Motorsports

The Antitrust Trial that Could Take Apart NASCAR

Published

4 weeks ago

December 3, 2025

“The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies. And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.” – complaint against NASCAR

On Monday in a Charlotte, North Carolina courthouse, the weirdest and most interesting monopolization trial of the year started. A driving team, 23XI Racing, is suing NASCAR over its control of the sport, alleging violations of the Sherman Act for acting as a monopolist in the premier stock car racing market. 23XI is owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. Sitting on the other side is the billionaire France family, which owns NASCAR and speedways across the country.

It’s a real North Carolina scene, which is full of race tracks and racing fans. Jordan is a strategic weapon, sitting in the courtroom every day as the most famous and accomplished athlete in the history of the state. He is famously apolitical, but in this case, he said, “I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.” Several jurors were dismissed because of their love for Jordan, whereas another was kicked off the case because of her dislike for one of the driving teams involved. And then there was the guy who joked on his juror form that his hobby is “heavy drinking;” he was ultimately chosen to serve. The judge, Kenneth Bell, is a Trump appointee, and he moved the case lightning fast, bringing it to trial in a year.

The world of racing fans is glued to the trial, just as authors and agents couldn’t get enough of the merger challenge to Penguin/Simon & Schuster. And the reason is that antitrust trials are where everyone learns how their industry really works. There had always been rumors of dictatorial controlling behavior from NASCAR’s leadership, as well as attempts to quell dissent, everything from criticism of fees to attempts to unionize drivers. But now the evidence is coming out.

For instance, a few years ago Richard Childress, a legendary former driver and current owner who won six championships with Dale Earnhardt, made a comment about a new NASCAR TV deal. “Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged,” NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps texted Chief Media Officer Brian Herbst. “He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR.” Drivers and writers are in shock over these comments towards someone considered royalty in the sport. Another NASCAR stakeholder at one point showed contempt for fans, texting in one exchange, “Unfortunately, most our fans are not exactly top readers.”

The bad behavior is downstream from the market power exhibited by NASCAR. Last year, I wrote up the allegation of how the corporation maintains its monopoly.

The allegation is that NASCAR blocks rival top-tier stock car racing series from emerging so it can be the only place where racing teams can race. With its resulting monopoly buying power, NASCAR can underpay racing teams that compete in its events. The net effect is that NASCAR captures the bulk of the billions of dollars of revenue in the sport, and teams, even those helmed by famous racers, are almost always on the verge of bankruptcy.

NASCAR monopolizes in a number of ways. It buys rivals that might challenge its dominance. For instance, in 2018, it bought Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), which could have emerged as a competitor, but did not as a result of the merger. It also seeks to control the distribution and input channels in the industry. Over the years, especially with its purchase in 2018 of the International Speedway Corporation, NASCAR has bought up most of the viable race car tracks, such as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Top tier tracks are expensive, requiring the ability to host tens of thousands of spectators, manage safety, infrastructure, track surface, promotional, mechanical facilities, insurance, and guest services, as well as staffing people with experience to run it. Those racetracks it doesn’t own it controls through contract, prohibiting independent tracks from hosting races of potential rivals as a condition of hosting NASCAR races. One result is that most of these tracks sit vacant throughout the year.

It’s not just mergers and control of tracks. Teams themselves are both gouged by NASCAR and blocked from competing in rival events. As the complaint puts it, “Teams are now required to shell out millions to purchase car parts dictated by NASCAR, but they do not retain ownership of these parts and are forbidden from using the cars containing these parts in any other racing event.” And of course, there are also non-compete agreements that teams have to sign.

The net effect is that NASCAR presents terrible deals to teams, and having invested a lot of capital, teams have no choice but to agree. Several anonymously discussed the level of fear they experience. NASCAR “put a gun to our head[s],” they were “coerced,” or put “under duress.” One team called NASCAR’s tactics that of a “communist regime.” That’s classic fear of retribution from a monopolist, which we see all over the economy.

