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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).

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NASCAR Transcripts: Chase Elliott – 6.15.25 – Speedway Digest

Q. What a strong final run of the day for Chase Elliott, winds up third. It seemed chaotic from our seat. How was it from behind the wheel? CHASE ELLIOTT: The restart was for sure, and yeah, I felt like we were in a really good spot. I was super excited about having tires and […]

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Q. What a strong final run of the day for Chase Elliott, winds up third. It seemed chaotic from our seat. How was it from behind the wheel?

CHASE ELLIOTT: The restart was for sure, and yeah, I felt like we were in a really good spot. I was super excited about having tires and getting ourselves to — we got in front of the 54 and I thought, to be honest, that was going to be the race for the win there initially.

Yeah, got clear of the 1 and the 42, I think, and started settling in, and I didn’t have anything left. I was kind of cooked after that.

Yeah, I think we just pressed so hard to try to get through traffic that we — yeah, when it got singled out, I didn’t have a lot of pace left. I felt like I gained on him there for a little while, but it was pretty tough sledding to get to that point. We pressed on. Really proud of our LLumar Chevy group for sticking with it.

We were kind of up and down all day and finally got going there a few runs from the end and Al made us a good call to get us on tires. Finally had a restart go halfway decent and got a decent top 3 out of it.

Q. What would you say about this track and how it raced today and all the conditions you guys had to work through, the rain and dry and everything?

CHASE ELLIOTT: Yeah, I mean, there was a lot going on for sure. Certainly from the restarts. But once it singled out, it really became a normal road course, I thought.

But the restarts were crazy. You get in those situations and it’s just so tough because it’s like you don’t want to be the one to run in there and kind of gouge people out of the way, and as soon as you don’t, you get gouged from behind.

I don’t love that, but that’s kind of what we got now, these bumpers are so strong. It’s kind of just chaos there for a few laps until we can get single filed out and then it gets pretty fun.

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NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250

The victory punches van Gisbergen’s ticket into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs during his first full-time season with the series. He previously won the inaugural Grant Park 165 on the Chicago Street Circuit in 2023. The next stop for the NASCAR Cup Series is Pocono Raceway for The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM. […]

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The victory punches van Gisbergen’s ticket into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs during his first full-time season with the series. He previously won the inaugural Grant Park 165 on the Chicago Street Circuit in 2023.

The next stop for the NASCAR Cup Series is Pocono Raceway for The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM. The race on Sunday, June 22 takes the green flag at 2 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

-Photo credit: Jim Fluharty, HHP for Chevy Racing



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NASCAR Transcripts: Shane Van Gisbergen – 6.15.25 – Speedway Digest

Q. Welcome to the playoffs, Shane Van Gisbergen! You told me yesterday a win fixes our year, but you’ve faced so much adversity this entire weekend when you think about it, the travel issues, not feeling well before the race, and then the rain today. What was the biggest challenge? SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: You listed […]

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Q. Welcome to the playoffs, Shane Van Gisbergen! You told me yesterday a win fixes our year, but you’ve faced so much adversity this entire weekend when you think about it, the travel issues, not feeling well before the race, and then the rain today. What was the biggest challenge?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: You listed them all, man. What a week. I’ve really enjoyed myself here. I felt pretty rubbish today leaking out both holes. That wasn’t fun. Thank you to SafetyCulture, Trackhouse, Chevy, and ECR engines. Our car was amazing. I think the 54 was close, but that last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.

Q. I’ve never heard a driver stop telling me to slow down. Was this the best race car you’ve ever sat in?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: It’s certainly up there. I’ve been privileged to have some great ones in my time, but when I go slow I just lose concentration, so I was trying to stay in a rhythm and a routine, and Josh and Stephen are doing such a great job keeping me calm and focused, and man, that was epic.

Q. We were hanging out this morning and you were texting your good friend Max Verstappen. Your talent was clear today, but did he give you any tips that wound up helping?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: Yeah, a little bit in the wet. Just what lines to take and how to approach it. Yeah, what a guy. I don’t know how he went today, but hopefully he went well, and hopefully I get this thing over the fence.

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Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs

MEXICO CITY — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era. The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first […]

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MEXICO CITY — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory and Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.

He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the BetMGM betting favorite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR — 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.

Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Kyle Busch, who started the race at the bottom of the playoff standings, suffered a massive setback when he crashed out of the race on the sixth lap and finished last in the 37-car field.

Busch, who was ranked 15th in the Cup Series standings when he arrived in Mexico City, blamed the incident on the wet track.

“Just in the rain, and I went down into (Turn) 11 and got on the brakes pretty hard, and everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped really good,” he said. “And I’m like ‘OK I can be a little more aggressive getting into 1,’ and I figured it was going to be fine, and as soon as I went to the brakes, it was like being on ice, and I was just sliding.

“About a second a half or so, I was trying to figure out which direction to go, and I was like I’ve got to turn this thing around backward, because I’m going to nail some people. Hate it for all those involved in my mishap. I hate that the rain came and now it’s nice and dry. Just have to go fight for more points in another week.”

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.

Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.

“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!

NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.

___

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



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Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs | National News

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era. The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his […]

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory and Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR.

“Man, that was epic,” he said.

Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR’s top level.

He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he’s an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.

He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the BetMGM betting favorite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining.

And, he won feeling under the weather. He was ill before the start of the race in what was a bizarre weekend for him. He was one of the drivers stranded in North Carolina on Thursday when his chartered plane suffered a mechanical issue on takeoff and the team was stranded until Friday morning.

Van Gisbergen arrived in Mexico City early Friday morning but was still awaiting many crew members. Then he got sick late Saturday and was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race.

