Sweet Springs, Missouri — Kale Drake may not be overly superstitious, but at the least, he is certainly a little bit stitious.
Prior to Sunday night’s USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship event at Missouri’s Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex, the Collinsville, Oklahoma native was involved in a series of fortunate events with the number two featuring prominently everywhere he turned.
“I was talking to (USAC official Kirk Spridgeon) and Justin (Grant) at the trailer earlier today and I told them that when I stopped at the gas station, it was $22.22. After that, I drew the pill 22, then I put on 22 tear-offs before the A-Main. I might be superstitious but I think it worked out,” Drake said with a laugh.
2025 USAC NOS Energy Drink Midgets at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex
In the end, that same numeral played an integral role in the backdrop of Drake’s fortunes at Sweet Springs. As a matter of fact, he was leading the USAC Midget race there in 2024 with two laps remaining when he found trouble and bounced to a stop, ending his bid for the win.
On Sunday, Drake was slotted third on the final restart. Picking up from where he left off one year ago, Drake made a charge around the outside to take the lead with – you guessed it – two laps to go. Lest we mention that he led the feature three different times, each in chunks of two laps at a time – laps 1-2, laps 16-17 and laps 29-30.
When all was said it done, Drake collected – wait for it – USAC National Midget career victory number two. But to do it in such dramatic fashion, this will be one he remembers for a lifetime, possibly “two” lifetimes.
“Holy smokes, that was a long race and a technical one and super fun,” Drake exclaimed. “That’s not quite up my alley but we made it work.”
Drake was in a prime spot for the start of the 40-lap main event – on the pole position in his Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Eibach – TRD – Toyota – Mobil 1/LynK/Speedway Toyota. But after leading the opening lap, he found himself suddenly on the chase of his teammate, Jacob Denney.
But on lap 16, Denney tripped over the turn two cushion, opening the door for Drake to race on by while utilizing the bottom of turns three and four to edge his way into the lead. After the lap was completed, 17th running Garrett Benson flipped into the outside wall at the exit of turn four. He was okay, but his night was over.
Now let’s flashback to before the start of the feature. Riley Kreisel was initially slated to start on the pole, but in a wild turn of events, was penalized for being late to staging, delayed while attempting to remedy a tire bleeder issue. The result was a two row penalty, which docked Kreisel back to fifth on the grid. However, as it turned out, it wasn’t much of a deterrent to the determined Kreisel.
Kreisel’s Ron Cox owned ride hadn’t been fired since January’s Chili Bowl Nationals four months earlier. Furthermore, he only found out he was going to compete at Sweet Springs at 11pm the night before. On top of everything else, it was only his third career USAC National Midget start and his first since seven years prior in 2018 at the very same 1/6-mile Sweet Springs dirt oval.
The beneficiary of Kreisel’s position shuffle was Drake who moved from the outside of the front row to the pole, a spot he actually wasn’t all that particularly at ease with.
“I didn’t know how I really felt about taking the pole over,” Drake admitted. “I didn’t really want to start the race off and set the pace, but Jacob got out in front of me and showed me what I needed to do and what not to do, which really showed me where the limit was.”
Back to Kreisel. Just after the restart, he found his groove on the bottom and rolled past Denney for second on the 17th circuit, then picked off Drake moments later on lap 18 for the lead. At the same time, 13th starting Drake Edwards followed Kreisel’s path to slot into second ahead of Drake. However, Edwards performed a half-spin in turn two on lap 24 and lost grip of the second spot to Drake in the meantime. That said, Edwards stuck with it and snuck his way back into second on the bottom past Drake as the pair worked around the lapped car of Thomas Meseraull.
Meanwhile, Kreisel’s lead had expanded to a full second and he looked to be on his way to a surefire first career USAC national victory. But on lap 37, series Rookie Brandon Carr (20th) hooked the turn one cushion and nearly flipped before coming to a rest on all fours. Kreisel’s 1.35 second advantage over the field was erased due to the caution and he now had the field bearing down on him with a three-lap shootout on the horizon.
