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Young’s Motorsports Texas Motor Speedway Team Preview – Speedway Digest

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team: Driver: Nathan Byrd Primary Partner(s): Champion Health Inc. Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST 2025 Driver Points Position: 26th 2025 Owner Points Position: 30th Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies Notes of Interest: ● Welcome Back: The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season returns to action this weekend following a one-week break, with Young’s […]

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No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Nathan Byrd

Primary Partner(s): Champion Health Inc.

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2025 Driver Points Position: 26th

2025 Owner Points Position: 30th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

● Welcome Back: The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season returns to action this weekend following a one-week break, with Young’s Motorsports proud to have rookie Nathan Byrd back behind the wheel of the team’s flagship No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

● About Nathan: Byrd, 24, began racing go-karts in 2018, just after graduating High School, and he entered his first car race in February 2020.

Since then, the Goodyear, Ariz. native has raced over 30 types of cars in 348 total races at 67 different race tracks, effectively becoming one of the most diverse and interesting race car drivers in the world.

Completing more than 300 races in the first four years of his career, Byrd is no stranger to piloting race cars.

In 2024, the Indianapolis, Ind. resident turned his attention to NASCAR. He successfully made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Portland International Raceway and delivered a respectable 21st-place finish for DGM Racing.

In September, Byrd made his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series debut at Kansas Speedway, earning a respectable 19th-place finish after starting 32nd.

● All-Aboard!: For the eighth of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Champion Health Inc. will serve as the primary marketing partner for Friday night’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 167-lap race.

Champion Health Inc. has built a foundation on two valuable principles: Honesty and Integrity. Our faith and values stem from the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.”

You can count on us to lead by example, be excellent stewards of your bottom line, and make your life less complicated. We are committed to giving you a first-class experience in everything that we do and providing exceptional and personalized service to each of our clients that is second to no one.

We understand the complexities of healthcare and its benefits. We constantly evaluate our solutions based on the current healthcare and benefits landscape, which keeps us focused on what new, innovative concept or product could be better for you.

By partnering with us, we will deliver a better benefits solution than you can get anywhere else.

● Nathan Byrd Truck Series Texas Motor Speedway Stats: Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway will mark Nathan Byrd’s first career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start in the “Lone Star State.”

The race continues the fast-paced opening stretch of the 2025 Truck Series season and will be part of a tripleheader weekend alongside the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series for the seventh time this year.

Kicking off the weekend, the Truck Series is expected to deliver its signature thrilling action under the lights in Fort Worth, Texas.

The excitement continues Saturday afternoon with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ 200-lap Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, promising another edge-of-your-seat showdown.

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, May 4, with the NASCAR Cup Series taking center stage for the Würth 400.

Texas Motor Speedway serves as the site of the eighth race of an expanded 2025 Truck Series calendar, which has grown by two races compared to the 2024 season.

● Nathan Byrd Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Texas, Byrd has 10 career Truck Series starts with an improving average finish of 26.2.

The popular driver made his Truck Series debut for the family-owned team at Kansas Speedway in September, finishing an impressive 19th. He returned to the team in October at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway before drawing the curtain on the 2024 season by participating in the year’s final race at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.

So far in 2025, Byrd has started the first seven Truck Series races at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and most recently at Rockingham (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● Rockingham Speedway | Black’s Tire 200 Race Recap: In the seventh race of the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports and rookie driver Nathan Byrd continued their commitment to development and race-day growth during the series’ return to Rockingham Speedway.

Byrd qualified his No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado 28th, successfully securing a spot in the field based on qualifying speed for the seventh consecutive weekend.

Throughout the 200-lap race, Byrd impressed with his adaptability. Despite battling grip issues, the rookie adjusted to the changing track conditions and posted competitive lap times across the first two stages.

In the final stage, Byrd continued his march forward and managed the race’s fuel strategy challenges to bring home a strong 14th-place finish, marking his best result of the 2025 season.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 37th and 38th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of fifth with Xfinity Series standout Austin Hill at the wheel in the 2018 edition of the JAG Metals 350 on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 23.3 and an average finish of 21.1 in 36 Texas Motor Speedway starts overall.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 516 starts from 70 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.2 and an average finishing position of 22.2.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Nathan Byrd, please visit byrdracing.com, like him on Facebook (Nathan Byrd), and follow him on Instagram (@nathanjbyrd) and X |Twitter (@nathanjbyrd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Nathan Byrd Pre-Race Quotes:

On Texas Motor Speedway: “I think Texas will be a very exciting race to run this weekend.

