Ex-Formula 1 driver Logan Sargeant is returning to motorsport, as PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports has announced that the 24-year-old will join its LMP2 team for the last two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races.

Sargeant will drive the No. 52 ORECA 07-Gibson at both the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He will share the car with Naveen Rao, who will also finish the season as PR1’s designated Bronze driver, and former NTT IndyCar Series driver Benjamin Pedersen, who has appeared in every race for the team this year after making an initial commitment for the five-race Michelin Endurance Cup.

“I’m super excited to be jumping back into a car for the last two LMP2 races in IMSA with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports,” said Sargeant. “It’s a great opportunity to drive at two special tracks, Indianapolis and Road Atlanta, and help push for good results with my teammates Ben and Naveen. I’m eager to contribute to a successful couple of races for the team, and bring my knowledge and experience to everyone involved. See you at the track.”

After a successful karting and junior formula career, Sargeant made 36 Formula 1 Grand Prix starts from 2023-24 with Williams Racing. He scored points in the 2023 U.S. Grand Prix, becoming the first American driver to score world championship points in 30 years.

In December, it was announced that Sargeant would race as a Genesis Magma Racing “trajectory driver,” sharing the No. 18 IDEC Sport ORECA with Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert in this year’s European Le Mans Series. Two months later, Sargeant withdrew from the seat and presumably walked away from racing completely, as IDEC Sport stated he was “stepping away from the sport to pursue other interests.”

Since then, however, Sargeant has joined Oliver Gavin Motorsport Management (OGMM), working with the five-time Le Mans 24 Hours class winner to focus on a future in sports car racing.

“Myself and all the crew here at PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports are very excited that Logan is able to join us for the last two endurance events of this season. I am sure Logan’s pace will be top-notch, and everyone will work well together,” PR1 team principal and co-owner Bobby Oergel said today. “We really want to welcome him into our team in a smooth and easy fashion. The opportunity to do some testing ahead of the Indy event should do just that.”

Co-drivers Rao and Pedersen are also looking forward to working with Sargeant in the final two races of the IMSA season.

“While Road America didn’t quite go our way, we had a really great car. The Indianapolis road course demands a lot of precision, and I’m excited to see what our car can do there,” said Rao, who joined PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Road America. “I’m also looking forward to working with our new teammate, Logan Sargeant! We should have a great line-up with Logan and Benjamin for a six-hour race.”

“I’m really excited for the last two rounds and to welcome Logan to the team!” added Pedersen. “We’ve found a lot of speed in the car lately, and our full focus for the last two rounds is 100 per cent on getting a win.”

NASCAR driver and actor Frankie Muniz is raising $25,000 to send kids to a year-round camp in Randolph County. 

Muniz is currently known for racing the number 33 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. As an actor, he is well known for his previous roles in “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Agent Cody Banks.” 

Muniz announced that he has started a social media campaign to raise $25,000 to send 10 kids to Victory Junction, a year-round camp facility in Randleman, N.C., for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions.

According to their website, since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered more than 136,000 camp experiences to children across the nation. 

In addition to traditional camp sessions, the facility also takes camp experiences directly to children and their families at hospitals, clinics and other community partner sites throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. 

Muniz visited the camp on August 5 to participate in the camp’s NASCARnival, a weekly celebration during summer camp that features hot air balloons, games and an actual NASCAR-style put stop. 

During the celebration, Muniz drove Victory Junction’s race car while a pit crew changed tires in front of cheering campers. 

“I recently visited Victory Junction and met some kids whose courage and joy inspired me to help,” Muniz said in a social media post. “This is your chance to help kids have fun, find community and build confidence they’ll carry long after their time at camp.”

Those interested in supporting Muniz’s campaign can visit www.VictoryJunction.org/Frankie to learn more and make a donation.

 Nu Way Concrete Forms, in celebration of the St. Louis-based company’s 70^th anniversary, will serve as title sponsor for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Sept. 6, at World Wide Technology Raceway.

In addition to Nu Way in the entitlement role, St. Louis’ award-winning barbeque company Blues Hog will serve as the presenting sponsor.

The 160-lap, 200-mile event, which will be the Xfinity Series’ regular-season finale, will be branded as the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog. The race, which marks the Xfinity Series return to the St. Louis Metro East facility for the first time in 15 years, will be broadcast live on The CW Network and MRN Radio beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT.

“We are excited to bring on both Nu Way and Blues Hog for the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog NASCAR Xfinity Series race,” said WWT Raceway VP of Sales and Sponsorship Declan O’Neill. “Bringing on two local powerhouses in the St. Louis area shows just how much the support of the community helps build these national events.” 

