Window Of Opportunity: Smith Scores A Surprising Window World 250 Victory – Speedway Digest
The final lap of Saturday’s Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway saw two lead changes, a side-by-side battle among teammates and a winner – Chandler Smith – who took the white flag in third place. Smith emerged victorious after a breathtaking final-lap battle for victory with Front Row Motorsports teammate Layne Riggs and pole […]
The final lap of Saturday’s Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway saw two lead changes, a side-by-side battle among teammates and a winner – Chandler Smith – who took the white flag in third place.
Smith emerged victorious after a breathtaking final-lap battle for victory with Front Row Motorsports teammate Layne Riggs and pole winner Corey Heim, which culminated in Heim spinning out in Turn 2 after contact with Riggs. Smith – who stayed on the bottom lane – drove past the carnage and withstood Riggs’ last-gasp effort entering Turn 3 to register a wholly unexpected victory.
The only lap Smith led on Saturday was the one that counted most.
In what was another enthralling chapter of Truck Series history at North Wilkesboro, Heim had the machine to beat and proved it for most of the afternoon, leading a race-high 162 of 255 laps. His downfall, however, was not pitting when Smith, Riggs and other leaders stopped during a caution period on Lap 214.
Heim went the final 111 circuits on the same set of tires – and nearly won the race in spite of it. The TRICON Garage driver managed his equipment to near-perfection, but Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford slowly caught up to Heim over the final 20 laps. Smith appeared poised to pass him before a caution for Brent Crews’ spin with four laps remaining bunched the field and left Heim in control of the final restart.
With 70 more laps on his tires than the rest of the lead pack, Heim tried to work the high line and hold off Riggs’ unexpected charge from third. Riggs slid under Heim coming off Turn 4 and, as the two entered Turn 1 on the final lap, contact sent Heim spinning. The fracas was a welcome sight for Smith, who dashed under Riggs, held off his teammate’s lunge into the final corner and emerged with his second victory of the season.
Riggs ended up second with Tyler Ankrum third, Daniel Hemric fourth and Grant Enfinger fifth. Ty Majeski, Gio Ruggeiro, Kaden Honeycutt, Kyle Busch and Sammy Smith completed the top 10.
Heim finished 17th after the contact with Riggs sent him spinning toward the inside of the track, while the Front Row duo continued out front.
Heim’s 162 laps led marked a career high – a dominant performance despite not winning the race, nor Stages 1 or 2. Ruggeiro won Stage 1, while Enfinger claimed Stage 2.
CHANDLER SMITH, NO. 38 FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS FORD (Race Winner): “We fought and clawed today. Just getting toward the front of the pack shows how good this Ford F-150 was today. I wasn’t as good as the 11 (Heim), but we had the tire advantage on him. That last restart, I did everything but the right thing. My teammate, Layne Riggs, executed it perfectly – but I’m happy we could bring one home for Front Row Motorsports.”
LAYNE RIGGS, NO. 34 FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS FORD (Runner-Up): “I feel like (Heim) got loose into (Turns) 3 and 4 and gave the bottom up. We were side-by-side and I didn’t fence him. I slid up the track, but I gave him a lane. That’s North Wilkesboro for a Truck win. I feel like if the roles were reversed, it’d probably be the same thing.”
TICKETS: Tickets and camping can be purchased for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race by shopping online at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.
MORE INFO: Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star Week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on X and Instagram or by becoming a Facebook fan.
RCR forced to make changes before Kyle Busch heads to Mexico – Motorsport – Sports
NASCAR heads to Mexico City this weekend for the first points race outside of the United States in the modern era, but while Daniel Suarez has benefited from a special sponsorship agreement due to his Mexican ties, Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have been forced to make changes. While NASCAR has traveled to Mexico […]
NASCAR heads to Mexico City this weekend for the first points race outside of the United States in the modern era, but while Daniel Suarez has benefited from a special sponsorship agreement due to his Mexican ties, Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have been forced to make changes.
While NASCAR has traveled to Mexico for exhibition races, there has never been a competitive Cup Series race south of the U.S. border. NASCAR is looking to expand by adding more international drivers to the stock car series and has taken inspiration from Formula One.
In addition to racing in Mexico, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps has entertained taking the Cup Series to Brazil. However, as Busch and RCR have discovered, switching locations can lead to sponsorship issues.
RCR has been forced to cover several active sponsors ahead of Sunday’s race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Due to advertising laws in Mexico, alcohol sponsors have been covered up.
Some products containing less than six percent alcohol must undergo a permitting process to be authorized. Due to strict regulations, all nicotine, tobacco, and CBD logos have also been covered.
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Casinos and gambling sponsors are permitted if they are licensed in Mexico, but others will be banned. Several NASCAR teams, including RCR, have been covering their haulers ahead of the race, and some cars also need a makeover.
BetMGM and 3Chi have previously sponsored Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet, but both sponsors are banned from advertising in Mexico. Despite the operational changes impacting teams, Phelps is still excited to make history.
“I’m excited. It’s the first time we’ve taken the Cup Series in the modern era outside our own borders,” Phelps told Motorsport.com. “It’s a big stage for us, and we need to make sure we make it.
“I think the Mexican fans are going to come, they’re going to support us, and I think it’s going to be a great show. Our drivers will love the circuit, and maybe, who knows, we can have our drivers, at some point, come to Brazil and have a race in Sao Paulo.”
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Phelps has made it clear that Brazil could be a future destination, as he added: “I’d like to see it happen. Obviously, we need all parties to come together and understand how important that would be for NASCAR in general and for the category.