“I hear that it’s a treacherous race track, and it takes some confidence to run fast around there. I’m looking forward to challenging myself with another new and very fast track and building more confidence as a truck racer.”

On Texas Motor Speedway Preparation: “I’ve been watching every scrap of truck racing and onboard I can get my hands on and talking to the Young’s Motorsports team to fill in the gaps and give me things to think about while I study video.

“I’ve also hit the simulator to get a general feel and understanding of the track and its racing. However, the pace you can run on the sim isn’t super realistic, so I’m taking it with a grain of salt and cross-referencing it with the footage I can watch.”

On Goals at Texas Motor Speedway: “I think a top 20 finish this weekend would be a very satisfying finish that would reveal my continued improvement as a driver and a good, competitive truck from the team.

“If we can nail things and I excel at this track despite my lack of experience, it would be amazing if we were in the conversation for another top 15. One step at a time, though!”

On 2025 Season: “Out of 10, I would rate our season thus far as a 7/10.

“I’m happy with the progression I’ve made with the team’s hard work and support, and the 7/10 reflects the progress we continue to make and the struggles we’ve had thus far.”

On Rockingham Speedway Finish: “I think the top 15 at Rockingham was very important for my confidence as a driver and a strong declaration about the team’s hard work in bringing a super strong truck to the track.

“Despite the fact that there was a lot of attrition at Rockingham and trucks out of the race by the end, I think we still proved that the Byrdman | Young’s Motorsports combo was truly competitive and 100% a top 20-driver and truck combination, which has been my goal from the beginning of the year.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to make our package more and more competitive and to keep progressing in our pace and program.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Stefan Parsons

Primary Partner(s): Trophy Tractor

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Rodney Rood

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

● Glad to Have You Back: This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Cornelius, N.C. native Stefan Parsons as the driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the second time in 2025.

Parsons returns to the organization for the first time since competing at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in March, where he qualified 22nd and earned a respectable 18th-place finish.

Prior to Homestead, Parsons previously competed for Young’s Motorsports during the 2023 season, making two starts, including races at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track in April.

Parsons is slated to run a limited NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series schedule for Young’s Motorsports throughout the 2025 season.

● About Stefan: Stefan Parsons, 26, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Parsons is one of the most well-known drivers in the NASCAR community. When he isn’t racing, he is always the first driver to volunteer his time working for teams on the side.

Often praised for his mentality of “doing whatever it takes” to earn a spot in NASCAR’s top ranks, his hard work and endless efforts translate to value for the marketing partners he aligns himself with.

Parsons is also the son of television analyst and former NASCAR driver Phil Parsons and the nephew of former NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Famer Benny Parsons.

● All Board: Trophy Tractor will serve as the primary marketing partner of Parsons’ No. 20 Chevrolet RST for Friday night’s 167-lap race.

Trophy Tractor offers a cost-effective alternative to the purchase and rental of new equipment with quality, low-hour used equipment.

We specialize in the sale and rental of haul trucks, loaders, dozers, scrapers, excavators, compactors, graders, and water equipment. Trophy Tractor serves mines, quarries and contractors around the world.

We maintain a multi-million dollar inventory of new, low-hour, and reconditioned equipment.

Visit their website at http://www.trophytractor.com.

● Stefan Parsons Truck Series Texas Motor Speedway Track Stats: Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway will mark Stefan Parsons’ second career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start in the “Lone Star State.”

Parsons earned a track-best ninth-place finish after starting 25th in the spring 2024 edition of the SpeedyCash.com 250 while driving for Henderson Motorsports.

The race continues the fast-paced opening stretch of the 2025 Truck Series season and will be part of a tripleheader weekend alongside the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series for the seventh time this year.

Kicking off the weekend, the Truck Series is expected to deliver its signature thrilling action under the lights in Fort Worth, Texas.

The excitement continues Saturday afternoon with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ 200-lap Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, promising another edge-of-your-seat showdown.

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, May 4, with the NASCAR Cup Series taking center stage for the Würth 400.

Texas Motor Speedway serves as the site of the eighth race of an expanded 2025 Truck Series calendar, which has grown by two races compared to the 2024 season.

● Stefan Parsons Truck Series Stats: From 2018 to 2025, Parsons has 23 starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, highlighted by a career-best sixth-place finish at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2024, driving the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado for Henderson Motorsports.

