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Wickens proves he’s ready for his new challenge

Robert Wickens went into his first race of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Long Beach with a simple goal: “To leave with our heads held high.” The Canadian undoubtedly did that over the course of his maiden event aboard a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R specially adapted to allow him to drive […]

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Robert Wickens went into his first race of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Long Beach with a simple goal: “To leave with our heads held high.” The Canadian undoubtedly did that over the course of his maiden event aboard a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R specially adapted to allow him to drive with hand controls. But there was also a feeling of what might have been for Wickens and team-mate Tommy Milner.

The positives included the 2nd generation electronic brake system developed by Bosch Motorsport proving “flawless from start to finish” during the 100-minute race. It allowed him to show his pace competing at this level of motorsports for the first time since returning into professional racing after his life-changing accident in IndyCar back in 2018.

Wickens ended up fastest in second free practice as he threaded his GT Daytona class DXDT Racing Chevy between the walls on the daunting 1.97-mile Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit. He then ended up just over half a second from pole position in qualifying despite a side-swipe from another car on his hot lap — he completed his lap with damaged suspension.

“It was all sunshine and rainbows going into qualifying,” says Wickens, a driver who has always felt an affinity with street circuits. “We thought if we do everything right and play our cards right, we have a shot at pole on debut. Frankly, if you had told me that last week, I would have said you are dreaming.

“But we ended up eighth. The electronic hand control system from Bosch was doing everything I needed it to do. That’s why it hurts that we didn’t get to maximise my qualifying.”

Wickens regards the system developed by Bosch for the Corvette as a breakthrough that has allowed him to take the next step of his racing comeback with a programme in the five IMSA sprint races aboard the Corvette. It is, says Jordan Smart, motorsport application engineer at Bosch Motorsport, “deeply integrated with the car”.

The brakes on the Hyundai TCR car in which Wickens returned to competition in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge support series were based on hydraulic braking. Now, the Bosch Electronic Brake System (EBS), explains Smart, allows the inputs Wickens makes on the controls on the steering wheel to create “a little electrical signal that is converted into brake pressure” at the wheel. “It’s true brake-by-wire.”

Wickens and Milner went into the Long Beach race on 12 April with ambitions to improve on eighth place on the grid, though with one proviso. Driver changes are an integral part of the IMSA series and DXDT knew that come the race it would lose time to its rivals in the pits.

“It just takes a little more time currently with the position we are in with Robert having to be lifted out of the car,” says Bryan Sellers, DXDT’s programme manager on the IMSA team. “We have a lot of moving pieces with getting Robert out, with getting the next driver in.”

That loss of time resulted in Milner falling to P10 from the seventh position out of which Wickens ducked into the pits. The longtime factory Corvette driver made it as high as fifth, but as he passed a BMW for that position he receives a tap on the rear that dislodges the bodywork.

Race control demands Milner pits to have the errant bodywork properly secured, the delay resulting in a 15th- place finish in class for the DXDT Chevy.

“Safety is the top priority and after having some contact our rear bumper was a little bit loose, and they gave us a black flag to pit for repairs,” explains Wickens. “Our race was more or less over at that point, so we finished whatever it was. I don’t think it tells the whole story.”

“That’s racing,” says Smart. “The system we have developed gave Robert the potential and the pace was there. That was the key takeaway for us: we provided him the tool to get to that level.”

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Porsche young drivers take on Spa 24 Hours

Photo credit: Porsche Porsche Motorsport North America’s Selected Drivers series continues its global push this weekend as Laurens Hartog and Tom Sargent prepare to compete in the 24 Hours of Spa. Both drivers will pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R entries at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with the race scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. EDT on […]

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Photo credit: Porsche

Photo credit: Porsche

Porsche Motorsport North America’s Selected Drivers series continues its global push this weekend as Laurens Hartog and Tom Sargent prepare to compete in the 24 Hours of Spa. Both drivers will pilot Porsche 911 GT3 R entries at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with the race scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 28.

Hartog arrives fresh from a podium finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, while Sargent is making his Spa debut after racing at the Six Hours of Watkins Glen earlier this month. Hartog has twice won endurance events at Spa, including the Porsche 992 Endurance Cup 12-Hour and a 24-Hour Series race. Sargent earned a Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship runner-up spot in 2023 and captured a GT World Challenge victory with GMG Racing in 2024.

Both drivers were named to the PMNA Selected Drivers roster alongside Riley Dickinson in recognition of their success in Carrera Cup North America. Hartog is the defending series champion, and Sargent finished directly behind Dickinson in 2023. The Selected Drivers program provides manufacturer support, expanded race opportunities and mentorship across GT and endurance platforms.

Volker Holzmeyer, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, praised the group’s international impact and wished them luck at what is billed as the world’s largest GT3-only event. In addition to Hartog’s Dinamic GT entry and Sargent’s Wright Motorsports lineup, a total of 75 GT3 cars from 10 manufacturers will contest the race across five driver-ranking classes.





