Motorsports

Team Chevy NASCAR Race Advance: Texas Motor Speedway – Speedway Digest

Published

8 months ago

May 1, 2025

A pair of mile-and-a-half ovals are on deck for the 2025 NASCAR tour, with all three national series making their annual appearance at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for the sport’s seventh tripleheader of the season.

As the only manufacturer to be able to accomplish a tripleheader sweep thus far this season, the Bowtie brigade will look to keep that stat alive – returning to track as the defending winners across all three series.

Defending in the Lone Star State

With a sweep of the annual tripleheader weekend last season, Chevrolet heads back to Texas Motor Speedway with 51 victories across all three national series including 18 NASCAR Cup Series wins (series-best), 13 Xfinity Series wins and 20 Truck Series wins.

Fighting for a Five-Peat

One year ago, Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott snapped a 42-race winless streak by making his long awaited return to victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway. The Georgia native delivered Chevrolet its fourth-straight Cup Series triumph to keep the Bowtie brand undefeated in the Next Gen era at the 1.5-mile oval, while also setting the record for the longest active win streak by a manufacturer at the track in the division. Dating back to the July 2020 event, Chevrolet has hoisted the trophy in five of the six races – each earned by a different driver. Among those victors included a pair of Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet’s with Austin Dillon (July 2020) and Tyler Reddick (Sept. 2022), as well as Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (Oct. 2021), William Byron (Sept. 2023) and Elliott (April 2024). Among the series’ seven active past Texas winners, four come from the Chevrolet camp, also including Kyle Busch with a series-best four career Texas triumphs.

Home of a Milestone

Texas Motor Speedway is the site of one of Chevrolet’s many unprecedented milestone feats in NASCAR. On Nov. 4, 2012, NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jimmie Johnson, and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team took the checkered flag in the AAA Texas 500 to deliver Chevrolet its 700th all-time Cup Series victory. The triumph is part of five-straight milestone Cup Series victories that Hendrick Motorsports has tallied for the Bowtie brand, with the organization also earning Chevrolet its 400th win (Terry Labonte at Richmond Raceway; Sept. 1994), 500th win (Jeff Gordon at Watkins Glen International; Aug. 2001); 600th win (Kyle Busch at Bristol Motor Speedway; March 2007) and 800th win (Chase Elliott at Circuit of The Americas; May 2021).

Top-10 Tally’s

Despite the platter of unknowns that Talladega Superspeedway serves, Chevrolet wrapped up the doubleheader weekend with an exceptional representation in the top-10 of each event. In the Xfinity Series, Austin Hill kept Richard Childress Racing undefeated on drafting tracks this season by taking the checkered flag in Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300. Hill’s first Talladega triumph led a brigade of eight Team Chevy drivers in the top-10, including a sweep of the top-seven positions – marking the first time since Sept. 2004 that a manufacturer has taken the top-seven finishing positions in a Xfinity Series race. The feat came from a collective effort of drivers from five different Chevrolet organizations, including the Richard Childress Racing teammates of Hill (1st) and Jesse Love (3rd); Jordan Anderson Racing’s Jeb Burton (2nd) and Blaine Perkins (7th); JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (4th); Viking Motorsports’ Matt DiBenedetto (5th) and Young’s Motorsports’ Anthony Alfredo (6th).

The Chevrolet camp in NASCAR’s top division nearly matched those results in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, with drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations leading the manufacturer to seven top-10 finishes. Among those contributors included all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers with top-fives by Kyle Larson (2nd), William Byron (3rd) and Chase Elliott (5th), as well as a seventh-place finish by Alex Bowman. Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar brought home a sixth-place finish, with Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon rounding out the top-10 in the ninth and 10th positions, respectively. The feat matches the manufacturer’s season-best top-10 results, with the Bowtie brigade also earning seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With now 10 points-paying races in the books, the Bowtie brand has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing positions in six events.

Hill Makes History

Richard Childress Racing’s superspeedway dominance continued with yet another commanding performance by teammates Austin Hill and Jesse Love at Talladega Superspeedway. The duo swept the front-row starting positions, going on to take both stage wins and collectively leading 69 of the 113 laps in Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300. In a three-wide photo finish, it was Hill and the No. 21 Chevrolet team that prevailed to record their series-leading third victory of the 2025 season. It was the 30-year-old Georgia native’s first trip to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway and his ninth all-time superspeedway victory – ultimately passing Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s records to make him the series’ winningest driver on drafting-style tracks.