In addition to Henderson Motorsports, Parsons also made Truck Series starts for MAKE Motorsports, CMI Motorsports, Glory 2 God (G2G) Racing, Premium Motorsports, and this weekend for Young’s Motorsports.

● Calling the Shots: Industry veteran Rodney Rood will guide Parsons as crew chief of the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado.

He will be the crew chief for his second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race on Friday night.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 37th and 38th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of fifth with Xfinity Series standout Austin Hill at the wheel in the 2018 edition of the JAG Metals 350 on Friday, November 2, 2018.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 23.3 and an average finish of 21.1 in 36 Texas Motor Speedway starts overall.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 516 starts from 70 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.2 and an average finishing position of 22.2.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Stefan Parsons, please visit stefanparsons.com, like him on Facebook (Stefan Parsons Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@stefan_parsons) and Twitter (@StefanParsons98).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Race Information:

The SpeedyCash.com 250 (167 laps | 250.5 miles) is the eighth of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2025 schedule. A 25-minute practice will occur on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 1:35 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 2:40 p.m. The field will take the green flag later that day, shortly after 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET), with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the NASCAR Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series

Texas Motor Speedway | Andy’s Frozen Custard 300

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Anthony Alfredo

Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc.

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2025 Driver Points Position: 23rd

2025 Owner Points Position: 24th

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

● Year Two, Full Throttle: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced that NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran Anthony Alfredo would compete full-time for the team in its second year of Xfinity Series competition.

Alfredo is driving the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race schedule, which continues this Saturday afternoon with the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The 2025 season marks Young’s Motorsports’ sophomore campaign in the series, following a promising debut year with rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel.

● About Anthony: A popular driver, Alfredo, a native of Ridgefield, Connecticut, joins Young’s Motorsports with an array of Motorsports experience, including starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, respectively.

The 2025 season will mark Alfredo’s fourth full-time Xfinity Series campaign, and he joins the Mooresville, N.C.-based team after spending the 2024 season with Our Motorsports.

The 25-year-old finished the 2024 Xfinity season 15th in the championship driver standings, collecting an Xfinity Dash 4 Cash win at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and adding two more top-fives and seven top-10s to his impressive statistics in 129 career Xfinity Series starts.

● All-Aboard!: For the 12th of 33 Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Texas-based Young’s Building Systems and Randco, who partner with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as the primary partners on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 250-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Since 1981, Young’s Building Systems has been providing West Texas with all their metal building needs. This family-owned and operated business has become an industry favorite due to the experience gained and the professional results completed. Young’s Building System is a division of Randco Industries, Inc. We have expanded into a company that has the ability to erect any type of building, from a small single story to a city high-rise.

Our customers have multiple uses for our buildings, including commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, skid-mounted buildings and compressor station buildings.

We also have a team that specializes in stairs and railings of all shapes and sizes. Young’s Building Systems is fully insured for your peace of mind, so we carry workmen’s compensation and general liability coverage that goes above and beyond State requirements.

Our company is fully equipped with moving and lifting equipment along with compressors, generators and welding equipment. We have the tools and equipment needed to support large, demanding projects. Our work ethic is based on the principles of quality, promptness, and customer experience.

Young’s Building Systems continuously raises our standard of excellence and works hard to make sure that each and every one of your needs are met.

● Anthony Alfredo Xfinity Series Texas Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 will mark Anthony Alfredo’s seventh career NASCAR Xfinity Series start in the “Lone Star State.”

In his previous six starts at the 1.5-mile Texas oval, Alfredo has recorded one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

His best result came during the fall 2020 edition of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250, where he powered from 18th to a career-best third-place finish while driving for Richard Childress Racing.

Overall, he holds a solid Xfinity Series average finish of 17.5 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The Ridgefield, Connecticut native also brings NASCAR Cup Series experience to the incredibly fast Texas layout, having made one Cup start at the track, finishing 29th in the 2021 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 for Front Row Motorsports.

Now 11 races into the 2025 season with 22 races remaining, Alfredo and the Young’s Motorsports team are focused on making a push toward the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. A strong performance — or a breakthrough win — in Saturday’s race could be a pivotal moment in their postseason pursuit.

The Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 is part of a packed tripleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

The action kicks off Friday, May 2, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250, followed by Saturday’s 200-lap Xfinity Series showdown.