“But I personally would be very excited about it. We’d like to have a Brazilian (driver) come out of NASCAR Brazil, come and race with us full-time, and, you know, compete for wins and championships.
“So we’re excited about this prospect, I was very impressed with the number of drivers I saw and how fast they were and their abilities, and we’re excited about this happening in the future.”
Tickets On Sale for 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
INDYCAR Public sales for all 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto multiday tickets are underway at hondaindy.com. The 37th edition of the motorsports festival headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns July 18-20 to Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto. The longstanding summer event again will bring high-speed racing action to Toronto’s downtown streets alongside a […]
Public sales for all 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto multiday tickets are underway at hondaindy.com. The 37th edition of the motorsports festival headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns July 18-20 to Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto.
The longstanding summer event again will bring high-speed racing action to Toronto’s downtown streets alongside a festival atmosphere full of family fun with interactive displays and diverse food and beverage options. The weekend offers great value for families, as children 12 and under receive free general admission every day when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
On track, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take on the 1.786-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit built on Exhibition Place near the Lake Ontario shoreline.
On Friday, July 18, Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday, which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. Since 2010, Toronto Indy fundraising has raised over $1 million for the charity.
Fans can further enhance their Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto experience by purchasing a Paddock Pass, which grants access to the “locker room of motorsports.” Spectators looking to get even closer to the action can add a Pit Pass. For children ages 5-12, the Rookie Racers program offers behind-the-scenes experiences including access to the drivers and race cars.
Pricing starts at $85 for 2-Day General Admission for Saturday and Sunday. Fans planning on using public transportation can purchase a GO Combo ticket that includes a 2-Day General Admission ticket and two round-trip GO Transit fares to and from the event for $90 at hondaindy.com/promotions.
Bronze-level 2-Day Grandstand seating is available for $110. Silver and Gold levels are priced at $170 and $235, respectively. The Gold 2-Day Grandstand seat also includes a Paddock Pass ($80 value).
For full ticket pricing and 2025 event information and news, visit hondaindy.com or follow Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on social media using #indyTO.
Factory team refines Porsche 963 setup ahead of 24 Hours of Le Mans
Photo credit: Porsche Porsche Penske Motorsport used Sunday’s test day at the Circuit des 24 Heures to fine-tune its three factory 963 hybrid prototypes ahead of the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. With temperatures just above 20 °C and light clouds, the team completed 194 laps—covering 2,643 km—across two three-hour sessions. Drivers reported a […]
Porsche Penske Motorsport used Sunday’s test day at the Circuit des 24 Heures to fine-tune its three factory 963 hybrid prototypes ahead of the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. With temperatures just above 20 °C and light clouds, the team completed 194 laps—covering 2,643 km—across two three-hour sessions. Drivers reported a consistently balanced car after evaluating multiple setup options and testing new components.
“It was a very productive test day, during which we ticked off a full to-do list with all three cars,” said Urs Kuratle, director of factory racing LMDh. The team ran Michelin medium tyres throughout, anticipating warmer race-week conditions. “We wrapped up the day incident-free, and the drivers provided positive feedback,” added Jonathan Diuguid, managing director at Porsche Penske Motorsport.
Photo credit: Porsche
Formula E world champion Pascal Wehrlein turned his first laps on the 13.626 km circuit in the No. 4 Porsche 963, while reserve driver Nico Müller prepared in the sister No. 5 car. Customer squad Proton Competition also logged 60 laps in its own Porsche 963. In the LMGT3 class, Manthey’s Iron Dames entry (#85) covered 872 km and the No. 90 and No. 92 911 GT3 R cars completed a combined 133 laps, using the unique mix of permanent track and public roads.
Driver feedback was uniformly positive. Felipe Nasr praised progress on brake and body-part testing, Mathieu Jaminet noted room for fine-tuning against a tight field, and Kévin Estre highlighted insights gained despite a late red-flag interruption. Manthey drivers Rahel Frey, Antares Au and Riccardo Pera all reported smooth, incident-free runs and a solid baseline for race preparations.
No on-track action is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. Free practice and qualifying begin Wednesday, and the 24-hour race starts Saturday, 14 June at 4 pm CEST. Coverage in Germany will air on Nitro and Eurosport, with live streaming via the FIA WEC and ACO apps.
Meanwhile, Kaden Honeycutt clocked in at 38.930 seconds (184.947 mph) for the Xfinity Fastest Lap award on lap 93 of Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. Honeycutt finished second in each of the first two stages on Saturday, but was forced to pit road after suffering damage in the late-race flurry of cautions, finishing 21st. […]
Meanwhile, Kaden Honeycutt clocked in at 38.930 seconds (184.947 mph) for the Xfinity Fastest Lap award on lap 93 of Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. Honeycutt finished second in each of the first two stages on Saturday, but was forced to pit road after suffering damage in the late-race flurry of cautions, finishing 21st.
Honeycutt is now seventh in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings, with eight top-10 finishes in 13 races. Stewart Friesen picked up the win in Saturday’s Truck Series event.
NASCAR driver, Michigan native Erik Jones embracing life on and off the track
NASCAR driver, Michigan native Erik Jones embracing life on and off the track – CBS Detroit Watch CBS News The one week of the season that Erik Jones gets to race in his home state, the 29-year-old driver for the No. 43 Toyota made time for not only another race, but to chat with CBS […]
NASCAR driver, Michigan native Erik Jones embracing life on and off the track – CBS Detroit
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The one week of the season that Erik Jones gets to race in his home state, the 29-year-old driver for the No. 43 Toyota made time for not only another race, but to chat with CBS Detroit sports anchor Rachel Hopmayer about his new season of life on and off the track.
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