Sanchez Slated for Truck Series Return

While early in his campaign for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series ‘Rookie of the Year’ title, Nick Sanchez has a double-duty weekend on deck with his return to the Truck Series in Friday’s SpeedyCash.com 250. The 23-year-old Miami, Florida, native will get behind the wheel of the No. 07 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, making him the seventh different Chevrolet driver to make a start in the entry this season. Sanchez moved up into the NASCAR national ranks in 2023, competing two full seasons in the Truck Series with Rev Racing. Within that timeframe, Sanchez earned the ‘Rookie of the Year’ honors and two trips to victory lane. This will mark Sanchez’s first appearance back in his old stomping grounds since making the jump into the Xfinity Series with Big Machine Racing at the beginning of the season.

In just two Truck Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, Sanchez won the pole in both events and a best-result of third one year ago. The 1.5-mile oval is a place of redemption for the young Chevrolet driver. In his first career start at the track, Sanchez led 168 of 172 laps and earned an average running position of 1.1 before an incident in an overtime restart ending in a heartbreaking 16th-place finish.

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 10 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 3

Poles: 5

Laps Led: 1,232

Top-Fives: 20

Top-10s: 48

Stage Wins: 8

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:

Wins: 9

Poles: 8

Laps Led: 1,573

Top-Fives: 38

Top-10s: 72

Stage Wins: 17

Chevrolet’s season statistics with six NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:

Wins: 4

Poles: 2

Laps Led: 456

Top-Fives: 17

Top-10s: 32

Stage Wins: 4

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the tripleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, with the Corvette Stingray pacing the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series and the Silverado RST pacing the Craftsman Truck Series.

· Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to accomplish a tripleheader sweep across all three NASCAR national divisions this season – earned at Homestead-Miami Speedway courtesy of victories by Kyle Larson (Cup and Truck Series) and Justin Allgaier (Xfinity Series).

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Texas Motor Speedway:

Kyle Busch – four wins (2020, 2018, 2016, 2013)

Chase Elliott – one win (2024)

William Byron – one win (2023)

Kyle Larson – one win (2021)

Austin Dillon – one win (2020)

· In 44 NASCAR Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 18 victories. The Bowtie brand has earned victories in five of the past six Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile oval, including an active streak of four-straight to keep the manufacturer undefeated in the Next Gen era at the track.

· In the series’ 10th points-paying race of the season at Talladega Superspeedway, Chevrolet matched its season-high top-10 finishes of seven – earned collectively by four different Chevrolet organizations. The Bowtie brand has now earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in six of the 10 races thus far this season.

· In 118 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 55 victories – a winning percentage of 46.6%.

· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 869 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS:

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Texas Motor Speedway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Silverado EV RST, Silverado 1500 ZR2, Silverado 1500 RST, Traverse Z71, Blazer EV SS, Equinox EV RS, Tahoe RST, Corvette and No. 9 Chase Elliott show car.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Friday, May 2:

Corey Day: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Tyler Ankrum & Jack Wood: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Connor Mosack: 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dawson Sutton: 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Grant Enfinger: 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 3:

Sammy Smith: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Justin Allgaier & Carson Kvapil: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Connor Zilisch: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Matt DiBenedetto: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Christian Eckes: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 4:

Alex Bowman: 10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.

Daniel Suarez: 10:55 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Chase Elliott: 11:10 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.

Austin Dillon: 11:25 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

Justin Haley: 11:40 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.

William Byron: 11:55 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

AJ Allmendinger: 12:10 p.m. – 12:25 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

Friday, May 2: 1 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 4: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY

Sunday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m. ET

(FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Andy’s Frozen Custard 300

Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. ET

(CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

SpeedyCash.com 250

Friday, May 2, 8 p.m. ET

(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Are you looking forward to Texas?

“I’m looking forward to Texas because it’s fun track to race on. We’ve been pretty good there the last couple of years. The Dallas and Fort Worth areas are so much fun because there’s so much to do at the Stockyards and in the surrounding areas.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Katz Coffee is hopping aboard this weekend. What are your thoughts about them joining you at Texas?