The weekend wraps up on Sunday, May 4, with the NASCAR Cup Series taking center stage for the Würth 400.

● Anthony Alfredo Xfinity Series Career Stats: Entering Texas, Alfredo has 129 NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best third-place finish twice, most recently at Talladega Superspeedway after starting 11th in the 2024 edition of the Ag-Pro 300 for Our Motorsports.

Since 2020, he has earned one pole, five top-five, and 23 top-10 finishes and has an average finish of 19.6.

● Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway | Ag-Pro 300 Race Recap: The NASCAR Xfinity Series was part of a jam-packed superspeedway weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Known for their competitive pace on superspeedways, Young’s Motorsports entered the weekend with optimism, with Anthony Alfredo looking to build on his strong 19th-place starting position in the season’s

second Xfinity Series superspeedway race.

From the drop of the green flag, Alfredo showcased the potential of his No. 42 Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro, cleverly drafting toward the front of the field.

An unscheduled pit stop during Stage 1 set the team back, but not out. Alfredo capitalized on the free pass at the conclusion of the opening stage to rejoin the lead lap.

Running inside the top 15 throughout much of Stage 2 and Stage 3, a late-race restart provided Alfredo the opportunity to surge forward, ultimately capturing a sixth-place finish—his best Xfinity Series result of the 2025 season.

Talladega delivered Young’s Motorsports their best finish of the year and marked the team’s third consecutive top-15 finish, dating back to Bristol Motor Speedway in early April.

With 11 races now completed, the No. 42 team continues to build momentum and remains focused on further improvement as the season heads into its critical summer stretch. The group is determined to lower its current average finish of 23.0 and maintain its upward trajectory.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Alfredo as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 142nd NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 141 races, he has four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 12th race will be his eighth tango at Texas Motor Speedway as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway: This weekend’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 will mark Young’s Motorsports’ second NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance at the highly fast Texas Motor Speedway.

Last spring, rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. finished 31st after starting 31st, completing all but two laps.

Beyond its growing Xfinity résumé, the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization brings a wealth of experience to Texas through its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series program.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 23.3 and an average finish of 21.1 in 36 Truck Series Texas Motor Speedway starts overall.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 44 starts and maintains an average starting position of 26.5 and an average finish of 23.3.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Anthony Alfredo, please visit AnthonyAlfredo.com, like him on Facebook (Anthony Alfredo Racing), follow him on Instagram (@anthonyalfredo) and X | Twitter (@anthonyalfredo).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Anthony Alfredo Pre-Race Quotes:

On Texas Motor Speedway: “I enjoy racing at Texas Motor Speedway because it is a technical track and fits my driving style.

“Track position will be the name of the game this weekend. Starting towards the front and remaining there throughout the day will be critical.

“If we don’t have track position, an alternate strategy to get us in late in the race will be important.”

On Keys to Success at Texas Motor Speedway: “As with most tracks, it is difficult to pass, so track position will be key.

“We have been struggling with qualifying well and have some things to try in order to improve our starting position this weekend to help us be ahead at the start and execute throughout the day.”

On Goals for Texas Motor Speedway: “Another top 15 finish would be great for our team. We have a lot of momentum coming into this race, and I’m looking forward to performing at a high level.”

On Momentum from Talladega Superspeedway Finish: “I don’t want to be greedy because of how this season has started, but it was pretty gut-wrenching to be just a few inches from a top five.

“In all honesty, if we were able to race all the way back to the line, I felt like I put us in a perfect position to have a shot to win.

“It wasn’t in the cards and will gladly take our top 10 finish and head to Texas with a lot more confidence.”

On The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season: “My goal this year with Young’s Motorsports is simple: to win a regular-season race and make the Playoffs.

“It’s certainly a tall order, but we can make it happen. We will build this program from the ground up and make that goal a reality.”

Race Information:

The Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. A 25-minute practice will occur on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:05 – 5:00 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow at 5:10 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, May 3, shortly after 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. ET), with live coverage on The CW Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

Young’s Motorsports PR



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Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant voted into NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame… CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution […]

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drivers Kurt Busch, Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the sport.

A ceremony will be held to officially induct the Class of 2026 into the Hall of Fame.

The 46-year-old Busch, a first-ballot selection, held off Jimmie Johnson to win the 2004 Cup Series championship and went on to win 34 Cup races, including at least one in 19 of 21 of his full-time seasons on the premier circuit before retiring in 2023.