Formally titled the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR is a sanctioning body and operating company that offers temporary franchises to teams who own and run racing cars. It negotiates and splits TV revenue with those teams, runs marketing, owns racetracks, sets the rules, and otherwise manages the sport. It was founded in 1948 by Bill France, Sr., and the France family still runs it today. A charter guarantees a spot for a team in NASCAR races, and some of the prize money. Yet charters aren’t permanent, but must be renewed by NASCAR, which can revoke them.

Unlike major sports like the NBA or NFL, NASCAR shares relatively little with its teams, not nearly enough to cover the actual costs of running race cars, such as paying superstar drivers millions of dollars. Teams have to make up to cover these expenses with sponsorships, but NASCAR itself sometimes competes for those same sponsors. It’s a tense relationship, and teams are often on the verge of bankruptcy. According to the plaintiffs, 19 owners had charters in 2016, just eight remain in the sport. One left the sport a year after winning the championship.

In going through some of the court documents, what I found was the antitrust suit was the final straw in a long-running saga. Teams had been trying to collectively bargain for better terms for years, but were operating in fear over retaliation from the France family. As this discussion between NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon and financier Rob Kaufmann shows, weaker teams were so terrified in negotiations they would “sign whatever is put in front of them” for fear NASCAR would eliminate their charters. Meanwhile, NASCAR had $200 million in annual cash flow for dividends and debt payments.

In 2024, Jordan and Hamlin had enough of what they perceived as coercion from NASCAR, and worked with antitrust lawyer Jeffrey Kessler to file suit. Kessler is best known for breaking the NCAA cartel in 2020 over allowing college athletes to earn sponsorship money; he’s a heavy hitter. For its part, NASCAR has hired big law partner Chris Yates from Latham & Watkins.

NASCAR’s response is that there is plenty of competition among motor sports, from IndyCar to NASCAR to Formula 1. They compete over capital, talent, and sponsors. Moreover, the monopolization claims from two owners are pretextual, a mere way to extract better terms they couldn’t otherwise get through skill or value creation. Owners requested the charter system now at issue, and did not discuss trying to race in other stock car racing circuits. Moreover, their franchises, though temporary, are worth money, so there’s economic value that these owners are pretending doesn’t exist in order to put forward a claim.

But Yates also made a significant legal error that makes the case easier for the plaintiffs. As part of the legal tussle, NASCAR countersued the teams, alleging that the owners were themselves violating antitrust law by coming together as a cartel in joint negotiations. In bringing that claim, NASCAR unwittingly told the judge it’s a monopolist in the premier stock car racing market. And so while the judge dismissed NASCAR’s counterclaim that there’s an owner cartel, he did rule that NASCAR is a monopolist. “NASCAR made a strategic decision in asserting its Counterclaim and must now live with the consequences,” the judge wrote.

Oops.

The case is going badly for NASCAR. Yesterday, Hamlin got emotional on the stand, crying when he discussed entering the sport and telling the jury about his views of NASCAR’s unfair terms. “If the terms were fair, (so many teams) wouldn’t have gone out of business,” he said. “Only one side is going out of business.” Today, NASCAR’s lawyers sought to take apart Hamlin’s credibility, attempting to show him as a spendthrift and unreliable narrator changing his story to whatever would best suit his needs. But then the plaintiff’s lawyer, Jim Kessler, put NASCAR executive Scott Prime on the stand. And Prime had to defend his own emails saying NASCAR prevented Speedway Motorsports from hosting a different stock car series, the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), over fears that SRX might become a real competitor.

There are eight more days to go, and the seething anger and evidence is going to continue emerging. As with all antitrust cases, the outcome is uncertain, and it’ll likely be appealed on various grounds. But already, NASCAR’s reputation, and that of the France family, has taken a serious hit. The company has always been known as a dictatorship. In the 1960s, Bill France Sr. banned union members from participating in races. “I’ll use a pistol to enforce” the rule, he said. “I have a pistol and know how to use it.” There were physical fights over safety matters at tracks. But under Bill Sr, NASCAR was well-managed.