“I’m excited for Katz Coffee to ride along with me at Texas Motor Speedway. I’ve had a lot of great runs at Texas, so hopefully we can mix it up at the front of the field and compete for the win. Katz does a great job of fueling the men and women at Spire Motorsports with rich, great tasting coffee both at the shop and at the track every weekend. I’m not going out on a limb when I say Spire Motorsports and Katz Coffee have the best coffee game in the sport.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Let’s talk about what it is about Texas that you like?

“Texas, it’s a challenging racetrack. Turns one and two being as flat as they are and as wide as they are. there’s a lot of room for where you can go. But there’s probably about six inches of that racetrack that feels really good. And that’s the groove that you want to be in, and stay in, in order to get that grip. We’ve been pretty decent there. Last year, we were fast. We had some good speed. Unfortunately, I wrecked in qualifying, which then forced us to go to a backup car. But we were able to come back up through the field and I think get a top-15 finish. So, I think having the primary, we would have been in the top 10. We would have had a shot. But, you never know how some of those races play at the end. I remember Denny (Hamlin), I think, was really pushing hard, running hard, trying the outside. And he finally busted his butt there towards the end as well, too, and Chase (Elliott) was able to get the win. So, it’s really, really finicky. It’s very hard to push harder, to find speed, to make speed to catch the guy in front of you or pass the guy in front of you and not overstep that edge.”

Is it a track that’s really sensitive when it comes to the temperature?

“Obviously, it’s in Texas. It gets hot there. It’s probably a track that may have a little bit of different characteristics when you go back each time.

As the sun and the heat builds up throughout the day, does that track change a lot?

“It does, yeah. That track really changes a lot. I think it changes a lot in the beginning of our races with the Xfinity rubber down from the day before. Then it progressively changes as the day gets hotter in our races or if it goes later and cools off a little bit. It gets faster, it gets more grip. So, you’re always kind of limited on that feel and the grip and how fast you can you feel like you can go. I talk about how treacherous or tricky turns one and two can be as far as being as flat as they are, but the same can be said for three and four with knowing how hard to push. Can you run wide open down there? Do you lift out of the throttle, get back to the throttle early? Do you just part throttle it longer through the corner? There’s a few different ways to run it.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Having success at a track always helps, even though Texas has been repaved and the banking is a little different from when I won in the Truck Series. To be able to wear the cowboy hat and celebrate in victory lane is always a cool thing in Texas. For us, I think this is where the relationship really blossomed with myself and Kaulig Racing. We left Texas with a 16th place finish in the race last year. It was one of five starts I made with the team, and I felt like we all left Texas on a really positive energy and that led us to where we are today. Going back to Texas this weekend, it will be the first time that I am going to a track for the second time with Kaulig Racing. It’s a new crew chief and whole new situation, but with the team it feels good to go back to a place for a second time. I’m looking forward to this weekend. I always love being in Texas – great food, catching up with friends and just enjoying being in Texas.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Headed to Texas, I feel like our mile-and-a-half program has been one of our strong suits this year. I would say I’m cautiously optimistic and confident that we can continue to have speed and execute this weekend. Texas is one of the trickiest mile-and-a-half tracks that we go to with how different each end of the track is and how slick it can be. It’s a track I enjoy racing at and I’m looking forward to seeing what our No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection team can do this weekend.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

What are the challenges of Texas as the track continues to age?

“The bump in Turn Four on the high side is a big challenge, especially during restarts. The track is very daunting still to this day, even as it ages, because the speeds are so high and these cars are right on the edge. Now, you have some of that character with those bumps, and our cars are so low that when you bottom out, they take off. I wasn’t the only car to back it into the fence there while trying to get clear. We saw a few other guys do that last year as well. It just shows that typically Cup guys don’t make a ton of mistakes, and we saw a lot of mistakes there, which proves how challenging the race track is. It’s still one of those places that it can take your breath away.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

The No. 77 team has raced within the top 10 in the last two races and now you head to Texas where you’ve run well in both the Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. What are your expectations for this weekend’s race in Fort Worth?