His journey to NASCAR stardom began in 2000 with a Truck Series rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. His big breakthrough came in 2004, when he became the first driver to win the title under NASCAR’s “playoff” system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability.

The consistent Busch finished in the top 10 in the Cup Series standings 10 times.

Hendrick, who died in 1990 at age 61, was the original “Mr. Modified.”

He is one of the winningest drivers of all time, with than 700 modified and late model sportsman wins between 1950-88. His success started in his home state of Virginia, where his No. 11 was well know. He won five track championships at South Boston Speedway — four modified and one late model sportsman.

He was known as a driver that was willing to race “anywhere and everywhere,” and did just that. He filled his schedule with modified and late model sportsman races across the East coast. Hendrick was known best for his wins on short tracks, but also produced victories at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.

Despite never winning a Modified Division championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960-69.

The 85-year-old Gant, known as the “Bandit” for his long-time sponsorship with Skoal Bandits, won 18 Cup Series races, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. In the five seasons from 1981 through 1985, he finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up championship finish to Terry Labonte in 1984.

He also won 21 Xfinity Series races.

Gant raced into his 50s, and still holds premier series records for oldest driver to win a race (52 years old) and a pole (54). He drove the first race car with a telemetry system installed in it at Talladega in 1985 and relayed the data to CBS during its coverage of the event.

This was the Gant’s seventh time on the ballot.

All three were among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Wheeler became synonymous with promotion and innovation.

He spent 33 years as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway and played a pivotal role in transforming the venue into a world-class facility.

Wheeler added a new dynamic to the sport, a visionary whose leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience with the introduction of dramatic prerace ceremonies and the development of night racing at superspeedways.

He was known for his innovative promotions and stunts.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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Reddick sponsor announced as Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing scores huge win – Motorsport – Sports

23XI Racing and Tyler Reddick secured a major win after revealing that they’ve landed a new primary sponsor. It’s been a rollercoaster year for Michael Jordan’s Cup Series team, which remains embroiled in an ugly legal dispute with NASCAR. 23XI additionally made team history earlier this month by fielding four drivers at Kansas Speedway, including […]

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23XI Racing and Tyler Reddick secured a major win after revealing that they’ve landed a new primary sponsor.

It’s been a rollercoaster year for Michael Jordan’s Cup Series team, which remains embroiled in an ugly legal dispute with NASCAR. 23XI additionally made team history earlier this month by fielding four drivers at Kansas Speedway, including development driver Corey Heim – a decision that was welcomed by Bubba Wallace.

Amidst speculation that 23XI could soon lose several of its drivers, the organization received a huge boost once it was announced that they’d expanded their longstanding partnership with Pinnacle Financial Partners.

As part of the new multi-year deal, Pinnacle will serve as the primary sponsor for Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE in two races this season — the NASCAR Cup Series Race at Nashville on June 1 and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol on September 13.

“Our team has enjoyed the partnership with Pinnacle since Tyler joined the team, and we’re excited to grow our relationship with Pinnacle to more prominently feature their brand on the No. 45 car,” 23XI president Steve Lauletta said in an official statement.

“Much like 23XI, Pinnacle is driven to be impactful for their clients, their employees, and their community, and we look forward to developing more programs and activations with them.”

Back in 2018, Pinnacle first began working with Reddick while he was still competing in the Xfinity Series. The Nashville-based company has acted as an associate sponsorship partner for 23XI’s No. 45 team since 2023, with the upcoming Nashville race marking the first time it’s served as a Cup Series primary sponsor.

“The group at Pinnacle has played such an important role in my career, and I’m honored to have the chance to represent them in a greater way through this partnership expansion,” Reddick said. “From supporting me earlier in my career to continuing to believe in me and what we’re doing at 23XI, I’m excited to represent all the associates at Pinnacle and look forward to having a great opening race with them in Nashville.”

DON’T MISS:

At Nashville Superspeedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, the No. 45 team will proudly display Pinnacle’s logo on their equipment and Reddick’s driver uniform. “Pinnacle and 23XI are such a great match for each other because we both share a vision of being the best,” Pinnacle’s director of music, sports and entertainment Andy Moats said.

“The love for NASCAR and racing runs deep at our firm, and we’ve been with Tyler for a long time. Working alongside him as he’s grown into the racer he is today has been a privilege, and this partnership will bring us even closer to him, his team and the incredible community that surrounds this sport.”