“I felt pretty rubbish today, leaking out both holes, that wasn’t fun,” Van Gisbergen said. “Our car was amazing. That last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.”

He admitted after the race he’d texted with four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen about the intricacies of the Mexico City circuit.

“A little bit in the wet — just what lines to take and how to approach it,” he said. “What a guy.”

Van Gisbergen then did his traditional rugby-style celebration by drop-kicking a signed football into the grandstands.

Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th.

“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just wasn’t in the cards,” Suarez said.

Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.

Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR — 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.

Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Stenhouse vs. Hocevar

The ongoing feud between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar continued after the race as a furious Stenhouse reached inside Hocevar’s cockpit on pit road.

He seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his helmet as Stenhouse walked away. It wasn’t clear what Stenhouse was upset about, but he’s been furious with Hocevar for three consecutive weeks, dating to contact between the two at Nashville.

“I told him he’s lucky we’re in Mexico, and I’ll see him in the States,” Stenhouse said.

Bad day for Busch

Kyle Busch, who started the race at the bottom of the playoff standings, suffered a massive setback when he crashed out of the race on the sixth lap and finished last in the 37-car field.

Busch, who was ranked 15th in the Cup Series standings when he arrived in Mexico City, blamed the incident on the wet track.

“Just in the rain, and I went down into (Turn) 11 and got on the brakes pretty hard, and everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped really good,” he said. “And I’m like ‘OK I can be a little more aggressive getting into 1,’ and I figured it was going to be fine, and as soon as I went to the brakes, it was like being on ice, and I was just sliding.

Gordon gives command

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he’d done some practicing.

Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his delivery of the most famous words in racing.

“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. “Pilotos start your engines!

Up Next

NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won last year.


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



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Ram Returns to NASCAR

Ram will return and join the field for the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, ending a 13-year break. The brand recently unveiled a new Ram 1500 concept race truck that previews the design for next year. Returning to the racetrack marks a major milestone, part of a pedal-to-the-metal drive for Ram that covers 25 product […]

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Ram will return and join the field for the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, ending a 13-year break.

The brand recently unveiled a new Ram 1500 concept race truck that previews the design for next year. Returning to the racetrack marks a major milestone, part of a pedal-to-the-metal drive for Ram that covers 25 product announcements over 18 months.

Ram NASCARThe news of Ram’s return to NASCAR was officially announced by Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram brand, during a live NASCAR event at the Michigan International Speedway. Jaw-dropping moments included a Ram 5500 hauling a custom trailer built specifically for smoky donuts, courtesy of Ram’s NASCAR concept truck. Anderson Silva, Hall of Fame MMA icon, took to the track to shoot HEMI®-branded T-shirts into the crowd.

“For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn’t have a plan that delivered the last tenth and following just didn’t fit our DNA,” said Kuniskis. “Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America’s motorsport.”

Joining the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, in a way that only Ram can, is a natural, strategic move for the brand, as more than 40% of NASCAR fans are truck owners. The popular and competitive race series gives Ram a high-performance showcase as it launches a series of exciting and capable new trucks.

“Ram returning to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is a major moment for the sport, and a sign that NASCAR remains a strong platform for blue chip brand partners,” said John Probst, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “We are excited to welcome Ram back to the sport. Its identity includes high performance, durability and innovation – characteristics that embody NASCAR and, specifically, the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.”

The Ram 1500 concept race truck unveiled today was molded by the Ram design team. The concept resembles a production truck, adopting elements from the Ram Truck Sport lineup (Warlock, Rebel and RHO), but honed with an aerodynamic signature to slip through the air efficiently, yet with enough airflow to cool a race engine that revs over 9,000 rpm. Body lines around the fenders and grille carry a familiar appearance, framing a large Ram logo that separates this truck from the pack.

The one-off body design is covered by a two-tone Gloss Black canvas with Molten Red lower. The Ram design team created an impactful and exciting livery that complements the visual emotion of Ram’s design DNA and highlights Direct Connection and Symbol of Protest logos. Mopar’s Direct Connection aftermarket unit is adding performance options for Ram trucks and earns prominent signage on the concept race truck.

“There will be more details on our NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program later this year,” added Kuniskis. “We are undoubtedly having fun with this project, and I truly look forward to sharing information on our team and how getting back on track relates to the future of Ram performance.”

Ram exited factory support of NASCAR’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012 after a 17-year run and focused on launching the new 2013 Ram 1500. Ram’s return is one part of a strategy to build on the greatest variety of sport trucks and off-road enthusiast trucks the brand has ever offered.

Ram boasts a rich history of performance trucks, including the Power Wagon, SRT10 Viper Truck, TRX, RHO, Rumble Bee, Little Red Express and Warlock. In 2004, a Ram SRT-10, piloted by NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan, set a Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest production truck with an average speed of 154.587 mph (248.784 km/h) at the Stellantis Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan.

Ram offers a full lineup of pickups and commercial vehicles; the Ram 1500, 2500/3500 Heavy Duty, 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab and ProMaster vans. The Ram Light-Duty and Heavy Duty pickups are considerably improved for 2025 and offer new products in the fastest growing segment within the pickup space—Sport Trucks. Ram introduced the largest variety of off-road performance trucks the brand has ever offered, including the new Ram 1500 RHO with more horsepower per dollar than any other performance off-road pickup.

In the commercial business, Ram is launching the new 2025 Chassis Cab line with improvements to help customers and upfitters. Ram Professional is making considerable changes in process, execution and resources with a focus on commercial offerings, dedicated B2B-focused expertise, and sales and service support, which are critical to growing in this segment.

Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis.



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