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Dale Earnhardt Jr. trolls Hendrick Motorsports after NASCAR levied suspension

Feeling fresh off his first win as a crew chief in his first race on the box, Dale Earnhardt Jr. trolled his Hendrick Motorsports friends. Dale Jr. helped lead Connor Zilisch to the win at Pocono. It was the young NASCAR driver’s first win at an “oval” track. There was a bit of criticism, or […]

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Feeling fresh off his first win as a crew chief in his first race on the box, Dale Earnhardt Jr. trolled his Hendrick Motorsports friends. Dale Jr. helped lead Connor Zilisch to the win at Pocono. It was the young NASCAR driver’s first win at an “oval” track.

There was a bit of criticism, or more dismissal, over Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his first race as a crew chief. A few people were talking about “war rooms” and how connected the crew chiefs are to the tracks, even when they are suspended.

No matter the outside noise, Dale Jr. appears to want to do it again. Chase Elliott’s No. 17 car was taken back to the Research and Development Center for a teardown. Well, the Hendrick Xfinity Series team got caught with a “main frame rail conical receiver violation.”

Adam Wall was the crew chief, and he’s suspended for three races. So, Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he’s going to hit up Greg Ives and see if he can fill in for the 17 team.

Ives has been at Hendrick Motorsports for years, from mechanic to crew chief. In the Cup Series, he’s worked with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Alex Bowman. He recently worked as the crew chief for JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier in the Daytona 500.

Could Dale Jr. convince his former crew chief to let him work on the 17 car? I’m not so sure. Ives is helping develop Corey Day in the Xfinity Series in that car. Maybe they need a guy to catch tires on pit stops. Earnhardt proved he can do both at Pocono.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was thrilled to win as crew chief

With Mardy Lindley watching at home and helping as much as he could, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a great debut as crew chief. He also had his buddy Steve Letarte up there with him. So, Connor Zilisch was in good hands.

I mean, there were many chances that Earnhardt could have ruined things. He was on the pit box; he ultimately had the final say on things. If he made one decision for whatever reason against Lindley or Letarte’s advice, it could have cost them the race. Heck, he was grabbing tires! So, he could have easily caused a pit road penalty.

Besides, it was great to see him after the race. That win meant a lot to Dale Jr. However it got done, it got done.

“Yeah, it sure was [fun],” Earnhardt said on The CW broadcast after the win. “When we have an issue like this with somebody being suspended, and uh, Mardy and everybody, they know what to do. Just a great job, putting us in a position to succeed. And we had a lot of things go our way.

“A lot of good luck. Great strategy. Had a little help from Letarte up here. I wasn’t not gonna have Steve Letarte not get on this pit box after the races we won together in 2014. So, he was a big help. But Pat, everybody on this team, just amazing all weekend long. And what a great race car driver. Connor Zilisch is going to be a big deal in this sport for a long time. So, a lot of fun for me today!”



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Rick Ware Racing agrees to sell to T.J. Puchyr, who wants to expand team

According to a report from the Associated Press, T.J. Puchyr has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing and expand it into a three-car team by 2027. Now, many fans are likely wondering who Puchyr is, but it is a name familiar to those in the NASCAR garage. He is a former owner […]

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According to a report from the Associated Press, T.J. Puchyr has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing and expand it into a three-car team by 2027.

Now, many fans are likely wondering who Puchyr is, but it is a name familiar to those in the NASCAR garage. He is a former owner at Spire Motorsports alongside Jeff Dickerson, helping to build it into the strong organization it now is. They purchased Furniture Row Racing’s charter following the 2018 season and formed Spire together, which now runs three full-time entries and has contended for multiple race wins this year. Puchyr has since sold his stake in Spire and is no longer connected to the team.

Per the AP, the deal would keep Rick Ware’s son Cody as one of the drivers. RWR currently runs one full-time, charted car, but they are also leasing another charter to RFK Racing for the No. 60 Ford in a two-year agreement. RWR is also in the middle of a lawsuit with Legacy Motor Club, who claims RWR backed out of a signed deal and that they owe them a charter for the 2026 season. 

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Photo by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Ford Mustang is currently last in the championships standings among the 36 chartered teams, placing no higher than 24th in any race this year.

“I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level, and I think we can compete with these guys,” said Puchyr in an interview with the Associated Press. “I think we can build it brick-by-brick and it’s going to take people, money and time. It’s not lost on me that [RWR] is the 36th-place car in the garage, we all see it. But I believe we can make this a competitive organization, even a winner.”

There are a lot of moving parts with this deal, and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds in the months to follow. 

