NASCAR is reportedly working on an agreement with the city of San Diego for a street race, set to take place as early as 2026. While no statements have been made by either party, an announcement is expected next month. A successful deal will pave the way for the sport’s return to Southern California.

A report by The Athletic confirmed that NASCAR explored several options for a race in Southern California since the closure of California Speedway for maintenance and renovation. San Diego was eventually shortlisted, but the exact course of the street race is not known yet.

Talks of NASCAR’s second street race at San Diego arrive weeks before the highly anticipated race in downtown Chicago on July 6, the sport’s first street course. The addition of another street race to the calendar could lead to similar events in other cities, offering a boost to local economies and reaching out to new fan bases.

However, the idea of another NASCAR street race may not go down very well with seven-time Cup Series champion Richard Petty, who admitted that road races don’t represent the sport.

While NASCAR purists and young fans could debate the subject, several street races could be added to the sport’s calendar in the future.

Petty, who is also a NASCAR Hall of Famer, revealed his views on road races after the race weekend in Mexico City. In addition, he also targeted the way drivers are included in the playoffs after winning a Cup Series race, regardless of their position in the standings.

Shane van Gisbergen led the Cup race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit and secured victory with a major lead of 16.5 seconds over runner-up Christopher Bell.

Despite being ranked 30th in the standings, van Gisbergen’s Mexico win helped him secure a spot in the playoffs, prompting Petty to call out the system. Newsweek Sports reported his comments:

“The way they got this thing fixed, where if you win, you’re in. That can’t be right. You got somebody that’s 30th in points that’s going to make the playoffs. Hey man, what happened to the guy that 15th, or 16th, or 18th (that’s) been running good (and) finished good everywhere?

“You’re making a championship situation by winning a road course, which is not really NASCAR to begin with. From that standpoint, I think they’re going to have to jockey around and change some of this kind of stuff.”

NASCAR on Wednesday petitioned U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to order racing teams that aren’t part of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust case to provide financial documents related to costs, revenues and profits since those teams aren’t willing to share them. If Bell refuses, NASCAR insists he should rule that this type of data is “irrelevant at trial.”

Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Spire Motorsports IV, Trackhouse Racing, Penske Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Wood Brothers Racing, RFK Racing, Legacy Motor Club, Hyak Motorsports, Rick Ware Racing, and Haas Factory Team are the teams at issue. Each signed charters and none is a party to the litigation.

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NASCAR contends these teams possess crucial evidence that the association can’t otherwise obtain. This evidence is described as essential for NASCAR to be able to rebut the plaintiffs’ claim that it doesn’t “fairly” share “industry revenues” with teams. Along those lines, NASCAR’s use of charters, which guarantee teams a starting position in NASCAR-sanctioned races but restrict their opportunities to compete in other circuits, is central to the case.

In a brief authored by Tricia Wilson Magee and other attorneys from Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick and Latham & Watkins, NASCAR says it subpoenaed the teams in April and sought 11 categories of documents. After discussion with those teams, NASCAR agreed to narrow its request. But the teams still won’t produce the records, with NASCAR attributing their decision to confidentiality concerns. NASCAR maintains this concern is misplaced. The litigation is governed by a protective order that shields some materials from public access. NASCAR asserts it has offered “extensive assurances” for confidentiality.

As NASCAR tells it, the teams have agreed to only share selected information that would feature redacted and anonymized data. NASCAR argues these limitations would invite “questions” about the admissibility of the data at trial and whether NASCAR’s experts could credibly draw from the data in formulating conclusions.

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Teams, NASCAR argues, could “easily provide” the “ordinary-course financial documents” it seeks. The teams are described as “sophisticated companies” that rely on contemporary accounting practices. Audited financial statements, income statements, cash flow statements and other “ordinary course financials” are already generated by teams, NASCAR suggests.

NASCAR also contends that while it is the league in which teams compete, it nonetheless has “limited visibility into teams’ financial metrics.” Teams take in “substantial revenue from sponsorships” that are “separate from what they receive from NASCAR” in charters. This additional revenue allegedly represents a “major component of the industry revenue” at issue.

Bell, NASCAR argues, shouldn’t permit 23XI Racing and Front Row to accuse NASCAR of unfairly sharing revenue with charter teams if NASCAR can’t ascertain the financial health of those teams. NASCAR makes that point as the Dec. 1 trial date looms. If Bell refuses to order racing teams to divulge financial information and permits NASCAR to be accused of unfairly sharing revenue, and if NASCAR loses the trial, NASCAR would be armed with a potential appellate argument that Bell erred.

