As confetti showered down onto the lawn at Pebble Beach, Car Week 2025 came to a festive conclusion.

The recipient of the celebration was a gorgeous 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo, a streamlined machine with a body of carved and polished strips of mahogany that claimed Best of Show honors at Concours d’Elegance.

“I’ve always loved varnished wood, and when I saw this I said, ‘My gosh,’” said Lee Anderson of Naples, Florida, who presented the car. “Winning Pebble Beach is probably the highest award you can get in automobile collecting.”

Lee and Penny Anderson have won it before. Three years ago their 1932 Duesenberg J wowed the judges.

But the Hispano-Suiza was almost an anomaly in a 10-day span seemingly dominated by exotics. They prowled the roads of the Monterey Peninsula, flashing past carspotters panning their cell phones to record a glimpse. They attracted overflow crowds to the Inn at Spanish Bay and the streets of Seaside. And they crossed the auction blocks.

On Friday at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Best of Show honors went to a 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1—a vintage car compared to the show of present and future marvels. There was the one-off Bugatti Brouillard, a limited production GMSV S1 LM from the works of designer Gordon Murray and perhaps the most talked-about vehicle, the Corvette CX concept.

Manufacturers used Car Week to unveil next level machines, such as the AMG GT XX concept and the Acura RSX prototype. Traffic stacked up beyond Pebble Beach for the rotating lineup at Spanish Bay, which included one of only nine McLaren P1 HDK’s in the world and a coveted Ferrari F40.

Seven modern supercars topped the bidding at Bonhams in Carmel Valley, with a 2020 Bugatti Divo gaveling at $8.6 million—a record for the model. At the Broad Arrow auction in Monterey, a 2005 Maserati MC12 Stradale went for just over $5.2 million. 

RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction set a record by selling a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 for $26 million. All of the proceeds went to charity, which tends to drive the price beyond market value. No matter, the amount makes it the most money paid at auction for a car with a cause.

One wonders why some people persist in referring to the event as “Classic” Car Week.

While they may not bring the same social media fame as exotics, the week continues to feature the finest vehicles from eras past. Indeed, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione gaveled for $25.3 million at Gooding Christie’s, setting the mark for the week’s auctions—and for the California Spider class.

Ferraris of different vintages claimed eight of the top 10 spots on the list of most expensive cars auctioned during Car Week 2025, with the Divo and a 1935 Mercedes Benz 500 K Special Roadster crashing the Maranello party. All sold for well over $5 million.

The highest priced car at Mecum Auctions in Monterey was another Ferrari, a 1971 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, which drew $2.2 million. Seven cars reached above the $1 million mark, including a 1969 Dodge Daytona race car driven by Bobby Allison.

Car Week in Monterey was a showcase of elegance and exotica, of course. New and more recent vehicles made noticeable inroads on the classics of yore—not only the prevalence of modern supercars, but also seen in the crowds that gathered around the IROC cars raced at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion—cars originally run between 1974 and 2006—and the Radwood-inspired gathering called The Paddock in Seaside, featuring favorites from the 1980s and ’90s.

But there are always welcome bits of whimsy, such as the 1969 Volkswagen Beetle Limousine that graced the Sotheby’s block or the “Galaxy Glider,” built by Chris Wollard of Tulsa to such low standards that it took Worst of Show at Concours d’Lemons. 

As expected, O’Reilly Auto Parts has been officially announced as the successor to Xfinity as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s second-tier division in the NASCAR National Series ranks beginning in 2026. O’Reilly will take over as the title sponsor of the series after an 11-year run for Xfinity as the title sponsor.

A bold new chapter is about to be written.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series becomes the NASCAR @OReillyAuto Parts Series starting in 2026. pic.twitter.com/djqon33he1

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 18, 2025

“Like the great sport of NASCAR, O’Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people,” said NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell. “This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR’s stars and fans while celebrating the journey we’ve been on together for decades.”

O’Reilly Auto Parts will officially become the fourth company to hold the title sponsorship of the series when it assumes the naming rights on January 1, 2026. Prior to Xfinity, the series was sponsored by Nationwide Insurance from 2008 to 2014, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company served as the title sponsor from 1982 to 2007.

For O’Reilly Auto Parts, the partnership with NASCAR makes sense as the company shares key values with the defining characteristics of the sport.

“Our company is rooted in the same values that define NASCAR—teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication,” said O’Reilly Auto Parts President Brent Kirby. “You’ll see those in action when our customers walk through our doors. We know they need fast service, and Team O’Reilly will get them the parts they need quickly, with excellent customer service. We welcome all fans to stop by our stores and see how our team can help keep them running.”

The CW will once again carry the entire season of races for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, marking the second of seven seasons for the broadcasting network in its current media rights agreement with NASCAR. Year-over-year viewership for the NASCAR Xfinity Series is currently up 17% from a season ago, and the 2025 season is trending toward being the most-watched season since the 2018 season.

