Young phenom Connor Zilisch continued his domination Saturday at Portland International Raceway, securing his NASCAR Xfinity rookie record eighth win despite missing turn one twice late in the race.
It culminated more than two hours of action as powerful engines roared and stock cars thundered their way around the road course. There was a car completely painted in Oregon State orange-and-black and a large Beaver logo on the hood.
In the end, despite the rookie star winning again, fans left the Pacific Office Automation 147 feeling a little empty, as it’s the last NASCAR Xfinity race at PIR for the time being.
NASCAR’s second-tier series has raced at Portland since 2022, but it is off the next year’s schedule. A street course at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, Calif. has been added and PIR road course dropped on the 2026 series schedule.
There are rising stars, competitive racers and veterans in the Xfinity Series, which changes to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series next season. They’ll be racing elsewhere next year, not at PIR.
“Very sad,” said Brenda Nelson, a Friends of PIR member from Central Oregon. She volunteered for the race along with more than 100 others, including friend Susan Thorn of Battle Ground, Washington. They attend races every week at PIR, and seeing NASCAR depart hurts.
“Wheels going around — doesn’t take much for us (to be excited). Fast cars, the sounds … and this is family,” Thorn said. Nelson said it’s a strong “culture” event.
“Really unfortunate,” said Kaden Fritzler of Roseburg. “It was the only (big) NASCAR event in the Northwest.”
Indeed, Hit Machine and Wrangler played live music and classic country rock and more blared over the loudspeakers — “Sweet Home Alabama” and the like. American flags were aplenty, although not visible “Trump” stuff. No official attendance was given, but RV spots appeared to be full, first-turn “Shelton’s Corner” seating had plenty of inhabitants and pit road plenty of spectators — although front-stretch grandstands had many vacancies.
There was an interesting subplot to Saturday’s race, as Dean Thompson drove the No. 26 Thompson Pipe Group GR Supra Toyota Camry of Sam Hunt Racing that was adorned with Oregon State University colors and a huge Beaver logo on the hood. It’s the third NASCAR partnership with an NCAA school this year.
Thompson and a show car made an appearance in Corvallis at Reser Stadium’s Parker Plaza on Friday.
Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 26 Toyota, driven by Dean Thompson, is dressed out with Oregon State University sponsorship for Saturday’s race at Portland International Raceway.Jason Vondersmith/For The Oregonian
“As Oregon’s statewide university, we’re proud to welcome NASCAR back to Portland and share our pride with the many Beaver Nation NASCAR fans,” said Rob Odom, OSU’s vice president of University Relations and Marketing
“I was all for it,” said Thompson, 24 and from Anaheim, California. “I like the logo — it’s a lot of fun. There have been a lot of people talking about it.”
Thompson, who has six top-10 finishes and decent races on road courses, qualified 22nd and appeared to lose power on lap 13 and then went off the track on lap 16 (while eight laps behind Zilisch). He finished 32nd in the 37-car field, seven laps down.
VIP tickets were raffled off at the Corvallis event, and they went to a big Beaver fan (Kaden Fritzler) and a Washington Husky (his father, Brad Fritzler, of Corvallis). They got to meet Thompson and crew and be around the car and pits.
“It’s great to have Oregon State representation in NASCAR,” said Kaden, who wore an OSU hat to the race. “It’s a great way to make fans — sponsoring a NASCAR ride.”
Count Brad among the disappointed NASCAR fans with the Portland race departure. He and his son have attended three of the four PIR events.
“They are some of the best drivers in the world,” he said. “Fender to fender, bumper to bumper, bare-knuckle racing.”
Another fan, who only went by “Scott,” might have said it best: “I was hoping it would go the other way — and Cup (Series) and maybe the Trucks would come to Portland.”
PORTLAND, OREGON – AUGUST 30: Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, leads the field to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway on August 30, 2025 in Portland.Getty Images
Zilisch, 19 and from Charlotte, N.C,, piloting the No. 88 Weathertech Chevy Camaro of JR Motorsports — Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, had the series wins record of eight in sight. Zilisch, leading for the first 68 laps, faced a late challenge when he overshot the first turn after a restart with seven laps remaining. Despite going off track, he recovered through ‘Shelton’s Corner’ to regain second place.