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Kurt Busch, Hendrick, Gant voted into NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2026

Harry Gant 1986 photo Photo CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Given his résumé, Kurt Busch knew it was a matter of when, not if, he would be selected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Still, getting voted in on the first ballot on Tuesday was a huge relief for Busch, who let out an emotional sigh of […]

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Given his résumé, Kurt Busch knew it was a matter of when, not if, he would be selected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Still, getting voted in on the first ballot on Tuesday was a huge relief for Busch, who let out an emotional sigh of relief after hearing his named called at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“I’m very grateful and thankful that it happened this first time,” Busch said. “You want to have that answer as fast as you can.”

Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were also voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the sport. A ceremony will be held to officially induct the Class of 2026 into the Hall of Fame in March.

The 46-year-old Busch held off Jimmie Johnson to win the 2004 Cup Series championship and went on to win 34 Cup races, including at least one victory in 19 of his 21 full-time seasons on the premier circuit before he retired in 2023.

His journey to NASCAR stardom began in 2000 with a Truck Series rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. His big breakthrough came in 2004, when he became the first driver to win the title under NASCAR’s “playoff” system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability.

The consistent Busch finished in the top 10 in the Cup Series standings 10 times.

“Things happened fast for me in this sport and I don’t know how or why,” Busch said. “There was no template, there wasn’t the ladder that these days you see the kids that have a system where it is going to be this or that. For me it was being in the right place at the right time and the universe smiled down on me.”

Hendrick, who died in 1990 at age 61, was the original “Mr. Modified.”

He is one of the winningest drivers of all time, with than 700 modified and late model sportsman wins between 1950-88. His success started in his home state of Virginia, where his No. 11 was well know. He won five track championships at South Boston Speedway — four modified and one late model sportsman.

He was known as a driver that was willing to race “anywhere and everywhere,” and did just that. He filled his schedule with modified and late model sportsman races across the East coast. Hendrick was known best for his wins on short tracks, but also produced victories at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.

Despite never winning a Modified Division championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960-69.

The 85-year-old Gant, known as the “Bandit” for his long-time sponsorship with Skoal Bandits, won 18 Cup Series races, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. In the five seasons from 1981 through 1985, he finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up championship finish to Terry Labonte in 1984.

He also won 21 Xfinity Series races.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met Tuesday in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote on the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2026 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The 49-person voting panel included representatives from NASCAR, the Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano).

Busch and Gant both received 61% of the “modern era” ballot votes. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton.

Hendrick received 31% of the “pioneer” ballot votes. Bob Welborn finished second.

Gant raced into his 50s, and still holds premier series records for oldest driver to win a race (52 years old) and a pole (54). He drove the first race car with a telemetry system installed in it at Talladega in 1985 and relayed the data to CBS during its coverage of the event.

This was the Gant’s seventh time on the ballot. He did not attend the announcement ceremony on Tuesday and was not available for comment.

All three were among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Wheeler became synonymous with promotion and innovation.

He spent 33 years as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway and played a pivotal role in transforming the venue into a world-class facility.

Wheeler added a new dynamic to the sport, a visionary whose leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience with the introduction of dramatic prerace ceremonies and the development of night racing at superspeedways.

He was known for his innovative promotions and stunts.





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Cadillac unveils Mobil 1 brand as Le Mans sponsor – Speedway Digest

Cadillac unveils Mobil 1 as Le Mans sponsor No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R livery to feature iconic brand DETROIT (May 20, 2025) – Cadillac welcomes Mobil 1™ brand as its primary sponsor of the No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The livery features the iconic […]

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Cadillac unveils Mobil 1 as Le Mans sponsor

No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R livery to feature iconic brand

DETROIT (May 20, 2025) – Cadillac welcomes Mobil 1™ brand as its primary sponsor of the No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The livery features the iconic Mobil 1 logo across the sides and front of the blue and white Hypercar, symbolizing a powerful collaboration in motorsport excellence.

“Mobil 1 and Cadillac Racing are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation in motorsport,” said John Roth, Vice President, Global Cadillac. “We’re excited to welcome the Mobil 1 brand as the primary sponsor of the No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Cadillac Racing looks to contend for the overall victory while showcasing its all-new livery featuring the Mobil 1 brand. Earlier this year, the Mobil 1 team announced an extension of its technical alliance with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), further solidifying its role as the Official Motor Oil of Cadillac Racing.