Both local companies have built strong reputations in their respective industries and have made significant contributions to the St. Louis area. Nu Way has become a staple in the St. Louis region’s construction industry by providing premium supplies, equipment and expert services.

“We are thrilled to be the title sponsor for the Xfinity Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway this year! This event holds special significance as it marks Xfinity’s return to WWTR after 15 years, and it perfectly coincides with Nu Way’s 70th anniversary,” Nu Way Director of Sales Mike Townsend said. “We extend our sincere gratitude to our customers for your continued business and loyalty, and we also want to thank WWTR for being a valued and trusted partner.”

Blues Hog will be bringing a new flavor to the Madison, Ill.-based venue during the NASCAR race weekend. Founded in the 1980s, the company has grown into an award-winning barbeque operation, earning national recognition for its sauces and seasonings. 

“Blues Hog is excited to bring our bold flavors to the WWT Raceway! Looking forward to providing a fun and tasty experience at the track this year,” Blues Hog owner Tim Scheer said. “Stay Saucy, race fans!”

The Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog will be complemented by the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 7. The action-packed weekend also is full of entertainment and music as the Confluence Music Festival returns alongside the NASCAR action. The musical acts will be highlighted by a pre-race performance by rising country star Ella Langley and a post-race concert by award-winning country music artist Jon Pardi.

For the full NASCAR weekend schedule click here. To purchase tickets please visit TIXR. For more information, please visit wwtraceway.com, nuwayinc.com or blueshog.com. 

WWTR PR

One year ago, Austin Dillon pulled one of the most jaw-dropping, did-that-just-happen moves NASCAR has ever seen.

As he raced toward the finish line at Richmond Raceway, Dillon — in need of a victory in one of the season’s final two races to make the Cup Series playoffs — crashed Joey Logano, pushing for the win. Then, as Denny Hamlin appeared poised to win the race instead, Dillon came down the track and wrecked Hamlin as well.

AUSTIN DILLON TURNS JOEY LOGANO TO WIN AT RICHMOND! 👀 pic.twitter.com/R8FXVNrzAK

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 12, 2024

The double-takeout move was allowed to stand in terms of the victory itself — Dillon is listed as the Richmond winner and got to keep the trophy — but several days later, he was stripped of the playoff benefits the win would have provided.

One year later, as the Cup Series returns to Richmond for a Saturday night race, The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck take a look at the legacy of that night, where things stand now, and what it all could mean going forward.

What’s your big takeaway from that night with a year of hindsight?

Bianchi: Standing on pit road in the aftermath, the chain of events felt incredibly surreal. Here was Dillon pulling off this out-of-nowhere upset to clinch a playoff spot (or so we thought at the moment), and as he and his team celebrated, there was also the underlying question of whether he crossed a line to get that win and whether NASCAR should respond and, if so, how they would.

It was fascinating. You had all these varying emotions unfolding at once, from Dillon’s elation to Logano’s anger over being crashed, which he expressed by doing a burnout near Dillon’s pit stall after the race (earning Logano a fine), to team owner Richard Childress’ insistence that his driver (and grandson) did nothing wrong, to NASCAR officials recognizing they had a major problem on their hands with no straightforward resolution.

And then hanging over all this was the playoff implications, as Dillon now was playoff-eligible with Richard Childress Racing set to reap millions of dollars in bonus money.

Gluck: To me, it’s, “OK, now we know there’s a line.” We might not know exactly where that line is, but at least we know a driver cannot win a race (or at least enjoy its most important benefit) by just bowling through competitors — and believe it or not, that wasn’t clear before Richmond last year.

NASCAR had let an awful lot of transgressions slide over the years before this — including Ty Gibbs blatantly taking out his Xfinity Series teammate Brandon Jones for the win at Martinsville in 2022. So while it’s a shame for Dillon that the caution came out and forced the race into overtime — he was going to win the race straight up and grab a playoff berth in one of the defining moments of his career — the fact that his desperation led to multiple wrecks in the same sequence finally proved a bridge too far for NASCAR officials.

Did NASCAR get the call correct?

Bianchi: In retrospect, yes. At the moment, though, there was reason to think Dillon hadn’t done anything different from what other drivers had done in similar situations. After all, NASCAR touts itself as being about rough-and-tumble racing, especially on a short track, and here was a driver who was exhibiting the exact same behavior that is so often used to promote the sport — and with a playoff berth on the line, thereby further justifying his actions in some eyes.