On another yellow flag and restart with a two-lap overtime, Zilisch sprinted ahead of Hill but missed the first turn again but he quickly righted himself and came out of “Shelton’s Corner” with the lead and went on to win his eighth race.
“It’s not really slow (corner),” Zilisch said, of his first turn mishaps and recoveries. “As soon as I hit the brakes, I just committed to it. Worked out. I wasn’t really planning on it, but last resort, you gotta do what you gotta do.”
He has signed to race in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing in 2026.
The win came 21 days after a mishap at Watkins Glen, in which he climbed out of his cockpit in victory lane and promptly got his feet caught in window netting and fell hard to the ground. He had surgery on a broken collarbone, but he started the next race at Daytona — and substitute driver Parker Kligerman finished it for Zilisch’s seventh win.
“It hurt, but it hurts so good,” he said, of the collarbone.
Zilisch won the first two stages of the 75-lap race at PIR before the late restart mishaps, and goes into the series’ final regular-season race, before the series playoffs, with the points lead over Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer, who each had late issues and fell back in the field. Allgaier is second and Mayer third in points.
“It’s got a W on the hood,” Zilisch said, of his sponsor’s initial. “No better thing to do than win with it.
“So proud of this 88 team. It’s been such a fun year.”
Briefly
Zilisch was the top qualifier, just missing Mayer’s track record for stock cars last year (73.3751 seconds, 96.654 mph) on the 1.97-mile, 12-turn road course.
Zilisch, who has won five road course races, had tied Christopher Bell (2018) for series rookie wins in a season.
Zilisch tied the series record for consecutive top-5 finishes (13).
No serious incidents happened in the race, save for a few drivers going off track. The stock cars cut all the corners, too, going partly off pavement, unlike the more fragile IndyCar machines.
Greg Biffle, the retired NASCAR Cup driver who grew up in Camas, competed in Friday’s ARCA Menards Series West race. Biffle, who won 19 Cup races during his career, placed fourth. William Sawalich won, and then performed well the next day in the Xfinity Series race.
PIR race winners in the Xfinity Series were Zilisch (2025), Shane van Gisbergen (2024), Cole Custer (2023) and A.J. Allmendinger (2022).
It’s not official, as IndyCar Series hasn’t announced its 2026 schedule, but PIR will remain on the circuit, sources say.
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Calicut (Kerala) [India], December 21 : The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release.
The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map.
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
The Hakone Ekiden is a race with a tradition spanning more than 100 years, dating back to its founding in 1920. Toyota began providing certain operational vehicles in 2003 to help nurture the next generation of young athletes and has supported the event as a sponsor since 2011. Throughout its involvement, Toyota has continually considered how to reduce vehicle emissions to make the race more athlete- and planet-friendly.
Toyota is advancing its multi-pathway approach, offering electrified vehicle options tailored to diverse energy circumstances in each country and region and to varied customer needs. Accordingly, the company felt that its diverse lineup of vehicles, including BEVs and FCEVs, could contribute to the Hakone Ekiden.
In total, 40 electrified vehicles will be provided for the race. The joint camera truck filming leading runners and the Century serving as a race headquarters vehicle will be provided as original FCEV models. These vehicles are equipped with fuel cells instead of engines and powered by motors that generate electricity through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. They are extremely quiet and emit only water.
Vehicles transporting people and equipment for the race will also be electrified. e-Palettes will serve as emergency response vehicles for all situations, while FCEV Coasters will transport related personnel.
Each university team operations vehicle will be an HEV used in combination with low-carbon E10 gasoline, which contains 10% biofuel. ENEOS Corporation will provide E10 fuel made from ethanol derived from non-edible sorghum plants produced through the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels*. These initiatives will reduce exhaust gases and carbon dioxide emissions from these vehicles.
Sports give people courage and touch their hearts. Toyota, which has supported athletes through various activities since its founding, will continue to help make the Hakone Ekiden a sustainable race that is both athlete- and planet-friendly through these initiatives.
FOX Sports paid a touching tribute to the NASCAR icon Greg Biffle during the Carolina Panthers’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Sunday, the Panthers took a significant step toward winning the NFC South by securing a 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers, improving to 8-7. Bryce Young completed 21 of 32 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns in a crucial win.