“I’ve been excited to get to Texas and now even more excited to be able to return to the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. I’ve always done really well at Texas and feel like that’s a place where we can get a win in both series. We’ve been really strong on the intermediate tracks and it feels like we’re finally getting back to a place where we can consistently run up front. We’ve had a lot of fun with Chili’s the last few weeks and I’m ready to keep it going this week at their home track.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts entering this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway?

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never raced at Texas in a Cup car, so I’ll be learning a lot during practice on Saturday. The Xfinity race last year was early on in the season. We finished on the lead lap which was respectable since I didn’t have that many starts on ovals at that time. This weekend will be another challenge for me but looking forward to 400 miles in my SafetyCulture Chevrolet.”

Do you bounce ideas off your Trackhouse teammates in terms of learning? Do you feel like the communication has gotten stronger this season?

“I think that the dynamic in Trackhouse has changed a little bit, which for me is good. Everyone works a lot closer together. At the simulator, all our driving notes are open. I lean on those guys as much as I can. Daniel and Ross are very different in the way they think and describe things. It’s paying back at the moment because I help them on the road course stuff. It’s pretty cool dynamic at the moment and I’m enjoying that.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on Texas?

“I love Texas Motor Speedway. I have always enjoyed the track. It’s fast and a big challenge, but very rewarding plus Texas feels like home to me. We have a lot of fans who show up in Texas every year. We didn’t have a perfect race in Talladega, but when it mattered most at the end of the race, we executed well and finished ninth. It would be nice to build upon that this weekend, especially driving the Kubota Chevrolet. Kubota’s corporate office is in Grapevine, Texas. We are visiting there Friday and I know they are bringing a lot of employees and customers to the track for the race on Sunday.”

GM PR

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Toyota to Debut GR Corolla Rally Car as Second Manufacturer Team in ARA’s 2026 Season

Published

6 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Overhead view of Toyota's Yaris rally car skidding through a mountain switchback during a race in Saudi Arabia. — Toyota Gazoo Racing at Rally Saudi Arabia 2025 | TGR WRT / McKlein

Gazoo Racing gears up to challenge Subaru’s long-standing American stage rally dominance

I will never forget my first rally race, partly because nearly half the competitors were Subarus. Anytime a different make or model flew by, usually in the 2WD class, it felt like an event.

From small local teams to top national entries, Subaru dominates the American Rally Association. Until now, Subaru America has had the only manufacturer-backed team in the series (with “Vermont SportsCar” as its technical partner).

After that race, I spent time talking with drivers and longtime rally fans. I asked what other cars could realistically compete. The answer came quickly. “Ford Fiestas and the GR Toyota Corolla. Man, an AWD GR Corolla would be fast.”

It’s almost as if Toyota was listening. The automaker announced it will develop a GR Corolla RC2 rally car and enter one or two of them in the 2026 ARA season. This makes it the second manufacturer-backed team in the ARA.

“TGR will enter the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship for the first time with a rally car based on the GR Corolla, taking on the challenge of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars on American roads.” — Toyota Gazoo Racing

Why Toyota chose the GR Corolla for ARA

The AWD GR Corolla, powered by a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine, should be a legitimate contender. Toyota did have an easier option. The company already campaigns a GR Yaris Rally2 car in other global series.

So why not use that platform? Because the mission of a manufacturer-backed team is simple: win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

“By developing a GR Corolla rally car, TGR-WRT is harnessing the pedigree of the Corolla model within rallying and further expanding its efforts to use motorsport to help make ever-better cars for the road,” Toyota said. “It also hopes to support the development of rallying in North America, where the GR Corolla is available as a rally-bred performance car for the road.”

Toyota’s new ARA effort will debut at the 100 Acre Wood Rally in March 2026. The team’s co-driver will be Finnish rally veteran Topi Luhtinen. Seth Quintero, fresh off driving the DKR GR Hilux at Dakar, will pilot the car. Something tells me Toyota Gazoo Racing will fit right in.