But the big problem is that the stock car series has lost its mojo. In 2004, 17 out of the top 20 biggest sporting events by attendance in the U.S. were NASCAR races. At roughly that time, comedian Adam McKay released the beloved comedy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in a story about NASCAR drivers in George W. Bush’s America. It was the number one movie at the summer box office for two weeks in a row, and captured the zeitgeist of a sport that was then at its zenith. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of the most popular figures in the country, and NASCAR was at a peak in its popularity. From 2001-2015, average viewership was 15-19 million.

But that has changed. Last year the Dayton 500 had an average audience of 6.7 million. Attendance and ratings have collapsed, and races, which once sold out tickets and were the biggest sporting events in the country, now routinely have empty stands. While always right-leaning, the league got more political, with CEO Brian France, the grandson of the founder, as an early Trump supporter. Then in 2018, France was arrested for drunk driving and possession of oxycontin. Yet, NASCAR maintained tight control of its media image, so it was hard to figure out what had gone wrong.

NASCAR fans are finally finding in this lawsuit some of the answers to why the sport hasn’t been managed well. It’s because the management, while always dictatorial, came to have contempt for the actual teams and fans who made the sport work. And that’s where this antitrust suit could actually help. Michael Jordan, in some ways, is the ultimate fan. He loves racing, and the competition, and put his money to work to win championships. And his group is angry that NASCAR doesn’t seem to take the sport as seriously as they do, instead choosing to focus on extraction. There are many important aspects of this case. It’s a monopolization argument that may lead to NASCAR having to sell some of its tracks, aka a break-up. It is on trial within a year, which shows these cases can be done quickly. It’s a jury trial.

But if nothing else, it is actually forcing some accountability for the billionaires who own NASCAR, purely through the court system. And in doing so, it is showing the potential of a path for others who don’t want to take crap from bad leaders anymore.

Tyler Reddick, poses with Curtis Polk, 23IX Racing co-owners Dennis Hamlin and Michael Jordan.

Thanks for reading! Your tips make this newsletter what it is, so please send me tips on weird monopolies, stories I’ve missed, or other thoughts. And if you liked this issue of BIG, you can sign up here for more issues, a newsletter on how to restore fair commerce, innovation, and democracy. Consider becoming a paying subscriber to support this work, or if you are a paying subscriber, giving a gift subscription to a friend, colleague, or family member. If you really liked it, read my book, Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy.

cheers,

Matt Stoller

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Motorsports

Cordele GA Motor Speedway SpeedFest Tickets On Sale – Speedway Digest

Published

14 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

One of the Southeast’s biggest early-season pavement events is taking shape, as SpeedFest 2026 at Cordele Motor Speedway announces that tickets are now on sale. Fans can secure their spot for the two-day racing festival at a discounted rate by purchasing in advance.

General Admission Tickets:

SpeedFest returns Friday–Saturday, January 23-24, 2026, featuring a powerful lineup headlined by the ASA Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco Super Late Models and the Southern Pro Series Pro Late Models. Also joining the weekend will be INEX Legends and Bandoleros, bringing a mix of national talent and rising young stars to Crisp Motorsports Park.

Friday, January 23 will include practice and qualifying for all four divisions, setting the stage for an action-packed Saturday afternoon. Feature racing begins at 1 PM on Saturday, January 24. Teams will also have the option to participate in an open test session Thursday, January 22 from 12:00–4:00 PM.

Online entries are now open for both Super Late Models and Pro Late Models, with early entries starting to come in.

Weekend Schedule Overview

Thursday – January 22, 2026
• Optional Open Test: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Friday – January 23, 2026
• Practice & Qualifying for All Classes

Saturday – January 24, 2026
• Feature Events Begin at 1:00 PM

SpeedFest has long served as a season-opening measuring stick for short track racers, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be no different. Fans can expect a blend of powerhouse Super Late Model talent, hungry Pro Late Model contenders, a strong regional and national presence, and the next generation of racers in Legends and Bandoleros.

