INDIANAPOLIS, IN – June 11, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – NHRA announced its “Summer Kickoff” license transfer program today, which offers racers a chance to transfer their license to NHRA from other sanctioning bodies with a limited-time discount during June on one and two-year licenses.

Transferring a license to NHRA allows races to compete at more than 110 NHRA Member Tracks across North America, as well as compete in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and Summit Racing E.T. Series.

A NHRA license also gives competitors a comprehensive list of perks, including:

• Excess medical insurance coverage of $600,000 at your NHRA Member Track.
• An Official NHRA Competition License Card.
• Exclusive discounts with NHRA partners like Summit Racing Equipment and others.
• A 25% off discount for NHRA.tv, which streams live championship drag racing action at NHRA national events and divisional events across the country.
• NHRA National Dragster Magazine online.

After announcing a significant purse increase for the upcoming Summit Racing Series World Championship later this year in Las Vegas, now marks an ideal time for racers to get involved at their local NHRA track.

The discount license transfer program in June also allows a great opportunity for racers to join the largest sanctioning body in drag racing, with the NHRA set to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026, and one offering competitors industry-leading benefits and the most racing options.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for racers to experience NHRA Drag Racing, compete against the best racers in the world and take advantage of the resources, benefits and support that comes from a sanctioning body with more than seven decades of experience,” NHRA Sportsman Manager Jason Galvin said. “We’re excited to welcome new racers and build on what is already the strongest group of sportsman racers in drag racing.”

Racers can click here to download the license transfer coupon. To locate an NHRA Member Track, please click here. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association 

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CONCORD, N.C. – For the first time in recent memory, the NASCAR Cup Series will go international as stock car racing’s premier touring series travels to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

While many attribute the 1998 race in Motegi, Japan as the last time the Cup Series ventured beyond the borders of the United States, the most recent points paying international event dates all the way back to 1958 in Toronto, Canada at the now demolished Canadian National Exhibition Stadium. This means that the Cup Series has not seen a points-paying event outside the United States in over 50 years.  

That’s all about to change with Sunday’s race.

With the course being over 7,000 feet above sea level, thin air pressure is going to have a major effect on the car’s engines and tires. The tight 14-turn track will create a lot of hurdles for the teams to navigate through as they try and tackle this new behemoth. 

The Xfinity Series has more knowledge about the modified 2.417-mile circuit, but much has changed since the last time the lower division turned laps at the track in the 2008 season, namely the cars aero package and race format.

To compensate for the many curveballs ahead of the teams, NASCAR is allowing both touring series two practice sessions on Friday, a rare occurrence in modern regulations.

With the intensity of the regular season’s latter half beginning to ramp up, anything can happen, especially on a track with a lot of unknowns. 

Make sure to check out the full schedule below!

RELATED: Cup Series race results from Michigan International Speedway

Where is NASCAR racing this weekend? 

NASCAR will race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City this weekend.

What time is the NASCAR race?

(All times listed in eastern time)

Friday, June 13

• 11 a.m. – México Series practice and qualifying, no TV
• 1:05 p.m. – Cup Series practice, Prime Video
• 2:05 – Xfinity practice, CW
• 3 – Cup Series practice, Prime Video
• 3:30 – Xfinity practice, CW
• 4:30 – México Series race one, no TV 

Saturday, June 14

• 10:30 a.m. – Xfinity Series qualifying, CW
• Noon – Cup Series qualifying, Prime Video
• 1:45 p.m.- México Series race two, no TV
• 4:30 – Xfinity Series race, CW

Sunday, June 15

What’s Happening?

In the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr did not hold back when talking about Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley’s performance during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Entering the season, hopes were high for Haley. However, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained on Tuesday’s episode of the Dale Jr Download, this hype has fallen dramatically, making Haley appear as the weak link of the three-car team.

“Justin Haley was a good free agent in this sport… He drove for Rick Ware and did some pretty curious, solid runs in that car. And, he has leveraged that into this opportunity at Spire. But since he’s been there, it’s been awful. It has been bad.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt even went on to say, “I felt like that [No. 7 team] had the potential to be the best Spire car.” 

Now, there are a few factors that could have contributed to Haley’s fallout. After all, he was on a new team with a new Crew Chief and former Cup Series champion, Rodney Childers.

Childers, the former long-time Crew Chief for Kevin Harvick, made the jump to Spire this past off-season and, teaming up with a resurgent Haley, looked to take the team to a new level this year. But the two seemingly failed to click early on this year, and ultimately, just nine races into the season, Spire and Childers parted ways.

