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Joe Foley found the winner’s circle yet again in “Ruby” for $10K to top off RT Promotions’ 11th annual New Years Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Winners circle photos courtesy of Chris Simmons Event Photos.

BRADENTON, FL – The RT Promotions 11th annual New Years Nationals kicked off the final race weekend of 2025 at Bradenton Motorsports Park where several winners visited the winner’s circle in sunny Florida.

The highly-anticipated event consisted of three $10k-to-win races in Box with a $1,000 No Box bonus each day, and three $2k-to-win races in Junior Dragsters. Unfortunately due to curfew and time restrictions, the last 2 races of the weekend were combined to $20k-to-win in Box and $4k-to-win in Junior Dragsters.

See full results below!

Luke Tabor made his aging out weekend in juniors a big one, taking home the Jr. Final Ride Shootout win and the big Grandfather Clock over Kade Renoll in the final round.

Saturday Results

Box

Joe Foley is on fire – literally! Foley picked up Saturday’s $10K win over the No-Box bonus winner, Curtis Peek, in the final round, making it his 4th win on his 5-week stretch in Florida.

Junior Dragsters

Kenzie Wanamaker earned herself the Junior Dragster win on Saturday for $2K.

Sunday/Monday Results

Box

Robbie Troupe earned the $20K win over Jackson Earwood in the final round.

Junior Dragsters

Brian Adkins II topped off the weekend in junior dragsters, claiming the big $4K win over Hannah Thompson in the final round.

Congratulations to all winners and finalists from the 11th annual New Years Nationals.

For more bracket racing news from DragChamp, click here.

An avid racer herself, Megan Strassweg, 27, sees her two worlds collide with DragChamp – journalism and drag racing. Megan resides in Evansville, IN, and she pilots a 2015 American Dragster in the NHRA North Central Division 3 Super Comp series, along with some local bracket racing on the side. Her passion for racing began early, having grown up at the racetrack, and she remains committed to the sport. When she’s not racing, you can find her working at WDRB News as a Digital Producer, playing with her two dogs – Clutch and Goose, or spending time with her friends and family.

You can reach Megan on Facebook or email at megan@dragchamp.com

Dennis Hamlin, the father to NASCAR Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, died on Sunday evening when the house he shared with wife MaryLou in Stanley, North Carolina.

The elder Hamlin was 75-years-old.

Both Dennis and MaryLou were outside of their still burning home when the Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department and other safety crews arrived to extinguish the flames. At this point, roughly 45 percent of the home was already on fire.

Both Hamlins were transported to a nearby hospital.

The Gaston County EMS confirmed on Monday night that Dennis had died and that MaryLou, 69, had been transferred to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she is still being ‘actively treated’ and is in critical condition.

“Both suffered catastrophic injuries while escaping the flames,” read a statement from the Gaston County EMS.

Additionally, the EMS said the investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing and currently undetermined due to the structural damage and collapse of the home.  

The property was owned by the Cup Series star, under his Won One Real Estate entity, and the 3,724 square-foot house was built in 2015. Dennis and Denny shared a strong bond, and the son referenced his love frequently over the years, but especially this past season as it was made public that the former was facing a life-ending ailment.

Denny said, while chasing his first championship this past season, that 2025 would be the last time his father would see him race for the Jim France Cup. Ultimately, Denny dominated the championship race and was three laps away from the elusive title when a caution and ensuing pit decision cost him that distinction.

In the days that followed, Denny said he spoke to his dad shortly thereafter, who told his son he was a champion in his eyes regardless.

Denny’s racing career was entirely made possible by Dennis and MaryLou putting practically every dollar they had into the cars their son raced in the hopes it would lead to a NASCAR career. Dennis owned Chesterfield Trailer and Hitch in Virginia and it was the largest de facto early sponsor for Denny until he was hired by Joe Gibbs Racing after a chance meeting between Denny and the late JD Gibbs.

Denny recently named his son Jameson Drew after both prominent JDs in his life — Jason Dean Gibbs and James Dennis Hamlin Sr.

We want your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Team

Electric vehicles are no longer confined to city streets and commuter use. EV motorsports now operate as high-stakes laboratories where engineers push batteries, motors, and software to absolute limits under race conditions. These competitions are changing long-held assumptions about speed, endurance, and performance in professional racing.

As the electric racing future unfolds, EV performance metrics increasingly rival or exceed traditional combustion-based race cars. Instant torque, near-total energy efficiency, and rapid innovation cycles are forcing motorsport organizations and fans alike to rethink what competitive racing looks like in the coming decade.

Can EV Technology Compete in Motorsports?

EV motorsports already demonstrate that electric platforms can compete at elite levels of racing. Formula E cars accelerate from 0–60 mph in approximately 2.8 seconds, delivering up to 600 kW of peak power that rivals modern Formula 1 hybrid systems. This performance advantage comes from instant torque delivery, eliminating lag and gear-shift delays inherent in internal combustion drivetrains.

The electric racing future extends beyond paved circuits. Extreme E showcases electric SUVs climbing steep 250 kW off-road sections without thermal lag or mechanical stress from traditional engines. EV performance efficiency further strengthens competitiveness, converting roughly 99% of stored electrical energy into wheel motion, compared to combustion engines that waste most energy as heat through exhaust and cooling systems.

What Is Formula E and How Does It Work?