Sitting third with three to go was Drake who had low line dwellers Kreisel and Edwards, both first time USAC national winning hopefuls, sitting in front of him coming back to green. There was only one place to “send it.”
“I had to remind myself on that restart that I know what I’m doing and I have the best guys behind me, and I just needed to hit my marks,” Drake recalled. “It really came down to that last restart. I really had to send it. If I could hit my marks, I knew I had the best car on the racetrack, so it was just a matter of committing. It took a lot of commitment to run it up there and be fast.”
Staying true to his personal pep talk under the helmet, Drake dug in on the outside and nipped Edwards at the stripe for second with two to go on lap 38. Heading to the white flag, Drake hit the cushion in turn one perfectly, then launched off turn two to dispose of Kreisel and place himself at the top of the leaderboard.
On the last go around, Drake changed course and attacked the bottom of turns three and four to thwart off Kreisel and Edwards and block the lane. Drake crossed the line with a 0.363 second margin of victory, his first in USAC since a BC39 prelim win last September.
Behind him, Justin Grant seemingly came out of nowhere, picking off both Kreisel and Edwards in one fell swoop off turn four to get the second spot by a car length. The runner-up result also moved Grant back to the top of the USAC National Midget standings. Grant’s fourth to second final corner surge proved to be the Inferno Armor Fire Move of the Night.
In Arizonian Drake Edwards’ first ever visit to Sweet Springs, he earned his best career USAC National Midget finish. He very nearly won the thing after starting 13th but wound up a strong third to round out the podium.
Kreisel fell to fourth after leading a race high 21 laps while 2018 and 2024 Sweet Springs USAC Midget feature winner Logan Seavey took fifth.
Andrew Felker doesn’t run USAC National Midgets very often, but when he does, he does some mighty fine work. He advanced 12 positions on his way from 19th to 7th to collect the Rod End Supply Hard Charger award.
Earlier in the evening, Cannon McIntosh recorded his 12th career USAC National Midget fast time during Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. That moved him to 49th on the all-time list alongside Don Meacham, Larry Rice and Josh Wise.
USAC National Midgets At Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex Results
1. Kale Drake (1), 2. Justin Grant (4), 3. Drake Edwards (13), 4. Riley Kreisel (5), 5. Logan Seavey (3), 6. Gavin Miller (11), 7. Andrew Felker (19), 8. Kyle Jones (15), 9. Cannon McIntosh (6), 10. Jacob Denney (2), 11. Kevin Thomas Jr. (9), 12. Gunnar Setser (12), 13. Daniel Robinson (24), 14. Cale Coons (18), 15. Steven Snyder Jr. (17), 16. Hayden Reinbold (7), 17. Brecken Reese (14), 18. Thomas Meseraull (21), 19. Branigan Roark (22), 20. Mack Leopard (8), 21. Brandon Carr (20), 22. Kameron Key (10), 23. Garrett Benson (16), 24. Chad Winfrey (23)
The 2026 season will be a special one for Team Penske, which made its first foray into the racing scene in 1966. Whether it’s NASCAR, IndyCar or IMSA, Team Penske has enjoyed plenty of success and plans to savor many more victories in the future.
Team Penske cars in all three major series will sport special retro livery at select races, while the team will also introduce an anniversary identity that will appear across its race cars, uniforms, digital platforms and merchandise, with the first items available online and in the team store beginning in January.
“Our 60th anniversary is a tremendous milestone for our organization,” Roger Penske said in a team release. “The 2026 season will give us the opportunity to celebrate the people, partners and fans who have helped shape Team Penske since 1966, while also looking ahead to the future. This year ahead is a meaningful one with many terrific moments for our team and story still to come.”
Few teams can match the Penske programs when it comes to success on the track. The team has 20 Indianapolis 500 victories, three Daytona 500 wins and has won at least one major championship for the past 14 years, including last season’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sweep of the team, drivers and manufacturers titles. It was the second straight season Porsche Penske swept the awards and last season saw the team become the first since 2017 to win Daytona and Sebring in the same season.
With the team not competing in the World Endurance Championship in 2026, Team Penske will focus all of its sportscar racing attention on IMSA. Despite winning the GTP title the past two seasons, there will be some new faces on the team in 2026.