Big Game Motorsports driver David Gravel posted a pair of top-five results in Minnesota last weekend.

Gravel’s 42 top fives during 49 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature starts this season leads ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt.’ He currently holds a 168-point lead in the championship standings with approximately one third of the season remaining.

Last weekend began with Gravel setting quick time during qualifying on Friday at Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie. He won a heat race and placed second in the dash to garner the outside front row starting position in the A Main.

A tough start cost Gravel a pair of positions and he fell as far as fifth before rallying for a third-place finish.

“We just were really tight early,” Gravel said in a post-race interview on DIRTVision. “If the first start went, our race is probably a lot different. With that second start, I actually got a good start, but Bill (Balog) just slid up enough to get me in dirty air, and those guys passed me below me there and put me in a bad spot. In the last 10 to 12 laps, I think I was just as good as those guys, just a little too late. You can’t fall back to fifth and try to get back up there.”

The weekend wrapped up on Saturday at Jackson Motorplex, which hosted the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars presented by FENDT. Gravel timed in second quickest and won a heat race before placing fifth in both the dash and the main event.

Big Game Motorsports had a second entry for Friday’s event at Ogilvie Raceway, where Donny Schatz piloted the ShopHusets.com No. 15. He qualified 13th quickest and advanced a position to place fourth in a heat race. Unfortunately, Schatz was involved in an opening-lap crash in the main event that resulted in a DNF as well as a damaged car.

Schatz, who drove for Lunstra Motorsports on Saturday at Jackson Motorplex, will be in a Lunstra Motorsports sprint car for the next two weeks with the support of Big Game Motorsports as crew members Brad Alexander and Stephen Hamm-Reilly will continue to work on the car.

Next up is the Mississippi Thunder Showdown on Tuesday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis. River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., hosts the Gerdau presents the 2nd Leg of the World of Outlaws Northern Tour on Friday followed by the Ellingson presents the Duel in the Dakotas on Saturday at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D.

DAVID GRAVEL QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 15 – Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 2 (2); Feature: 3 (2).

Aug. 16 – Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 5 (5); Feature: 5 (5).

DONNY SCHATZ QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 15 – Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn. – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 4 (5); Feature: 25 (10).

DAVID GRAVEL SEASON STATS –

54 races, 12 wins, 44 top fives, 50 top 10s, 50 top 15s, 50 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Tuesday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., for the Mississippi Thunder Showdown; Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., for the Gerdau presents the 2nd Leg of the World of Outlaws Northern Tour; and Saturday at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., for the Ellingson presents the Duel in the Dakotas with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

ILP PR

Fans Want NASCAR Employee Fired Immediately, ‘He Has To Go’ originally appeared on The Spun.

NASCAR fans want a longtime employee fired immediately following his controversial take on social media.

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The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is approaching the finish line, with the Cup Series Playoffs not too distant. The 2025 Playoffs begin on Sunday, August 31 with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. There’s been talk of changing the Cup Series Playoffs, as perhaps the current format isn’t the best way to determine the best racer in the sport. That’s the goal of the playoffs, right? To determine who is the best driver in the sport?

That’s what most NASCAR fans thought, anyway. However, one NASCAR employee’s admission has fans outraged.

Mamba Smith, the “Chief Hype Officer” at NASCAR – technically, an analyst for NASCAR.com and NASCAR on Fox – sparked controversy with his admission on social media. He does not think the playoffs are meant to crown the best driver.

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“The point isn’t to crown the best driver… It’s to crown the best team who executed the best when the pressure was at its highest and the lights were the brightest,” he wrote.

NASCAR fans immediately reacted with rage

“Oh boy. Oh boy,” one fan wrote.

“Mamba. The point *IS* to crown the best driver. Yes, NASCAR is a team sport. But it’s main and single biggest draw has ALWAYS been the drivers. And there’s been a big superstar problem as of late,” one fan added.

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“Are we for real here?” one fan added.

“Oof. Bro said the silent part out loud 😬 it’s never been about having a legitimate champion,” one fan added.

“Pack it up. Winston Cup Nascar will never be seen again until all the management and media involved is replaced. Unless Nascar listens to people like us,” one fan added.

“That’s not the point of the Championship? Really. This is a real problem with NASCAR media. They think they can just redefine what things mean in this sport and many of them, like Kyle Petty, act like if we don’t accept it then we are the problem,” one fan added.

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NASCAR drivers are upset, too

It’s not just NASCAR fans that are bothered by Mamba Smith’s comment – NASCAR drivers are annoyed, too.

Denny Hamlin, perhaps the biggest name in the sport, had a three-word reaction to the post on social media.

“Oh man, yikes,” he wrote.

As many fans are pointing out, it’s quite literally referred to as the Driver’s Championship. Mamba Smith might be regretting this one.