Penske Motorsports is owned by Roger Penske and is not related to Penske Media, the parent company of Sportico.

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Today’s car companies have many irons in the fire. Not only are they tasked with engineering, manufacturing and selling the cars of today and tomorrow, but they also have their hands in clothing and accessories collaborations, movies and motorsports.

Motorsports have been a foundational interest in the auto industry since its advent. In recent years, the audience for car racing has hit new highs, thanks in large part to the widespread use of social media amongst drivers and teams, and the success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries about Formula 1 (F1) racing.

Jerry Bruckheimer’s new film, F1, is looking to ride that high to box office success. The movie stars Hollywood’s Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon as well as F1 drivers Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, who co-produced the film with Pitt, Bruckheimer and others.

Mercedes-Benz plays a prominent part in the film, just as it does on F1 circuits across the globe. Its performance arm, Mercedes-AMG, is an official promotional partner of Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures. The company’s SL, G-Class and GT are featured on screen, as are the Mercedes‑AMG Official FIA F1 Safety Car and Medical Car. Mercedes-AMG also worked with the production team to create the race cars used in the movie.

A new model, the 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 APXGP Edition, was created to align with the movie. Its name and styling celebrate the film’s fictional APXGP Formula 1 team.

Mercedes-Benz USA Chief Marketing Officer Melody Lee, who will be appearing on stage as part of Newsweek’s Women’s Global Impact event on August 5 in New York City, told Newsweek, “I think it’s going to be a great classic American, July 4th blockbuster.”

Lee sees the impact of the movie going further than just the box office. “I think that one movie is going to be great for the sport, for all fans of the sport, and I think it’s going to bring new fans to the sport,” she said.

A study released late last year by Nielsen Sports revealed that F1 is the most popular annual sporting series with an audience of 750 million viewers. Over the last three years, interest in F1 has grown 5.7 percent globally, with approximately 50 million new fans following the sport since 2021.

Women are at the core of that movement. Women comprise 41 percent of the F1 fan base, the study revealed. Further, 16–24-year-old females are the fastest-growing fan segment.

Appealing to audiences young and old (and in between) is one of the reasons why Mercedes got involved in the film.

“If you’ve been around for 140 years, like Mercedes-Benz has when it celebrates that anniversary next year, there’s an understanding that the brand has to appeal to multiple generations. It cannot only sell to the ones that can afford the car. It also has to sell itself as a dream and as an aspiration to the younger generations,” Lee said.

“That’s why I always talk about my 11-year-old, who has posters of cars that he has no money to afford. But, that kid is already dreaming about Mercedes-Benz. He’s already dreaming about McLaren. He’s already dreaming about other car brands. It’s really incumbent upon us as an aspirational brand to ensure that we’re thinking as much about the next generation as we are about the ones that are here now. So that’s the only way we preserve the legacy of 140 years,” she continued.

Mercedes-Benz is leveraging its motorsports presence in new ways this year. The company activated at the Miami Grand Prix, creating a hub that showcased the strength of the brand while giving enthusiasts a trackside seat for a weekend full of action, including the F1 Academy race.

F1 Academy is a series where budding female race car drivers compete against each other on the same circuits where F1 competes. Its efforts are led by famed former racer Susie Wolff and supported by other global racing superstars, including Jamie Chadwick. Mercedes fields a team in that series, led by 21-year-old driver Doriane Pin, who finished with the Vice Champion title last season and currently sits atop the series’ standings.

This year, F1 Academy is getting the Netflix treatment that F1 has. It is the subject of its own docuseries, F1: The Academy, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media company.

Women’s interest in cars off the racetrack is growing too. As part of her job, Lee has participated in Mercedes-AMG driving experiences throughout the U.S. “I went to the one in Sonoma [California] last fall, right before Pebble Beach, and then I went to the AMG’s On Ice that we did in Crested Butte, Colorado this past February. And one of the most interesting things that I saw is that there are women who are signing themselves up for these programs.

“No longer, is it a partner or a spouse or a daughter that’s tagging along with a guy for the program. There were women there who had brought themselves there on their own, and even drove by themselves… These women are coming out because of this rising interest in performance and technology and motorsports and all of it coming together. We will continue to use AMG Experiences as a platform for women,” she said.

NASCAR on Wednesday petitioned U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to order racing teams that aren’t part of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust case to provide financial documents related to costs, revenues and profits since those teams aren’t willing to share them. If Bell refuses, NASCAR insists he should rule that this type of data is “irrelevant at trial.”

Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Spire Motorsports IV, Trackhouse Racing, Penske Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Wood Brothers Racing, RFK Racing, Legacy Motor Club, Hyak Motorsports, Rick Ware Racing, and Haas Factory Team are the teams at issue. Each signed charters and none is a party to the litigation. 

NASCAR contends these teams possess crucial evidence that the association can’t otherwise obtain. This evidence is described as essential for NASCAR to be able to rebut the plaintiffs’ claim that it doesn’t “fairly” share “industry revenues” with teams. Along those lines, NASCAR’s use of charters, which guarantee teams a starting position in NASCAR-sanctioned races but restrict their opportunities to compete in other circuits, is central to the case. 

In a brief authored by Tricia Wilson Magee and other attorneys from Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick and Latham & Watkins, NASCAR says it subpoenaed the teams in April and sought 11 categories of documents. After discussion with those teams, NASCAR agreed to narrow its request. But the teams still won’t produce the records, with NASCAR attributing their decision to confidentiality concerns. NASCAR maintains this concern is misplaced. The litigation is governed by a protective order that shields some materials from public access. NASCAR asserts it has offered “extensive assurances” for confidentiality.  

As NASCAR tells it, the teams have agreed to only share selected information that would feature redacted and anonymized data. NASCAR argues these limitations would invite “questions” about the admissibility of the data at trial and whether NASCAR’s experts could credibly draw from the data in formulating conclusions. 

Teams, NASCAR argues, could “easily provide” the “ordinary-course financial documents” it seeks. The teams are described as “sophisticated companies” that rely on contemporary accounting practices. Audited financial statements, income statements, cash flow statements and other “ordinary course financials” are already generated by teams, NASCAR suggests.

NASCAR also contends that while it is the league in which teams compete, it nonetheless has “limited visibility into teams’ financial metrics.” Teams take in “substantial revenue from sponsorships” that are “separate from what they receive from NASCAR” in charters. This additional revenue allegedly represents a “major component of the industry revenue” at issue.

Bell, NASCAR argues, shouldn’t permit 23XI Racing and Front Row to accuse NASCAR of unfairly sharing revenue with charter teams if NASCAR can’t ascertain the financial health of those teams. NASCAR makes that point as the Dec. 1 trial date looms. If Bell refuses to order racing teams to divulge financial information and permits NASCAR to be accused of unfairly sharing revenue, and if NASCAR loses the trial, NASCAR would be armed with a potential appellate argument that Bell erred.

Penske Motorsports is owned by Roger Penske and is not related to Penske Media, the parent company of Sportico.

Spire Motorsports has entered the orbit of the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a massive ownership shift that links NASCAR to one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.

The move comes as billionaire Mark Walter, head of TWG Global, finalizes a $10 billion majority acquisition of the Lakers. TWG already manages a wide range of sports properties, including the Dodgers, Chelsea FC and several motorsport entities. So this is a big moment for cross-sport synergy in American sports.

TWG’s motorsport division launched last year, now includes Spire Motorsports (NASCAR Cup and Truck), Wayne Taylor Racing (IMSA), Walkinshaw Andretti United (Supercars), and partnerships with the Cadillac F1 effort and Andretti Global. Spire, once a mid-tier NASCAR team, now has access to elite infrastructure, capital and marketing muscle.

Journalist Jeff Gluck reported the connection on X, saying Spire Motorsports is now “part of the same family as the Los Angeles Lakers”. According to the New York Times, the Buss family will remain minority owners but Walter’s control means there will be more integration between NBA and NASCAR entities.

TWG’s approach is the same as it is in baseball and soccer and should be the same with Spire Motorsports: consolidate talent, streamline operations and expand global brand reach. For NASCAR that could mean crossover sponsorships, wider entertainment industry reach and insights from adjacent leagues like F1 and MLB.

Timing is everything. LeBron James (central to the Lakers brand) has publicly backed NASCAR’s diversity push. Just last week the LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with RFK Racing to give CeCe Wilson, an aspiring driver from Akron, a full VIP NASCAR experience. The initiative ties into LeBron’s broader efforts to open doors in motorsports, including his past involvement with Bubba Wallace’s Xfinity program.

Also, LeBron’s business partner, Rich Paul, via Klutch Sports, is also playing a bigger role in NASCAR’s commercial growth, recently overseeing the search for a new Xfinity Series sponsor.

With Spire Motorsports under TWG and connected to both LeBron and Klutch, NASCAR has a new level of branding firepower. What was once a niche, southern-rooted sport is now part of a global sports empire.

My love for motorsports started in my childhood in Tunisia, watching races with my family. Fast forward to today, … More about Farah Ben Gamra