Looking back, however, it is easy to see why NASCAR reacted in the manner it did. Still, it would’ve been better if NASCAR had responded that night and not three days later.

Gluck: My biggest quibble remains with the timing. NASCAR should have been able to identify Dillon crossed the line in the moment — it was incredibly obvious — and penalized him immediately by placing him at the back of the lead lap running order. Instead, officials deliberated until that Wednesday — three days after the race — before deciding Dillon would keep the victory but lose the playoff benefits.

Officials also did not suspend him for a right-rear hook, which arguably should have been in play — that is a safety violation, after all. But NASCAR felt it sent a strong enough message by denying him the playoff benefits, so that’s generally a good enough call. I just wish a ruling had happened in the moment.

Joey Logano was not pleased after Austin Dillon wrecked him to win that night in Richmond. He did a burnout in front of Dillon’s celebratory pit box. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)

Given NASCAR’s rulings from that race and in the year since, what are drivers allowed to do in order to win a race on the last lap?

Bianchi: It’s always going to be a moving line, but if there is one tenet to come from this, it’s that while NASCAR will tolerate physical racing, especially for a win, there is a limit to just how far. And that limit is seemingly that a driver is allowed one egregious move, like intentionally slamming into a competitor to move them out of the way, but two such incidents are not tolerated.

Had Dillon not crashed into Hamlin in addition to Logano, NASCAR likely would not have reacted as it did and might have allowed Dillon to keep his playoff eligibility. In fact, it’s not a stretch to think NASCAR would’ve celebrated Dillon shoving Logano out of the way as a testament to what the sport is all about — “good old short-track racing” — with no real fallout other than Logano having hurt feelings.

Gluck: We really still don’t know. NASCAR doesn’t want to put itself into a box by spelling out specific standards, and Elton Sawyer explained last year’s ruling as being a consequence of the “totality” of the incident and “progression all the way through the turns.”

When The Athletic did an anonymous survey of the playoff drivers last year, the competitors were totally split: Five said it was OK to wreck one person for the win but not two; four said no intentional wrecking for the win was allowed; another four said it was all circumstantial/judgment calls; three said it was OK to wreck a driver for the win as long as it wasn’t a right-rear hook.

This hasn’t really been tested since, at least when it comes to going for a win, so we don’t really know. My best guess is the answer that got the most votes in our poll — you can wreck one driver for the win, but not two — is correct.

What is good and what is bad about NASCAR’s current driving standards?

Bianchi: The thing that separates NASCAR from other high-level racing series is contact is not only allowed but encouraged. This cannot go away, but there does need to be some limit on what is permissible before officials have to step in. Richmond was one such instance.

Ultimately, NASCAR made the correct decision. And despite concerns then that the fabric of the sport could be changed by penalizing Dillon, this hasn’t been the case. Contact is allowed, but not in a reckless manner.

Gluck: NASCAR has improved at officiating these incidents in recent years. We now pretty much all know a right-rear intentional hook is going to result in a suspension (except at a road course). We have seen rough driving penalties issued mid-race. So those are positives, along with the fact NASCAR isn’t going to suddenly be too hands-on with “avoidable contact” type penalties from open-wheel racing.

The negatives remain some of the inconsistency (why wasn’t Austin Cindric suspended for a right-rear hook at Circuit of the Americas earlier this year?) and the timing (NASCAR should be able to immediately diagnose and penalize more of these incidents, like it did with Austin Hill at Indianapolis last month).

Austin Dillon celebrates his win at Richmond last year. He’s credited for the victory but was stripped of the automatic playoff berth because of the wrecks. (Logan Whitton / Getty Images)

That was Richard Childress Racing’s most recent Cup victory and the only one in the last two seasons. When will RCR return to victory lane?

Bianchi: It could happen Saturday night. Nothing that transpired a year ago changes anything regarding RCR’s future prospects.

Gluck: It would be a mistake to think RCR can’t win any week — specifically with Kyle Busch, who is one of the best drivers ever at Richmond. Busch is tied with Bobby Allison for the best average finish ever at the track (for drivers with a minimum of 14 starts) and is tied for third on the all-time Richmond wins list (six). He leads all active drivers in top-10 finishes there (28).

So if RCR has that Dillon magic from last year, why can’t Busch get it done on Saturday night? Even if not, he’s also been great at superspeedways lately — so he could win Daytona, too. They’ll win again at some point soon, you would have to think.