Neither side gave an exact reason for the split, but most attribute his departure to only further hurting Haley’s 2025 outings. Earnhardt agrees that this departure, one that would affect any driver in Haley’s position, has definitely played into the No. 7 team’s poor performance this season.

“I think that derailed Haley a little bit,” Earnhardt said. “Anytime you have a Crew Chief change mid-season, it’s not awesome, and it hasn’t seemed to have made Haley’s deal much different.”

Around this time last season, Haley was the talk of the town in NASCAR Silly Season. The former long-time staple of Kaulig Racing departed the team following the 2023 season and shockingly went to backmarker Rick Ware Racing for the 2024 season.

Justin Haley: 2024’s Top Silly Season Name

Despite this apparent downgrade, Haley outperformed all expectations in that car and proved to be a viable option for any team looking for a refreshed look in 2025. This hype got to the point where even diehard Hendrick Motorsports fans were calling for Haley to take over duties for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 for this season. 

Ultimately, Spire Motorsports, as part of a flurry of changes this past silly season, swapped long-time driver Corey LaJoie for Haley during the playoffs. Yet, seemingly in better equipment, Haley is barely improving on his stats from the 2024 season.

This performance is almost as shocking as that of former Spire Motorsports driver Zane Smith, who had a similar start to his time with the team in 2024. In his case, however, the former Truck Series Champion turned a major corner during the summer; perhaps his former teammate Haley can do so as the 2025 Cup Series season rolls on.

Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates. 

What’s more thrilling than a high-speed NASCAR race? How about carb-loading right where the cars take off? This summer, Chicago Gourmet is rolling out one of its most daring (and delicious) experiences yet: a five-course Italian tasting menu served smack on the NASCAR Chicago Street Race track.

On Wednesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the race’s start/finish line will transform into the city’s most unexpected fine-dining venue, blending Michelin-caliber cuisine with pit-lane vibes. As part of the Chicago Gourmet Festival’s new “Culinary World Series,” the event marks a high-octane kickoff to the city’s biggest food celebration and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to toast with wine where tires usually burn rubber.

RECOMMENDED: The 25 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2025

The chef lineup is stacked with Chicago stars, including Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno), Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies) and Steve Maak (Levy Restaurants). The night’s theme: bold Italian flavors, dished out trackside with flair.

Diners can expect signature race-day cocktails from Jose Cuervo (the official tequila of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, naturally) and a “Cup Series” of wine pairings from legendary Italian winery Marchesi Antinori. There’s even an emcee—culinary personality, Catherine De Orio—to steer the evening along.

Tickets cost $250 per person, and proceeds benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the state’s hospitality workforce.

This isn’t Chicago Gourmet’s only sports-forward event this year. Friday, July 25, brings a Duck Dog face-off at the Crosstown Classic, and Wednesday, August 20 features a tribute dinner to Jackie Robinson led by chefs from Virtue.

But the NASCAR dinner is the wildest lap yet. Because why just watch a race, when you can eat a truffled raviolo where the rubber meets the road?

Event Overview

· Event: Viva Mexico 250

· Time/Date: 3pm EDT on Sunday, June 15

· Location: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

· Layout: 14-turn, 2.41 mile track

· Format: 242 miles/200 laps | Stages: 20/45/100

· TV/Radio: PRIME / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

Hyak Motorsports heads to Mexico City for the first time this weekend with FunPops. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was constructed in 1959 and is one of the most historic and distinctive racetracks in the world of motorsports. The NASCAR Cup Series has not raced internationally in 25 years, cementing this race in NASCAR history.

The No. 47 Chevrolet will feature the iconic red, white & blue FunPops branding once again this weekend. This partnership between Hyak Motorsports and FunPops bring a nostalgic flair to the track while delivering excitement to fans of all ages. Both brands hope to continue this long term collaboration.

In preparation for the Viva Mexico 250, Hyak Motorsports is focused on staying out of trouble early in the race and figuring out the track as the weekend progresses. Rain is forecasted and that will certainly challenge everyone since rain tires will be an option.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet for Hyak Motorsports:

“It’s really exciting to head to Mexico City for the first time. Racing in a new country is always a unique experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing the fans, learning the track, and soaking in the culture. There’s a lot of unknowns, but that’s part of what makes it fun—we’re ready for the challenge. It’s awesome to have FunPops with us for this historic race.”

Hyak Motorsports PR