Track Enterprises PR

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Motorsports

International Hot Rod Association buys Topeka’s Heartland Motorsports

Published

5 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced the acquisition of Heartland Motorsports Park on Dec. 29.

The acquisition aligns with IHRA’s broader racer-first philosophy, which includes direct investment in facilities and infrastructure that strengthen grassroots racing, elevate national competition and create sustainable motorsports ecosystems, said a IHRA news release.

With this acquisition, Heartland Motorsports Park enters a new chapter — one that honors its storied past while positioning the property as a modern destination entertainment complex, said the news release.

Owner of the International Hot Rod Association, Darryl Cuttell said Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing.

“It has history, soul, and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a racetrack. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy while building something that serves racers, fans, and the community for generations,” said Cuttell.

The dragstrip is seen at Heartland Motorsports Park on May 3, 2023.

What is IHRA’s vision for Heartland Motorsports Park?

The IHRA plans to restore Heartland Motorsports Park as a destination for racing, music and community. Those plans include redevelopment for year-round efforts that extend beyond competition weekends which involve the following:

Revitalized drag racing operations with improved racer and fan amenities.
Expanded motorsports and special event programming.
Live music, concerts, and festival experiences.
Enhanced hospitality, vendor and fan-experience areas.
Community-focused events designed to drive tourism and economic impact.

“Motorsports has to evolve to stay strong,” Cuttell said. “The future is about creating places where racing, music, entertainment, and community come together. Heartland has all the pieces to become one of the premier motorsports and entertainment destinations in the country.”

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced the acquisition of Heartland Motorsports Park on Dec. 29.

When will renovations begin?

Renovation planning will begin immediately, with additional announcements regarding redevelopment phases, event schedules and community partnerships expected in the coming months, said the news release.

Heartland previously owned by Kansas City Missouri company

A Kansas City, Missouri-based company called Topeka 77 LLC, had purchased in September the Topeka properties that formerly were the site of Heartland Motorsports Park.

The company registered a deed for those 28 parcels with Shawnee County while giving its mailing address as 2600 Grand Blvd., Suite 700. That is the same address as 145-year-old Kessinger, Hunter & Co., LC, the oldest commercial development company in Kansas City, Missouri, which says on its website that it operates $2 billion worth of real estate and has 200 associates, The Capital-Journal previously reported.

Topeka 77 paid Shawnee County — under protest — $3,402,313.05 in outstanding property taxes owed by the company that sold it the property, Chris Payne’s Raymore, Missouri-based Shelby Development, LLC, said former Shawnee County Treasurer Larry Mah.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: International Hot Rod Association buys Topeka’s Heartland Motorsports

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Motorsports

IHRA purchases Memphis Motorsports Park

Published

6 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Drag strip and oval track acquired by IHRA

International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has acquired Memphis International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park. The deal closed on December 23, 2025.

The track first opened in the 1980’s. The complex features a drag strip, 1.77-mile road course as well as a 0.75-mile tri-oval short track.

The IHRA recently announced a new short track racing series. Their season finale is scheduled at Memphis Motorsports Park.

IHRA announces short track series

The facility is set to become “a multi-use destination supporting drag racing, stock car competition, grassroots motorsports, and other large-scale events that engage the broader community and region.”

IHRA CEO Darryl Cuttell

“This is a special place in American motorsports,” said Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA.

“This facility has a deep history in drag racing and stock car competition, and our goal is to honor that legacy while building a strong, sustainable future. We are committed to bringing meaningful racing back to this property while expanding its role as a destination for a wide range of events that serve racers, fans, and the surrounding community.”

IHRA President Leah Martin

“This acquisition represents more than reopening a racetrack,” said Leah Martin, President of IHRA.