The team will see Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor move from the WEC to drive the No. 6 Porsche 963, while the No. 7 will be in the hands of Felipe Nasr and Julien Andlauer. Matt Campbell, one of the championship drivers this season, will serve as the endurance driver for the No. 6 car at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta, while Laurin Heinrich will serve in the same role for the No. 7 Porsche. All six are Porsche factory drivers.
Porsche Penske will begin its 2026 season in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 16-18. The Rolex 24 At Daytona begins Saturday, Jan. 24.
MANAMA: The director of the Kuwaiti Motor Sports Club, Sheikh Sabah Dawood Al-Sabah, praised the outstanding results achieved by the club’s racers in the second round of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship on Saturday, emphasizing that they reflect the advanced level reached by Kuwaiti champions in this sport. The team director stated that the racers delivered a remarkable performance in the competitions held at the Bahrain International Circuit’s drag strip.
Abdullah Ali Al-Aqab secured first place in the Pro 29.5 category, while Ahmed Zaman took second place in the 8.5 Index category, and Fawaz Al-Awadhi finished third in the same category. The remaining members of the participating delegation also achieved high rankings in the eight rounds.
Al-Sabah affirmed that these achievements are the fruit of the continuous efforts exerted by the racers and the technical and administrative staff.
He noted the club’s commitment to providing all means of support and care to raise Kuwait’s flag high in regional and international events, wishing them continued success in future competitions.
The second round of the Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship, the most popular drag racing championship in the region, kicked off over the past two days at the Bahrain International Circuit’s drag strip. The new season of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship is scheduled to run until March, with the third and fourth rounds taking place in January and the championship concluding in March. — KUNA
It’s the biggest motorcycle drag racing grudge race of the year, Kings of Grudge Grinchmas from Orlando Speedworld Dragway and we cover this shocker as a fast mini bike calls out a stretched Suzuki Hayabusa grudge bike on the opening day of this event. We also see some motorcycle drag racing gone wrong as a fast Suzuki Hayabusa and GSXR 1000 suffer engine damage. Enjoy some thrilling motorcycle drag racing from Kings of Grudge
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It’s episode No. 3 of the Racing Jack Show and we sit down with media mogul “Bubba The Love Sponge” to Talk about what’s really hurting the racing business and what the sport must do to bring fans back to NHRA, NASCAR, Dirt Races and a whole lot more. After an in-depth discussion on the state of motorsports and racing the leader of the Bubba Army shocks us when he calls his good buddy and motorsports legend Tony Stewart.
We ask Bubba how the next generation of race fan has changed, how difficult it is to run a track and an organization and how racing organizations can follow the successful formula of WWE and UFC. We also discuss the controversial decision by the NHRA to cancel its final race of the season and discuss some of the interworking of NHRA drag racing and how it functions as a not for profit organization. Bubba also talks about what it’s like to climb the ladder in NASCAR in today’s climate compared to how it once was in the days of greats like Dale Earnhardt Sr. Finally we discuss Bubba’s reporting on the untimely death of Hulk Hogan and how the wrestling legend’s passing changes the way Cycledrag operates.
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
We head to the biggest motorcycle drag racing grudge race of the year where we unfortunately see one fast racer on a Suzuki GSXR blow an en engine and suffer a big top end crash at Orlando Speedworld Dragway. It’s motorcycle drag racing gone wrong as this veteran driver suffers an incident but the good news is he was alert and awake and the Orlando safety team was right on top of it. We also see some unbelievable motorcycle drag racing as nitrous and turbo Suzuki Hayabusa and GSXR 1000 and Kawasaki ZX-14 stretched bikes go for big money win at the biggest Grudge race of the year, Kings of Grudge Grinchmas from Orlando, FL
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was a 36-race saga of raw speed, strategy, and sheer misfortune, ending with Kyle Larson claiming his second championship at Phoenix Raceway—despite Denny Hamlin delivering what many consider the most statistically dominant campaign of the modern era. Hamlin’s six wins led the series, but a heartbreaking late caution in the finale snatched victory away, allowing Larson to capitalize. Points reset in the playoffs obscure the full picture of performance across ovals, road courses, and superspeedways.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
This ranking prioritizes overall impact: wins, poles, consistency, laps led, playoff pushes, and overperformance—elevating those who truly excelled beyond the trophy. In a year of road-course brilliance, veteran grit, and cruel twists, here are the top 10 drivers who defined 2025.
1. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The True Season Dominator
#11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Progressive Toyota Camry. Photo courtesy of Toyota
Rank in Point Standings: 2nd No. of Wins: 6 No. of Poles: 5 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led JGR No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
Hamlin’s six victories were the most in the series, backed by aggressive restarts, bold strategy, and unmatched hunger at age 44. He dominated the finale at Phoenix, leading a record 208 laps from pole—only for a late caution (unrelated to him) to erase his lead and hand the title to Larson. Heartbreakingly close after superior raw stats all year, Hamlin proved he’s among NASCAR’s all-time greats, championship or not.
2. Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Opportunistic Champion
Kyle Larson poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 1st No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 1 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at Hendrick with Byron No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Larson’s versatility and calm execution sealed his second title, leading over 1,100 laps with 15 top-fives and minimal errors. A smart two-tire call in Phoenix overtime turned Hamlin’s dominance into victory. Deserving champion, but Hamlin’s superior wins and poles make this a debated crown.
3. Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) – The Road-Course Phenom
Shane Van Gisbergen poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 12th No. of Wins: 5 No. of Poles: 3 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Dominated road courses No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led on twisties
In his full-season debut, SVG monopolized road courses with five wins (often by massive margins) and Rookie of the Year honors. Playoff qualifier with oval improvements, his raw talent overperformed the No. 88 Chevy—turning heads and redefining road-ring mastery.
4. Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Qualifying Ace and Adapter
Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota poses for photos after winning the the Busch Light Pole Award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 3rd No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 7 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Competitive No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led JGR
Switching to JGR after replacing Truex Jr., Briscoe exploded: series-high seven poles, three wins, and a Championship 4 berth. Massive speed gains and aggression made him a breakout, dragging his team deep into the playoffs.
5. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Consistent Frontrunner
William Byron, driver of the #24 Raptor Chevrolet, spends time on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on August 03, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 4th No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 3 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied with Larson No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
Regular-season points leader Byron claimed three wins (including back-to-back Daytona 500s) and led thousands of laps. Dominant stretches and clutch Martinsville playoff advance highlighted his evolution into a perennial threat.
6. Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) – The Clutch Closer
Ryan Blaney poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 6th No. of Wins: 4 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Most at Penske No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Blaney’s four wins included a late surge, capping with Phoenix victory. Leading 852 laps despite inconsistencies, his momentum and improvements made him Penske’s leader.
7. Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Reliable Winner
Christopher Bell poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 5th No. of Wins: 4 No. of Poles: 1 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at JGR No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Solid
Bell’s four wins and series-high 22 top-10s showed reliability across tracks. Steady playoff runs positioned him as a future champion in JGR’s lineup.
8. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Resurgent Favorite
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA/Children’s Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Echo Park Speedway on June 28, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 8th No. of Wins: 2 No. of Poles: 0 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Solid No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Elliott returned strong with two wins, consistent top-10s, and playoff pushes. Balanced oval/road performance rebuilt his momentum.
9. Joey Logano (Team Penske) – The Experienced Fighter
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 7th No. of Wins: 1 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led at times No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
An “off” year for the defending champ still yielded a win and poles through savvy racing, keeping Penske competitive amid challenges.
10. Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) – The Quiet Maximizer
Tyler Reddick poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 9th No. of Wins: 0 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Overperformed No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Winless but consistent with runner-ups and top-10s, Reddick extracted maximum from 23XI amid hurdles—excellent racecraft in a rebuilding effort.
2025 blended triumph, heartbreak, and emerging stars. While Larson holds the trophy, Hamlin’s dominance and SVG’s flair captured imaginations. NASCAR’s depth shines—on to 2026!