Fans Want NASCAR Employee Fired Immediately, ‘He Has To Go’ first appeared on The Spun on Aug 18, 2025

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This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.

Monterey Motorsports Festival revs up with cars, music, and community

Updated: 2:42 PM PDT Aug 18, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The Monterey Motorsports Festival is taking over the Monterey County Fairgrounds tonight, offering a six-hour celebration that combines cars, culture, music, and community.Adam Langsbard, managing director of the Monterey Motorsports Festival, said, “What we want to do is provide an event that really gives greater access to folks. Car week has become a very luxurious destination and ticket prices are extremely high. Our ticket price is $130. The next ticket price up is probably around $500 for a major event. We want to be able to bring people together under the banner of car culture.”Tickets for the festival start at $130, with discounts available for seniors, students, and children. The event spans 22 acres and showcases supercars, hypercars, European classics, JDM builds, off-roaders, and electric vehicles.Langsbard said, “We have a lot of different touch points that people can experience beyond just looking at some sexy metal.”In addition to the cars, families can enjoy food trucks, lifestyle vendors, rides, and live entertainment, including performances by local bands and a headlining DJ, Dillon Francis, who will close out the night.A special surprise awaits attendees with the unveiling of the Peralta S, a unique one-of-a-kind car. The festival is expecting a crowd of 10,000 people from around the world.Maria Raya, a vendor from Antojitos El Sazon, said, “There’s Italian, Mexican, you know, everybody come here. That’s very, very nice.”Special highlights of the event include an exotic car parade, the roar of engines cutting through the fairgrounds, and the “Vino & Vibes” lounge featuring regional wineries. The Monterey Motorsports Festival is set to be one big final party for Car Week.

One more race in the regular season remains. We have a new order in the NASCAR Power Rankings after Richmond. Drivers are starting to make moves for the end of the season and preparing themselves to make playoff runs.

The next 11 weeks will decide the NASCAR Cup Series champion. Who makes it to Phoenix? Who is going to be booted early? There are a lot of questions ahead of us.

The NASCAR Power Rankings have the same leader. But there has been a little bit of movement throughout he top-10. Let’s get into it and prepare for Daytona this weekend.

1. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (-)

That second win of the season is coming soon. Ryan Blaney has finishes of P8, P7, P4, P6, and P3 in the last five races. In that time, he has a pole and two stage wins.

No, he hasn’t had the race win. But with Daytona, Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol in the next month, I think he has a great chance of getting there.

2. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (+1)

An average day for William Byron, but he clinched the regular season championship. So, he moves up in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Those 15 bonus playoff points will be a major factor.

Byron has struggled with consistency. Let’s see if that changes going into the playoffs.

3. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

In the last two months, Chase Briscoe has been the definition of consistent. His results have been strong, and his speed remains elite in qualifying.

Briscoe does have problems maintaining his speed in the races. However, he has looked great lately, and despite a P13 finish, he’s one of the best in the Cup Series right now.

4. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing (-)

Another driver that has been on another level lately is Bubba Wallace. His loose wheel on pit road cost him a shot at the win, but Wallace led the most laps, won Stage 2, and had the fastest lap at Richmond.

Since winning at Indianapolis, Wallace has been fantastic. Could he pull off the win at Daytona that he has been so close to getting in the past?

5. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (+3)

For a solid P10 finish, Denny Hamlin moves up three spots in the NASCAR Power Rankings. He had two rough weeks, but that is likely behind him at this point.

Hamlin was hindered by pit road issues on Saturday night as well. The Toyota crews have been great this season, but were due for an off night. It came at Richmond.

6. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (+3)

Another driver with a solid top-10 performance. Kyle Larson needed this badly. He has struggled to find that same speed he had prior to Memorial Day Weekend.

We know what Larson can do in this series. He is capable of winning a lot of races and doing it in a short time. Will we see him reemerge as the most talented driver in the field in the next two months?

7. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

Still searching for his first win since March, Christopher Bell had a tough finish at Richmond. P21 was fine. To his credit, the prior five races had been much better.

It is a minor setback for Bell. He’s still trying to find that fourth win this season after rattling off three in a row to start the year.

8. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

You could argue that Chase Elliott has hit rock bottom. The last two weeks are the two worst finishes of he season for Elliott. He suffered his first DNF on Saturday night.

Bad luck has bitten Elliott lately. Let’s see if he can shake it for the playoffs.

9. Ryan Preece – RFK Racing (-4)

A pole award for Ryan Preece, but not much else to show for it. P35 on the night and not a lot else to show for it.

Preece has to win at Daytona to make the postseason. It is going to be a dogfight for that final spot in the playoffs.

10. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports (NR)

Alex Bowman has to be on the NASCAR Power Rankings at his point. He has had great finishes going back to Mexico City.

Bowman will try to hold off any surprise winners. Could he be due for a win after helping Elliott get it done at Atlanta?