“It is about restoring opportunity for racers, families, and the community. This facility aligns with IHRA’s racer-first vision and our commitment to grassroots motorsports, while also allowing the property to support diverse uses that strengthen its year-round impact.”

Daniel Horton Assistant Director of the IHRA Stock Car Series.

“Memphis Motorsports Park holds a special place in our hearts,” said Daniel Horton, Assistant Director of the IHRA Stock Car Series.

“Bobby Hamilton won the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series race here in a truck built by Tim and with Danny as the crew chief. With the facility now under the IHRA umbrella, we can give grassroots racers a chance to compete where legendary drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Randy LaJoie, and the late Greg Biffle have won.”

“We are extremely excited to bring stock car racing back to Memphis and continue the legacy of this iconic track.”

Memphis Mayor Paul Young

“This investment honors the legacy of Memphis Motorsports Park while positioning it for a strong future. IHRA’s acquisition reflects confidence in our region and creates new opportunities for tourism, local businesses, and fan experiences.” said Mayor Paul Young, City of Memphis.

Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills

“As the Commissioner for District 1, I am thrilled about IHRA’s acquisition of Memphis Motorsports Park,” said Amber Mills, Shelby County Commissioner, District 1, Shelby County Government.

“This investment strengthens our local economy, puts world-class racing back on solid ground, and gives our families and young people a safe, exciting place to create memories for years to come. Having a national organization like IHRA committed to the long-term success of this historic facility is exactly the kind of partnership Shelby County needs.”

Chris Thomas, Executive Director, Millington Area Chamber of Commerce

“Memphis Motorsports Park has long contributed to tourism and economic activity in Millington and Shelby County, and IHRA’s acquisition represents a positive step forward for the facility and the community,” said Chris Thomas, Executive Director, Millington Area Chamber of Commerce.

“This investment supports the continued use of the track as a regional destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and future growth. The Millington Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with IHRA as this next chapter takes shape.”

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IHRA

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Motorsports

International Hot Rod Association buys Topeka’s Heartland Motorsports

Published

6 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 30, 2025, 4:41 p.m. CT

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced the acquisition of Heartland Motorsports Park on Dec. 29.

Owner of the International Hot Rod Association, Darryl Cuttell said Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing.

What is IHRA’s vision for Heartland Motorsports Park?

Revitalized drag racing operations with improved racer and fan amenities.
Expanded motorsports and special event programming.
Live music, concerts, and festival experiences.
Enhanced hospitality, vendor and fan-experience areas.
Community-focused events designed to drive tourism and economic impact.

When will renovations begin?

Heartland previously owned by Kansas City Missouri company

A Kansas City, Missouri-based company called Topeka 77 LLC, had purchased in September the Topeka properties that formerly were the site of Heartland Motorsports Park.

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Motorsports

What Were The Best Paint Schemes From the 2025 NASCAR Season?

Published

7 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Paint schemes are an integral component in NASCAR. While they don’t necessarily contribute to a driver or team from a horsepower standpoint, drivers have said that when they walk up to a paint scheme they love on the grid, and climb behind the wheel, it can help give them an extra mental boost to try to will that car to victory lane.

With an ever-changing sponsorship model lending itself to multiple primary sponsorship partners for just about every car in the NASCAR Cup Series, we are treated to more paint schemes than we can shake a stick at in the modern days of NASCAR.

We have digested every paint scheme, which went on track in NASCAR’s premier series in 2025, and have ranked out our 10 favorites.

Honorable Mention
Best Darlington Throwback Paint Scheme
Top-10 Paint Schemes of 2025

Honorable Mention

Cole Custer No. 41 Texas A&M University Ford Mustang

Cole Custer 2025 Texas A&M University paint scheme — Cole Custer piloted this Texas A&M University paint scheme in one race during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. | Matt Marrie | TobyChristie.com

In the penultimate race of the season at Martinsville, Cole Custer sported the iconic maroon on his No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang. The maroon base scheme equipped with a white stripe, which divided a gray lower portion of the car, was a truly special design.

