of the many people impressed with the youngster’s talent was seven-time Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson.

Johnson was asked about van Gisbergen’s road course expertise during a press conference this weekend. He showered praise on the New Zealand native’s pedal management techniques and pointed out that it helps him manage the front tires and maintain speed through corners. In the wake of his appreciation, he also lauded Zilisch and his ability to defeat the ace.

He said, “You know to watch him (SVG) and Zilisch yesterday duke it out. What we saw in Chicago, SVG is really impressive, but to see a young driver come along and duke it out with him at this level is quite impressive as well.”

Van Gisbergen showers praise on Zilisch

Motorsports is a competitive field. Egos tend to get hurt when facing failure, and seldom do drivers take it in good spirit. But losing to Zilisch on Saturday did not make van Gisbergen feel the slightest of ill emotion. The icon delivered the biggest of compliments to the young driver following his victory on Sunday.

A member of the press asked him what he was going to tell Zilisch after securing his third Cup Series win of the season. He replied that he would thank the young gun for not being in the race and evoked rounds of laughter in the room.

“I’m going to have to race him a lot in the future, right? He’s a star of the sport, or going to be even more so. Racing him yesterday, he doesn’t look like he’s 18. You know, he’s placing the car in perfect spots, drives amazing and he’s an awesome young kid,” van Gisbergen continued.

With Daniel Suarez out of the No. 99 Chevrolet for 2026, Zilisch could soon be van Gisbergen’s teammate at Trackhouse Racing. As it seems, the Kiwi would love nothing more.



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