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Daniel Suárez Faces Trackhouse Future Turmoil After JGR Breakup and Sponsorship Betrayal

In a year marked by turmoil and uncertainty, NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez found himself at the center of a storm of betrayal and upheaval. The shocking details of his breakup with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) after Toyota and sponsors turned their backs on him have now come to light, revealing a tale of resilience and […]

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In a year marked by turmoil and uncertainty, NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez found himself at the center of a storm of betrayal and upheaval. The shocking details of his breakup with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) after Toyota and sponsors turned their backs on him have now come to light, revealing a tale of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc across various industries, NASCAR was not spared from its effects. The 2020 season came to an abrupt halt, leaving teams scrambling to navigate the new normal of racing under strict protocols and financial strain. For Suárez, who had spent over four years at JGR, the sudden policy shifts and departures of key personnel created a sense of instability within the team. The Mexican driver admitted that it never felt like he was part of a winning environment, with crew chiefs and engineers constantly in flux.

The pandemic-induced sponsor cuts further exacerbated Suárez’s challenges, leading him to make multiple moves between teams, from Gibbs to Stewart-Haas, and eventually to Trackhouse Racing. Each transition tested his mettle and reinforced his focus on the ultimate prize. Suárez’s experience underscored the crucial role of trust in the world of NASCAR, where loyalty can quickly dissipate in the face of financial turmoil.

Speaking candidly on the Dale Jr. Dirty Mo podcast, Suárez revealed the harsh reality of dwindling sponsorships in the wake of the pandemic. What was once a promising partnership with Toyota and JGR crumbled as sponsor commitments evaporated, leaving the driver with limited resources to compete at the highest level. The financial strain was felt industry-wide, with NASCAR teams grappling with a significant drop in sponsorship revenue.

Despite the setbacks, Suárez approached each new opportunity with unwavering determination. His brief stint with Gaunt Brothers may not have yielded the desired results, but it showcased his relentless drive to succeed against all odds. Now, at Trackhouse Racing, Suárez faces another crossroads as his contract nears its end. With one win under his belt and a precarious position in the standings, the pressure is on for the Mexican driver to deliver results and secure his future in the sport.

As Suárez navigates the uncertainties of his racing career, his positive attitude and commitment to success have not gone unnoticed. Even in the face of potential upheaval at Trackhouse, the driver remains focused on achieving both personal glory and team success. The coming months will test Suárez’s resilience once again, as he strives to turn the lessons learned from past betrayals into a pathway to sustained competitiveness on the track.



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‘Truck & Tractor Pull’ to bring three nights of motorsports to Arcola

ARCOLA, Ind. (WPTA) – A truck & tractor pull is set to bring three nights of motorsports to western Allen County. From Thursday, June 26 to Saturday, June 28, the 2025 Arcola National Truck & Tractor Pull will be happening in Branning Park. The event held by the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with […]

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ARCOLA, Ind. (WPTA) – A truck & tractor pull is set to bring three nights of motorsports to western Allen County.

From Thursday, June 26 to Saturday, June 28, the 2025 Arcola National Truck & Tractor Pull will be happening in Branning Park.

The event held by the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the National Tractor Pullers Association invites competitors and fans to take part in three nights of motorsports.

Gates open at 5 p.m. nightly, with pulls beginning at 7 p.m. Each night will feature a variety of vehicle classes.

RELATED: Husband-wife duo compete in Arcola Truck and Tractor Pull

Tickets for the event are $14 on Thursday for people 13 and up, $18 on Friday and Saturday for people 13 and up, $5 for children between the ages of 6 and 11, and free for children under the age of 6.

Founded in 1954 as part of Arcola Days, organizers say the Arcola National Truck & Tractor serves as a key fundraiser for the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department.

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Italian supercar set to debut at Monterey Motorsports Festival

The Monterey Motorsports Festival announced the U.S. debut of the Italian-made Perala S supercar during Car Week in August.The car will make its U.S. debut at Car Week. Under the hood, it has a 621 horsepower twin-turbo 3-liter V-6 engine. They say it was inspired by the Maserati Boomerang concept car from the 70s. Instead […]

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The Monterey Motorsports Festival announced the U.S. debut of the Italian-made Perala S supercar during Car Week in August.The car will make its U.S. debut at Car Week. Under the hood, it has a 621 horsepower twin-turbo 3-liter V-6 engine. They say it was inspired by the Maserati Boomerang concept car from the 70s. Instead of traditional doors, the entire front comes unhinged.If you want to get a glimpse of it in person, they plan to debut it at Car Week on August 16 at the Monterey Motorsports Festival. General admission tickets for adults run $119, with lower-priced options available for seniors and those under the age of 18.

The Monterey Motorsports Festival announced the U.S. debut of the Italian-made Perala S supercar during Car Week in August.

The car will make its U.S. debut at Car Week. Under the hood, it has a 621 horsepower twin-turbo 3-liter V-6 engine.

They say it was inspired by the Maserati Boomerang concept car from the 70s. Instead of traditional doors, the entire front comes unhinged.

If you want to get a glimpse of it in person, they plan to debut it at Car Week on August 16 at the Monterey Motorsports Festival.

General admission tickets for adults run $119, with lower-priced options available for seniors and those under the age of 18.



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