However, with the impressive level of paint schemes on display in 2025, Custer’s Texas A&M car didn’t quite make the cut for the “best” list, but it certainly earned an honorable mention. Custer would finish 17th in the car at Martinsville.

Best Darlington Throwback Paint Scheme

Austin Cindric No. 2 “Dale Earnhardt 1980” Tribute

Austin Cindric 2025 Darlington throwback paint scheme — Austin Cindric pilots a No. 2 Dale Earnhardt throwback paint scheme at Darlington Raceway in 2025. | Jonathan McCoy | TobyChristie.com

While most everyone spent their time and resources campaigning for Kyle Larson’s throwback to Terry Labonte’s 2003 “Tony the Tiger” car, and rightfully so, as it was awesome, the best overall throwback paint scheme, in my opinion, goes to Austin Cindric’s tribute to Dale Earnhardt’s 1980 championship-winning No. 2 car.

Between the classic Osterlund Racing number font and the yellow and blue colors, the No. 2 Team Penske team did an excellent job pulling off a near-perfect throwback paint scheme. And in the end, Cindric snagged a solid 11th-place run, which was ironically Earnhardt’s career average finish through his 676-race NASCAR Cup Series career.

Top-10 Paint Schemes of 2025

10. John Hunter Nemechek No. 42 Hertz Toyota Camry XSE

John Hunter Nemechek 2025 Hertz paint scheme — John Hunter Nemechek drove this No. 42 Hertz paint scheme at Dover Motor Speedway in 2025. | Joe Kraus | TobyChristie.com

One of the most underrated paint schemes of the season was John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Hertz Toyota. With the gold, and white color combination, the design flat-out works. And I feel its one of the cleanest schemes that were used during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

While Nemechek had an incredible season for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, where he collected two top-five finishes, and eight top-10s, his 21st-place finish in this paint scheme didn’t measure as one of his best outings of the season. But nonetheless, it was a good looking race car.

9. Trackhouse Racing Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear Chevrolets

Daniel Suarez 2025 Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear paint scheme — Daniel Suarez driving the No. 99 Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway in 2025. | Dirk Bizub | TobyChristie.com

In an interesting twist, the three full-time Trackhouse Racing drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series were all seen in their underwear at portions of the season as Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Daniel Suarez were all featured in their skivvies on the sides of their race cars in a sponsorship with Jockey’s Infinite Cool Underwear.

It was a unique way of advertising Jockey’s line of undergarments, and the scheme, which was featured on three cars in 2025, ranks ninth on our list.

Suarez’s best finish with the scheme was a 14th-place result at Michigan International Speedway, which was the best result for the three drivers in their underwear cars. Chastain finished 19th at Richmond Raceway with the paint scheme, and Shane van Gisbergen, who captured five wins during his rookie season, finished 32nd with the paint scheme at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

8. Todd Gilliland No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles “Flames” Ford Mustang

Todd Gilliland 2025 Grillo's Pickles flames car — Todd Gilliland cruises around Darlington Raceway during the Southern 500 in the No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles flames car. | Dirk Bizub | TobyChristie.com

Grillo’s Pickles has been a fan-favorite sponsorship partner in the NASCAR Cup Series over the last couple of seasons, and they brought a unique “flames” scheme in 2025. Todd Gilliland piloted the car in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and event where Gilliland would finish 26th.

Grillo’s served as the sponsor for Gilliland in a total of six races in 2025, and it did so with a variety of paint schemes ranging from a green bumpy pickle look to the flames scheme at Darlington. They had a taste of just about everything this past season.

7. Riley Herbst No. 35 BeatBox Toyota Camry XSE

Riley Herbst 2025 BeatBox paint scheme — Riley Herbst during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. | Daniel Nelson | TobyChristie.com

The majority of Riley Herbst’s 2025 season was filled by the traditional flat-black Monster Energy paint scheme, which is cool, but that paint scheme won’t be regarded high on many best-of paint scheme lists. However, a two-race commitment from BeatBox led to a very colorful and fun paint scheme for Herbst.