“Le Mans is the ultimate proving ground in motorsport, and we’re proud to support Cadillac’s ambitions through our continued technical partnership,” adds Tony Esposito, Strategic Global Alliance Manager, on behalf of the Mobil 1 team. “This new livery reflects what our work with Cadillac is all about – performance, passion and pushing boundaries. We’re thrilled to see it come to life on track at Le Mans, where our legacy in motorsport continues.”

Cadillac Racing will contest the 93rd edition of the twice-around-the-clock race on the 8.467-mile course incorporating public roads with a four-car factory program lineup that features drivers who have accumulated 21 Le Mans podiums.

Cadillac Racing is in its third season of WEC competition, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans among eight races, with the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R driven by Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens and the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R driven by Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button.

The No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R driven by Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque and the No. 311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Jack Aitken, Felipe Dragovich and Frederik Vesti are full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship contenders in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class competing as the Nos. 10 and 31, respectively.

Cadillac Racing earned a third-place finish at Le Mans in 2023 after a 21-year hiatus and qualified second and third in 2024 with a best finish of seventh among its three-car contingent.

The Cadillac V-Series.R, powered by the purpose-built 5.5-liter DOHC V8 engine, marks the third-generation Cadillac prototype racecar and the brand’s first hybrid electrified race car. Co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara, the racecar represents the fifth generation of the V-Series, incorporating key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements such as vertical lighting and floating blades.

Motorsport provides a testbed for the Cadillac and Mobil 1 brands to transfer knowledge and technology between racecars and production vehicles.

The performance, durability, and efficiency of systems tested under extreme conditions directly influence the design of Cadillac production vehicles — delivering innovation, power, and reliability to customers.

GM PR



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Pagenaud easing back into motorsports after serious injury in 2023. Finding a new career outside car

INDIANAPOLIS — Simon Pagenaud’s career was cut short eight races into the 2023 season when he was badly injured in a crash that caused concussion-related symptoms he still is battling nearly two years later. He wants no sympathy, no pity, and looks back fondly on a career in which he won the Indianapolis 500, an […]

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INDIANAPOLIS — Simon Pagenaud’s career was cut short eight races into the 2023 season when he was badly injured in a crash that caused concussion-related symptoms he still is battling nearly two years later.

He wants no sympathy, no pity, and looks back fondly on a career in which he won the Indianapolis 500, an IndyCar championship, 15 races and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

He also doesn’t want to dwell on his personal health, which has been a frustrating rollercoaster of improvements, setbacks, and constant rehabilitation to return to some normalcy and enjoy life with his wife and two young children.

But the Frenchman will never be able to shake the motorsports bug, and he has a goal of one day returning to some form of racing because without goals, what does a racer even have?

For now, though, he’s adjusting to a slow comeback that began last year when Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin asked Pagenaud to be his driver coach at the Indianapolis 500. It wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped because everything from his vision to the noise at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the vibration he felt as cars whizzed past the Team Penske timing stand disrupted his recovery.

Even so, McLaughlin has him back this year as Pagenaud attempts to find a career outside the racecar.

“Last year he didn’t know how he was going to feel with the noises, but he definitely feels a lot better,” McLaughlin said. “I really enjoy working with him and bringing him back to the speedway, brought him back to something he loves. He’s really intense, too. His preparation is next level.”

It’s just the start for Pagenaud’s transition: Théo Pourchaire, a fellow Frenchman, announced Tuesday that Pagenaud will be his representation as Pourchaire tries to make a full-time move to racing in the United States.

“I don’t want to be involved with the management of 30 drivers, but I want to be involved with the best,” Pagenaud said. “I want to go to teams with a guy I know can perform. I don’t want to put my name on someone and then have a team come back to me and say he didn’t perform, the guy wasn’t good enough. I’ve got to be selective, and, to me, I think Theo can be one of the best.”

But that’s not all for Pagenaud, who was contacted by Chevrolet and asked to help do simulator work for the manufacturer in a true case of “just what the doctor ordered.”

“I had no idea if I was going to be of use, but I was very attracted by the idea and my doctors were very enthused by the chance to test myself on a moving simulator,” he said. “I’m not going to lie — it was a big challenge personally — but it was awesome to have a reference, a new reference, of where I was at and how much I was struggling for different things.