Formula E stands at the forefront of the electric racing future by enforcing strict efficiency and sustainability standards. Gen3 cars regenerate up to 40% of race energy through braking and aerodynamic downforce, surpassing traditional kinetic energy recovery systems. This regenerative focus rewards precision driving and strategic energy management rather than raw fuel consumption.

EV motorsports regulations also mandate sustainable tire compounds and tactical features like attack mode, which adds a 50 kW power boost at the cost of altered racing lines. EV performance remains consistent across 45-minute races thanks to dual-motor AWD systems, enabling lap times comparable to high-performance combustion sports cars while operating within tight thermal limits.

EV Performance Advantages and Challenges in the Electric Racing Future

Electric racing is no longer a simple comparison between electric and combustion engines. EV performance now sets new benchmarks in acceleration, efficiency, and thermal control, while also introducing fresh limitations tied to batteries and infrastructure. As the electric racing future evolves, strengths and constraints shape race strategy just as much as raw speed. Understanding both sides explains why EV motorsports are advancing rapidly but still face unique trade-offs.

• Instant acceleration advantage: EV performance dominates launch and mid-corner exits due to instant torque and the absence of multi-gear transmissions, reducing mechanical losses and improving reliability.
• Higher power density systems: Advanced axial-flux motors and silicon carbide inverters deliver superior power-to-weight ratios compared to many combustion race engines.
• Thermal stability edge: Liquid-cooled battery packs maintain consistent output lap after lap, while combustion engines suffer efficiency loss from rising oil and piston temperatures.
• Energy density limitation: Large battery packs add significant weight, reducing race duration flexibility compared to lightweight liquid fuel systems.
• Strategic energy management: EV motorsports require lift-and-coast tactics and controlled pacing to balance speed with battery conservation.
• Infrastructure and fan engagement challenges: High-output charging demands precise battery preconditioning, while the lack of engine sound drives experimentation with synthetic audio solutions.

From EV Motorsports Innovation to Road Car Impact

Technological breakthroughs in EV motorsports rarely stay on the track. Racing environments accelerate development cycles, stress-testing hardware and software far beyond road conditions. As innovations mature, they rapidly filter into consumer vehicles, reshaping everyday driving experiences. This tight feedback loop is a defining advantage of the electric racing future.

• High-efficiency motor technology: Near-lossless electric motors developed in EV motorsports reduce driveline complexity and improve durability for road vehicles.
• Next-generation battery research: Solid-state and advanced lithium battery designs tested in racing promise longer lifespans, higher safety margins, and improved thermal stability.
• AI-driven vehicle control: Predictive traction control and regenerative braking algorithms enhance grip and efficiency, later improving stability systems in consumer EVs.
• Wireless and rapid charging concepts: Experimental track-based charging systems influence future fast-charging standards for public infrastructure.
• Race-proven hardware adoption: Inverters, steering-by-wire, and brake-by-wire systems transition directly from competition to high-performance road cars.
• Software-first performance upgrades: Over-the-air updates enable continuous EV performance improvements, mirroring motorsport-style development cycles for consumers.

Conclusion

EV motorsports prove that electric racing future concepts are not theoretical but operational today. Superior EV performance in efficiency, torque delivery, and thermal stability positions electric platforms as genuine competitors rather than experimental alternatives. Racing environments accelerate innovation in ways traditional automotive development cannot replicate.

As technologies mature, lessons from electric racing will increasingly shape mass-market vehicles. The convergence of sustainability and speed ensures that EV motorsports remain central to the future of competitive racing and everyday transportation alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can EVs really outperform gasoline race cars?

Yes, EVs excel in acceleration due to instant torque and simplified drivetrains. They also convert energy far more efficiently than combustion engines. Over short and medium race distances, EV performance often surpasses gasoline counterparts. Endurance remains the main area where ICE still holds advantages.

2. Why is Formula E important to EV development?

Formula E serves as a controlled testing ground for batteries, motors, and energy management systems. Technologies proven in races are quickly adapted for consumer vehicles. This short feedback loop accelerates EV performance improvements. It also promotes sustainability-focused innovation.

3. What limits the electric racing future today?

Battery energy density and charging infrastructure remain the biggest constraints. Heavy battery packs affect vehicle weight and race length. Charging logistics add strategic complexity. However, ongoing research continues to reduce these limitations.

4. How does EV motorsports benefit everyday drivers?

Racing innovations improve battery durability, software control, and thermal management. These upgrades enhance range, reliability, and safety in consumer EVs. Motorsport testing also speeds up adoption of new technologies. As a result, road cars improve faster than through conventional development alone.

A dozen girls whizzed around a karting track during a special test day in Nottingham, England, part of a pioneering drive to draw women into motorsports and maybe even race to the top in male-dominated Formula One.

Italian Lella Lombardi was the last woman to compete in a F1 Grand Prix in 1976, and the absence of women on the circuit is linked to young girls’ limited exposure to motorsports, according to gender parity organisations.

More Than Equal, a non-profit that supports women drivers, said girls start karting two years later than boys on average. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, for example, started karting aged just eight.

“We know that the pathway for female drivers hasn’t successfully got a woman into Formula One competitively in the last 50 years,” More Than Equal’s head of driver development, Lauren Forrow, said.

That means girls are “not thriving within” the current system, she said.

The organisation has pledged to “make history” by training a woman not just to compete but to win.