Incredibly, the driver took the paint scheme at Texas Motor Speedway and drove it to his best finish of what was a tough rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Herbst finished 14th that day.

6. Denny Hamlin No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE

Denny Hamlin 2025 King's Hawaiian paint scheme — Denny Hamlin qualifying the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. | Dirk Bizub | TobyChristie.com

Between his former long-time sponsorship partnership with FedEx, and current deals with Yahoo! and ampm, Denny Hamlin is known for purple race cars. However, it was a bright orange King’s Hawaiian paint scheme, which caught our eyes in 2025.

While it was a visually appealing car, it didn’t amount to great luck for Hamlin, who had one of his greatest seasons in 2025. Hamlin, who won six races and came just three laps from winning his first career NASCAR Cup Series title, had two DNFs in his four races with King’s Hawaiian adorning his race car, and only mustered a best finish of 25th, which he achieved in the Summer race at Daytona International Speedway.

5. Carson Hocevar No. 77 Modo Casino “America” Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar 2025 Modo Casino America paint scheme — Carson Hocevar during practice for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway. | Matt Marrie | TobyChristie.com

Carson Hocevar continues to zero in on his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and in 2025, he had a top-five paint scheme. Modo Casino, which had several different paint schemes on the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet throughout the campaign, brought a special red, white, and blue version of the car to the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in October.

The ‘Merica look was fully pulled off with a bald eagle stretched out across the hood of the car. Instead of stars on the navy blue portions of the flag design were white and blue poker chips. Ultimately, the paint scheme didn’t come with a top-finish, as Hocevar finished 31st, three laps down, at Martinsville. But it was a cool looking car.

4. Austin Dillon No. 3 Dow DayGlo Chevrolet

Austin Dillon 2025 Dow DayGlo paint scheme — Austin Dillon pilots the No. 3 Dow DayGlo Chevrolet at World Wide Technology Raceway. | Josh Calloni | TobyChristie.com

Speaking of cool-looking cars, not many had more wow factor than Austin Dillon’s Dow “DayGlo” paint scheme, which he drove in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The black base paint scheme featured splatters of bright, bold dayglo colors throughout. And the car really popped.

Dillon, who captured a win at Richmond Raceway to secure a berth into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, finished 18th at Gateway with this scheme on his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

3. William Byron No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet

William Byron 2025 Axalta paint scheme Daytona 500 win — William Byron heads down pit road during practice for the 2025 Daytona 500. | Taylor Kitchen | Racing America On SI

On the podium of best paint schemes in 2025 was a renewed take on Jeff Gordon’s classic Axalta/DuPont flames paint scheme. William Byron piloted a similar paint scheme throughout the duration of the season, but in the Daytona 500, a race that Byron won for the second consecutive season, the car had a gradient design within the flames on the car.

While running ninth on the final lap, Byron was able to somehow steer clear of a last-lap melee, involving leader Denny Hamlin, Cole Custer, and others, to move into the lead and he’d take the race win in a race back to the finish line.

After the Daytona 500 win, the gradient design was ditched from the paint scheme, which makes the Daytona 500 car even more special. And honestly, the gradient within the flames helped elevate the Axalta car to the next level.

2. Chris Buescher No. 17 Kroger/Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ford

Chris Buescher 2025 Cinnamon Toast Crunch paint scheme — Chris Buescher during the NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway in 2025. | Dirk Bizub | TobyChristie.com

It was the obsession of social media for weeks. Chris Buescher’s Kroger/Cinnamon Toast Crunch car made a lasting impact, and it even allowed Buescher to come out of his shell in social media videos, where he sported Cinnamon Toast Crunch gear, and sprinkled CTC cinnamon sugar dust.