But coverage of the showdown was interrupted as FOX decided to pay tribute to Biffle. The NASCAR favorite tragically died on Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. FOX paid tribute during its live NFL coverage, after Terry Bradshaw was forced to duck for cover in a chaotic moment during Saturday’s special show.
Biffle, along with his wife, Cristina, and two children, perished in the horrific crash. During the Panthers game, broadcaster Chris Myers honored Biffle by highlighting his fine work off the track as well as his fine career.
“Greg Biffle, a NASCAR legend who had career success at all three levels of the sport, did great humanitarian work, died this past Thursday in a plane crash with his family,” Myers said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, the NASCAR family, and all friends.”
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Biffle raced for 16 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned 19 wins competing in an era with the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.
The 55-year-old was supposed to fly with his family to the Bahamas, although a stop was scheduled in Sarasota, FL. The plane instead was attempting to re-land at the Statesville airport in North Carolina, around 40 miles away from Charlotte. The crash occurred around 10:20 AM ET.
The mother of Biffle’s wife, Cathy Grossu, told PEOPLE magazine what her last texts with her daughter, Cristina, were. Cathy revealed: “She texted me from the plane, and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it. So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.
DON’T MISS
“To think that they would be killed on a birthday trip, that was just such a fun time for the family. And to see the horrific way that it ended, it’s just, it is so hard to bear. I cannot believe they’re gone.
“I don’t remember what the last words that I said to my daughter or to Greg or to my precious Ryder (her granddaughter). I don’t remember. I know we hugged, but I don’t remember those last words, and that’s going to haunt me. But they were happy.”
Not many NASCAR drivers can say they retired on a win — but the Late, Great Greg Biffle can. Biffle made his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series in 1996, driving part-time before moving to the Truck Series in 1998.
He later progressed to full-time Cup Series competition, building a highly successful career across all three national series. Biffle won titles in the Truck and Xfinity series and nearly completed the Grand Slam in 2005, finishing second in the Cup. The North Carolinian won a total of 56 races across NASCAR’s three national series during his career: 19 in the Cup Series, 20 in the Xfinity (Busch) Series, and 17 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
He retired from full-time competition after the 2019 season, but won his last-ever NASCAR race, the Truck event in Texas at the SpeedyCash.com 400. It was Biffle’s first Truck win in 15 years. On Thursday, Biffle, his wife Cristina, and two of his children, Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5, were four of seven killed in a tragic plane crash in Statesville, NC.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. Three of the people on board, including former stock car racer Biffle, had their pilot’s license.
Collection and documentation of the crash will take place, and investigators will begin to piece together what went wrong. A central focus of the investigation will be locating and analyzing the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which captures all sounds inside the cockpit. Once recovered, the device will be sent to a laboratory in Washington, D.C. for examination.
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Greg Biffle raced in his last-ever NASCAR race in 2019, driving the No. 51 in the Truck Series for the June 7 SpeedyCash.com 400.
Biffle, who tragically died on Thursday in a horror plane crash in Statesville, NC, had retired from full-time NASCAR racing in 2016 after two decades in the sport.
The NASCAR legend won two NASCAR national series Truck and Xfinity titles — but fell short in the Cup, finishing second in 2005.
Those also killed this week were his wife, Cristina, daughter, Emma, son, Ryder, and three others.
The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release. The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drag Racing with CHRISTMAS TREES! Racing Action From Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025 At Bradenton Motorsports Park
Dec 21, 2025Chad Reynolds1320 Event Coverage, 1320 Spotlight, 1320 Videos, BangShift 1320, RACING & ACTION, Videos
Cleetus’ Christmas Tree Race 2025 was a very special race. The race has become kind of a big deal since starting a few years ago, and has some pretty simple rules. You must race with a Christmas Tree on or in your vehicle, it must be a minimum of 6 feet tall, it can’t fall off, and you have to have lights on it. Simple right? Well…
Video Description:
We wrapped up Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025, following the entire event from start to finish. This video covers every round from the OG 32-car field all the way through the Elite 8 — the fastest cars on the property — right down to the finals.
Cleetus lined up in both Mullet and Leroy, alongside a stacked field of big-name cars and a few surprise entries we hadn’t seen before. From first-round shakeups to the final matchups, this one delivered nonstop action.
FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: The 4th Annual Christmas On The Coast Jr. Dragster Races From Gulfport Dragway – Saturday