(Top photo of Austin Dillon winning last year’s Richmond race, with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano’s wrecks in the background: Logan Whitton / Getty Images)

Anduril Named Official Defense Partner of NASCAR, Presenting Sponsor for

NASCAR San Diego Weekend, and Entitlement of Second-Ever NASCAR Cup Series Street Race

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 14, 2025) – Today, NASCAR announced Anduril, a renowned defense products company, as the presenting sponsor of the NASCAR San Diego Weekend and NASCAR Cup Series street race entitlement partner of the new event at Naval Base Coronado on June 19-21, 2026.

The headline event of NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril will be the Anduril 250 Race the Base Cup Series street race that honors the 250^th anniversary of the United States Navy. As part of the multi-year agreement, Anduril has also been named the Official Defense Partner of NASCAR.

“NASCAR has long been woven into the fabric of Americana — it’s a sport that connects with fans across generations and reflects the energy and determination that define us,” said Craig Stimmel, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at NASCAR.

“Anduril is an American company that’s pushing boundaries in defense technology, and they bring that same drive and forward-thinking mindset.

“We’re excited to welcome them as the title partner of NASCAR San Diego Weekend and as NASCAR’s Official Defense Partner. It’s a great match — two high-performance teams coming together with a shared vision for the future, both on and off the track.”

The Anduril 250, the second-ever Cup Series street course, will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril will be the first NASCAR event on an active military base.

The Anduril 250 will be preceded by high-energy races for the Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races on Friday, June 19, 2026 and Saturday, June 20, 2026. The official NASCAR San Diego street course layout will be unveiled in the near future.

“NASCAR is one of America’s most iconic platforms with a huge fan base among U.S. service members, veterans and their families, said Jeff Miller, Vice President of Marketing at Anduril.

“Partnering with NASCAR for the Race on the Base is a natural fit reflecting our shared values of technical innovation, speed, and support of our military. We’re proud to be part of an event that celebrates the Navy’s 250th anniversary and honors everyone who serves.”

Anduril builds advanced defense technology products designed to strengthen national security and deter conflict. Its systems — including autonomous aircraft, underwater vehicles, AI-powered sensor platforms, and electronic warfare tools — are used by the U.S. Department of Defense and allied militaries around the world.

Anduril takes a different approach from traditional defense contractors, combining private capital with rapid product development to deliver advanced capability at speed and scale.

The Anduril 250 will be the final race of Prime Video’s five-race Cup Series broadcast window for 2026. The Xfinity Series race will air on The CW and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race will be broadcast by FOX Sports.

Tickets for the 2026 NASCAR San Diego Weekend will go on-sale this fall. Tickets are expected to go fast, so fans can put down a deposit for advance pricing today at NASCARSanDiego.com.

Additional details and elements of the weekend will be announced soon, and fans can follow @NASCARSanDiego on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.

About Anduril:

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold.

Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice, an AI software platform that turns thousands of data streams into a real-time, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

For more information, visit www.anduril.com.

About NASCAR:

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities.

NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series).

The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series.

NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information, visit NASCAR.com and IMSA.com and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook. 

Source: NASCAR Communications | Anduril Communications

It didn’t take long for Donny Schatz to land on his feet. Less than 24 hours following his shock-wave-sending release from Tony Stewart Racing, the 10-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion has landed a ride with Big Game Motorsports for the next seven WoO events as a teammate to reigning series champ David Gravel.

Big Game Motorsports owner Tod Quiring made the news official just before noon E.T. on Thursday. Schatz will carry his traditional No. 15 driving for the Brandon, S.D., team.

“We’re excited to have Donny be a part of the team for the next two and a half weeks,” Quiring said in a statement issued via Inside Line Promotions. “Donny has produced a storied career with his 10 World of Outlaws championships and more than 300 World of Outlaws wins. He is also known as one of the cleanest race car drivers in the history of the sport and he does a tremendous job of taking care of equipment. All of that combined with the support from our crew and driver, David Gravel, made it an easy decision to create this second team while the World of Outlaws are racing close to our shop the rest of August.”

Schatz’s debut with the team begins Friday at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway in the Big O Showdown before Jackson (Minn.) Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., takes the stage Saturday.

After that, the slate continues Tuesday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., before Schatz returns to his homeland in North Dakota on Aug. 22 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks and Aug. 23 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, not far from Schatz’s home.

As of Thursday, Schatz’s final shows with the Big Game team is Aug. 30-31 at the Quiring-owned Huset’s Speedway at the L.G. Everist Huset’s Shootout. Schatz landing with Big Game for the time being allows him to continue his longstanding streak of 1,600 consecutive WoO races competed in. The last WoO event Schatz did not compete in goes back to Atomic Speedway on July 31, 2003. 

Schatz was not immediately available for comment at this time.