The fun colors throughout the paint scheme, which are part of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch pallette, were utilized flawlessly, and having the cartoon Cinnamon Toast Crunch character with its tongue sticking out behind the rear wheels gave the car a fun 1990s-level racecar design feel.

Additionally, Buescher led 15 laps in the race and was among one of the best in the final Stage of the race before he settled for a ninth-place result.

.@RFKRacing controlled a large portion of the final Stage of tonight’s race. @Chris_Buescher says fresher tires caused him to get picked off of Keselowski a couple of times and once in dirty air, it was over. He finished 9th & had a blast w/ the Cinnamon Toast Crunch activation. pic.twitter.com/rN8rsazdzX

— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) June 29, 2025

1. Justin Allgaier No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet

Justin Allgaier 2025 Traveller Whiskey paint scheme — Justin Allgaier during practice for the 2025 Daytona 500. | Taylor Kitchen | Racing America On SI

The top spot on this year’s list goes to a driver and team that only competed in one NASCAR Cup Series event. But for Justin Allgaier, it was an important one, as it marked the first-ever Cup Series start for JR Motorsports, the team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Allgaier faced stiff competition, but was able to transfer to the Daytona 500 starting lineup, and in the race, he played things smart, and was around for the chaotic finish, where he secured a ninth-place finish. It was a solid first run in the NASCAR Cup Series for JR Motorsports, and it came with a breathtaking paint scheme.

The Traveller Whiskey paint scheme ended up being the best-selling die-cast in 2025, according to Lionel NASCAR, and while it was obvious it would do well with the Earnhardt affiliation, a beautfiul paint scheme helped push the car to the top of the charts.

Motorsports

Josh Hart to Sell Mopar Car Collection During January Kissimmee Mecum Auction

Published

8 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Top Fuel driver Josh Hart, a life-long Mopar fan and collector, will be selling his prized Mopar car and truck collection at the Kissimmee Mecum Auction, January 6-18. Hart was recently named Top Fuel driver for John Force Racing and in a show of support for the longstanding Chevrolet sponsorship of the 24-time NHRA world championship winning team Hart is going all in to support his new team.

“I am going all in with John Force Racing in my pursuit of a Top Fuel world championship and I wanted to show that I am also all in when it comes to representing our sponsors like Chevrolet,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “Chevrolet is an iconic manufacturer, and I will be very proud to wear the Chevy bowtie on my Burnyzz Speed Shop Top Fuel dragster and my uniform. I can’t wait for the 2026 season to start.”

Hart’s collection that is up for grabs during the Mecum auction includes multiple Dodge Vipers, several Dodge Drag Pak Challengers and a beautiful Dodge Power Wagon. All the cars in Hart’s collection are in mint condition, many with low mileage and amazing detailing. Hart has spent years building his collection and hopes that all the cars go to appreciative collectors.

“All of the cars in my collection have been prized possessions, but I saw this as an opportunity to find them a new home with collectors that will appreciate them as much as I did,” said Hart. “Some of the cars are some of the earliest cars to roll of the assembly line. The Drag Paks are amazing cars that I have had since they first were released. This is a great mix of cars that could be museum pieces or the perfect daily driver.”

Hart’s collection includes:

2018 Demon with 80 miles and 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 with 3 miles, matching VINs specially built for Hart with crate, sold as a pair
2017 Dodge Hellcat last built manual with 700 miles
2017 Viper GTC 1 of 1 program twin turbo, 1200hp with 300 miles
2021 Drag Pak race-ready driven by Top Fuel driver Josh Hart during the 2025 NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series
1967 Power Wagon fully built with real Hellephant power plant on a Rubicon frame with 37’s
All high production number and some of the last models to roll off the assembly line with every option carbon fiber and loaded personalized build sheets to Hart and triple black along with four other Drag Paks and another Viper ACR

Hart will be on track racing for John Force Racing at the season opening NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. The Kissimmee Mecum Auction will be live from January 6-18. 2026.

This story was originally published on December 30, 2025. Drag Illustrated