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William Byron 2025 season in review: Third-straight Championship 4 appearance caps another strong year

Published

6 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Editor’s note: This is part of a series from NASCAR.com reviewing the top 30 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in reverse order of the 2025 final standings

Driver: William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Crew chief: Rudy Fugle
Final 2025 ranking: 4th
Key stats: 3 wins, 11 top fives, 16 top 10s, 1,330 laps led

How 2025 ended: William Byron’s evolution behind the wheel of the No. 24 Chevrolet led him back to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive season after his fourth straight multi-win campaign.
Best race: Indeed, the year’s penultimate race at Martinsville Speedway produced an absolute masterclass by Byron, Fugle and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Entering NASCAR’s final race of the semifinal round beneath the provisional cutline, Byron won the pole, swept the stages and led a career-high 304 of 500 laps en route to winning his way into the Championship 4. Byron muscled past Ryan Blaney with 44 laps remaining to reclaim the lead for the final time, ousting Blaney from Champ 4 contention and propelling Byron to Phoenix.

RELATED: Panini issues 1 of 1 Jeff Gordon trading card

Other season highlights: Byron began the season by winning the 2025 Daytona 500, becoming just the fifth driver to win the “Great American Race” in consecutive years. In addition to an impressive win at Iowa Speedway in which he led 141 of 350 laps, Byron also had dominant performances equate to runner-up finishes at Darlington Raceway in the spring and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 24 Chevrolet led the first 243 laps of the Goodyear 400 at Darlington but ultimately could not reclaim the lead late. At Charlotte, a fierce battle between Byron, Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain resulted in a Chastain victory despite Byron leading 283 of 400 laps that evening. The No. 24 team showed notable resolve throughout the season’s opening 26 races, overcoming stretches of adversity and inconsistency all the way to clinch the Regular Season Championship one week early.

Stat to know: Byron ended his campaign with a series-best 1,330 laps led — bettering his previous high mark (1,016 led in 2023) by over 300 laps. The No. 24 Chevrolet was out front more than any other driver this season, leading 224 more circuits than 2025 champion Kyle Larson, Byron’s teammate, who led the second-most laps this year with 1,106 laps out front.
Quotable: “Winning the regular season championship and winning the (DAYTONA) 500 (and) three races a year is something to really be proud of. So yeah, I feel like it was our best year yet, honestly, but it was a lot of adversity and a lot of things that happened all the way to the end. I mean, it seems like a lot changed for us in the results column with about three laps to go this year. We’ve just got to learn from that – and a lot of it was kind of out of our control. But yeah, just gotta move past it. But I think overall, yeah, it was our best year.”

RELATED: Check out William Byron’s Liberty University Chevrolet for 2026!

Looking ahead: Few drivers have maintained a consistent year-over-year level of performance, as Byron has in recent seasons. That level of production and sustained championship contention should remain prominent for him and the No. 24 team entering the 2026 campaign. There is some history on the line in February as he attempts to become the first driver to win three straight DAYTONA 500s. But the biggest question remains: Will 2026 will be the year Byron breaks through for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship? There are very few reasons to think he won’t.

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Aaron Rodgers Gave This $20K Christmas Gift to Steelers’ Offensive Linemen

Published

8 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEED TO KNOW

Aaron Rodgers gifted his Steelers’ offensive linemen Can-Am Maverick X3 off-road vehicles from Mosites Motorsports
Mosites Motorsports shared videos and photos of the linemen receiving the gifts, which retail at a starting price of $19,999
Other NFL quarterbacks like Lions’ Jared Goff and Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes also gave gifts to their linemen this year

Aaron Rodgers rang in Christmas with a special surprise for his Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive linemen.

The NFL quarterback, 42, gifted his linemen Can-Am Maverick X3 off-road vehicles from Mosites Motorsports, the powersports dealership highlighted in Instagram photos of Rodgers and his teammates riding in the vehicles.

The Pittsburgh dealership revealed the news in a Christmas day Instagram video showing the linemen speeding off in the vehicles in the roadway nearby the dealership and inside the parking lot. Over the video were the words, “Aaron Rodgers’ gift to his lineman came with horsepower.”

The dealership echoed this in its caption, writing, “This Christmas, Aaron Rodgers gave his offensive line the gift of horsepower. Safe to say, it delivered.”

The vehicles also came with a hefty price tag. The Can-Am Maverick X3 retails at a starting price of $19,999 and can go up to just under $29,000, according to the company’s website.

Aaron Rodgers and Steelers’ offensive lineman on Dec. 21, 2025.

Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty

In the Instagram photos shared by Mosites Motorsports, Rodgers can be spotted wearing a red Christmas sweater and gifting his teammates with the vehicles. In one photo, he could be seen shooting a thumbs-up to the camera as he rode shotgun in one of the vehicles.

Additional photos showed the lineman testing out the vehicles on the roadway and them hugging Rodgers to thank him for the gift.

“Aaron Rodgers rewarding the guys who protect the pocket,” Mosites Motorsports wrote. “Can-Am Maverick X3s built for work, power, and play. Tough to top this kind of gift.”

This comes as the Steelers are projected to clinch a spot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. according to ESPN. The team is scheduled to take on the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 28, and if they win the game, they will be guaranteed a spot in the AFC playoffs.

Rodgers isn’t the only quarterback to have given his lineman special gifts this year. Detroit Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff surprised his linemen with state-of-the-art golf carts for Christmas, according to a video on X shared by the team.

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The linemen could be seen hugging Goff and riding around in the vehicles. The team captioned the video, “Santa Jared came through with the Goff carts.”

Patrick Mahomes also gave his Kansas City Chiefs’ linemen several gifts that included bicycles, watches, sunglasses and shoes. The Chiefs shared a look at the lineman receiving the gifts in the locker room with the caption, “Christmas came early for the o-line! Shoutout to QB1 for the gifts.”

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s ex-rival shares hope after humbling – Motorsport – Sports

Published

9 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dale Earnhardt Jr is one of NASCAR’s most vocal critics of the sport’s frequent changes at the Cup level and beyond, arguing that their experiments often hinder the sport. Now, one of his former rivals noted that NASCAR may be leaving its experimental phase and entering a period of correction.

Kenny Wallace expressed frustrations but also noted that NASCAR’s leadership has been significantly humbled by recent decisions that did not meet expectations. He mentioned that he knows for certain the league is actively working to address its major problems. Dale Jr. also shared his thoughts on what lies ahead after NASCAR settled its antitrust lawsuit.

“I know for a fact that NASCAR is all hands on deck,” Wallace said on his YouTube channel. “They realized what happened, and it took them a while, but they definitely made some decisions that were not the way to go. They just went all in, all in, and now you look back and realize how much they messed up.”

Wallace added that despite past missteps, positive changes may still come. He said, “NASCAR has been humbled mightily. I know for a fact they hear y’all. They are going to go on tour in 2026, and they’re going to make it right.”

Earnhardt Jr. previously said NASCAR tries a bunch of things…that don’t pan out.”

The 2026 season will already see big changes previous season. NASCAR is increasing engine horsepower from 670 to 750 on tracks under 1.5 miles and on road courses, including Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Nashville, and Gateway. Safety updates, including the introduction of mandatory A-post flaps at all tracks, are being implemented after years of concern.

Eligibility criteria were also relaxed next season to allow full-time Cup drivers with a minimum of three years of experience to participate in up to 10 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races and eight Craftsman Truck Series races, while continuing to protect playoff events.

Chicagoland Speedway makes its return for the first time since 2019, while a new street race at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego brings NASCAR back to Southern California. The Chicago Street Course and Mexico City were skipped, with Homestead-Miami Speedway once again serving as the championship finale instead of Phoenix.

Earnhardt Jr. cautions that changing rules and structure alone won’t be enough to revitalize NASCAR. He previously stated his vision for the sport to have more notable “rock stars,” as evidenced by drivers like his father, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, and Jimmie Johnson, who have ascended to superstardom beyond the track.

“We need some rock stars,” he said. “It’s all about having some driver come in here and captivate the hell out of us and make people who aren’t watching go, ‘Who the hell is that?'”

Dale Jr.’s 2026 season with JR Motorsports will feature playoff driver Justin Allgaier returning to the No. 7 car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, alongside Sammy Smith, who is in his third season with the team. The team aims to secure a championship after a 2025 season where three of four drivers, including Conor Zilisch, competed for the title but ultimately fell short against Jesse Love.

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NASCAR world rocked by deaths of 3 drivers. Here’s what we know

Published

11 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NASCAR is closing out the year with one of its most tragic Decembers ever.

The latest heartbreaking incident came on Dec. 18 when legendary driver Greg Biffle, his family and some friends were killed when their plane crashed at the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.