“And we decided that we would do this a bit more frequently. It was very useful for my recovery. It’s probably been the most useful therapy I’ve had, and when I’m talking about therapies, physical therapy, eye coordination, reconnecting the bridges in the brain, things that were not as seamless as they used to be.”

Pagenaud is also open to a more formal role with former team Team Penske, where he spent seven seasons and time with their sports car program. Team President Tim Cindric didn’t rule out a role within the organization.



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Pagenaud easing back into motorsports after serious injury in 2023. Finding a new career outside car | National Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Simon Pagenaud’s career was cut short eight races into the 2023 season when he was badly injured in a crash that caused concussion-related symptoms he’s still battling nearly two years later. He wants no sympathy, no pity, and looks back fondly on a career in which he won the Indianapolis 500, an […]

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Simon Pagenaud’s career was cut short eight races into the 2023 season when he was badly injured in a crash that caused concussion-related symptoms he’s still battling nearly two years later.

He wants no sympathy, no pity, and looks back fondly on a career in which he won the Indianapolis 500, an IndyCar championship, 15 races and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

He also doesn’t want to dwell on his personal health, which has been a frustrating rollercoaster of improvements, setbacks, and constant rehabilitation to return to some normalcy and enjoy life with his wife and two young children.

But the Frenchman will never be able to shake the motorsports bug — and he has a goal of one day returning to some form of racing because without goals, what does a racer even have?

For now, though, he’s adjusting to a slow comeback that began last year when Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin asked Pagenaud to be his driver coach at the Indianapolis 500. It wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped because everything from his vision to the noise at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the vibration he felt as cars whizzed past the Team Penske timing stand disrupted his recovery.

Even so, McLaughlin has him back this year as Pagenaud attempts to find a career outside the racecar.

“Last year he didn’t know how he was going to feel with the noises, but he definitely feels a lot better,” McLaughlin said. “I really enjoy working with him and bringing him back to the speedway, brought him back to something he loves. He’s really intense, too. His preparation is next level.”

It’s just the start for Pagenaud’s transition: Théo Pourchaire, a fellow Frenchman, announced Tuesday that Pagenaud will be his representation as Pourchaire tries to make a full-time move to racing in the United States.

“I don’t want to be involved with the management of 30 drivers, but I want to be involved with the best,” Pagenaud said. “I want to go to teams with a guy I know can perform. I don’t want to put my name on someone and then have a team come back to me and say he didn’t perform, the guy wasn’t good enough. I’ve got to be selective and to me, I think Theo can be one of the best.”

But that’s not all for Pagenaud, who was contacted by Chevrolet and asked to help do simulator work for the manufacturer in a true case of “just what the doctor ordered.”

“I had no idea if I was going to be of use, but I was very attracted by the idea and my doctors were very enthused by the chance to test myself on a moving simulator,” he said. ”I’m not going to lie — it was a big challenge personally — but it was awesome to have a reference, a new reference, of where I was at and how much I was struggling for different things.

“And we decided that we would do this a bit more frequently. It was very useful for my recovery. It’s probably been the most useful therapy I’ve had, and when I’m talking about therapies, physical therapy, eye coordination, reconnecting the bridges in the brain, things that were not as seamless as they used to be.”

Pagenaud is also open to a more formal role with former team Team Penske, where he spent seven seasons and time with their sports car program. Team President Tim Cindric didn’t rule out a role within the organization for the driver who contributed one of Roger Penske’s record 20 Indy 500 wins.

McLaughlin has raved about what Pagenaud has brought him at Indy.

“I’m probably a detriment to my own career throughout the years — I haven’t been as intricate with looking at little details, and I think Simon is the professor in that regard,” McLaughlin said. “He strives for perfection in a lot of ways in how he sets up his car and what he feels. He’s probably allowing me to look into more details and just the way I look at myself and the driving, the lines and what I’m doing with weight jacker and bars. It’s really helped sort of accelerate my progress here, and really am enjoying working with a friend, as well.”

That knowledge could be welcome inside Team Penske as a whole at some point, Cindric said.

“Simon is always welcome within our team,” Cindric said. “But Simon has a lot going on on his own, beyond our team. I know Simon has been offered some really good things to do, but there’s only so much that Simon really wants to do.

“I think he can be a benefit for anybody around this place. I don’t think there’s any limit in terms of what he does, but at the same time, he wants to be productive. Just hanging around probably isn’t what he wants to do, either. I think we have a pretty good balance, and we’re always open to him within our team.”


AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.



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