Biffle’s Cessna 550 was reportedly attempting to land at around 10:15 a.m. at the airport just outside of Charlotte when the crash occurred.

Fans flocked to social media to remember Biffle, 55, who made headlines in 2024 when he flew his helicopter into hard to reach areas in North Carolina to provide relief to those trapped following Hurricane Helene.

Biffle had a 16-year career behind the wheel in the NASCAR Cup Series, starting 515 races and winning 19. He had 175 top ten finishes.

His last race with the series came in the 2022 Geico 500 in Talladega.

Biffle also drove 244 races on the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He won 20 of those and logged 149 more top 10 finishes. He also was behind the wheel for 83 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, winning 17 of those with 55 top 10 finishes.

His death followed the passing of Nick Joanides on Dec. 5 and Michael Annett on Dec. 2.

Joanides, 55, was a star on the West Coast scene most recently making three starts in the ARCA West Series. He also drove in the NASCAR Xfinity Series when it was called the Nationwide Series.

Annett, 39, drove for JR Motorsports from 2017 through 2021 and the team shared the news of his death on social media.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett was behind the wheel for 106 NASCAR Cup Series races, but never managed to finish in the top 10. While his results at that level were not eye-popping, Yahoo Sports noted he drove for a pair of “underfunded teams” in Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Racing.

Annett had more success on the Xfinity Series where he drove in 321 races with 95 top-10 finishes. His lone win came in the 2019 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

He also drove in nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with two top-10 finishes.

ARCA posted a statement on X about both the deaths of Joanides and Annett that read, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of ARCA Menards Series driver Michael Annett and ARCA Menards Series West driver Nick Joanides, both of whom passed away recently.”

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Motorsports

Kyle Larson’s protégé puts NASCAR on notice in Australia – Motorsport – Sports

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11 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Kyle Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports protégé, Corey Day, put NASCAR on notice following a standout debut in Australia in the Burson Auto Parts Boxing Day Bonanza ahead of the 2025 High Limit Racing International at Perth Motorplex. The 20-year-old is enjoying the NASCAR offseason ahead of his first full-time season in stock car racing at Hendrick Motorsports in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Day, dubbed 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson’s protégé, enjoys competing on dirt and did so Down Under, making his debut in Australia. The California-born motorsport star started the Burson Auto Parts Boxing Day Bonanza from 28th and managed to fight his way all the way up to second, finishing behind race winner Buddy Kofoid in the 30-lap affair.

Day will return to action in Perth on Sunday when High Limit kicks into gear. “First night in the books down under, and it was a wild one. P28 to P2 in a non-stop feature. Ready to go with High Limit starting Sunday,” Day said on X.

Day will be hoping to stake a big claim in NASCAR’s second-string national series, following in the footsteps of Connor Zilisch, who has made the jump up to a full-time Cup Series seat. HMS have high hopes for Day, who could be a Cup driver in the near future.

“That was what I was working towards this year,” Day told NASCAR.com. “It wasn’t announced or anything, but my contract was written as next year was an option if this year went well. I guess I did a good enough job to get that option picked up. To say I’m going to run a NASCAR series full-time next year is something I’ve dreamed about doing since I was a little kid. It’s really cool.”

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“I’m ready, I’m excited,” Day added. “This year, I ran a lot of different race cars, which is really challenging to be able to progress a lot in all of them.

“I learned a lot in each and every one of them. It’s hard to be really good at one of them when you only get to do it a certain amount of times per year.”

Day can also lean on the experience of Larson, who claimed a second Cup title last month in Phoenix. Larson was left impressed by Day’s early exploits in the Truck Series this year.

At Nashville and Indianapolis Raceway Park, Day finished fifth and second, prompting praise from Larson. “It was good to see him have a strong run there. It was a track that I thought may, you know, suit his style, being able to move around and search for grip and things,” Larson said.

“He was probably one of the first, if not the first, running below the apron that night and found some speed that way. So, it just lends itself to a dirt guy’s background, probably. But yeah, he’s been slowly getting better here lately in the stock car stuff, and I’m sure gaining confidence. So yeah, I’m hopeful and excited to see how he keeps going in the #17 car,” he added.

This weekend’s action Down Under will pit Day against Larson, who won the $100,000 High Limit International at Perth Motorplex last year.

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