Search this site

Press Release | NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) – In one month, the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway will again come alive with the sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines, as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series kicks off its 2025 season with the highly anticipated 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on March 6-9. The legendary event promises to deliver all the racing action and must-see attractions NHRA fans expect from the pinnacle of drag racing. It is the first of 20 races during the 2025 season and fans can look forward to a weekend filled with action, including two qualifying sessions on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday, where all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle look to win a season-opening Wally and the special Gatornationals “Golden Gator” trophy. Gainesville Raceway will also continue to give fans a memorable experience including free general parking at the state-of-the-art facility. This year’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will again host the Top Fuel All-Star Callout, featuring the top drivers in the category for a one-day specialty race on Saturday, March 8. Reigning Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown hopes to become the first driver to win the unique Callout race for a second time, following his 2024 win. Four-time champ Steve Torrence will have his pick of opponents of the eight-driver field, making it one of the marquee draws of the weekend. In 2024, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the Gatornationals to open the year. It marked the first double-up victory for Kalitta Motorsports, while six-time world champ Enders won the historic race for the first time. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. Langdon claimed his first Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals win when he defeated Billy Torrence. Langdon, a former Top Fuel and Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion, went on to collect another win in Phoenix and finished fourth in the loaded Top Fuel standings. Brown finished as the world champion for the fourth time in his career, while other stars include Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Tony Stewart and local native Josh Hart. Todd, a former Funny Car world champion, earned his second Gatornationals win when he took out Funny Car newcomer Austin Prock in the final round. Prock quickly recovered and picked up eight race wins and ultimately the Funny Car championship in a dominant season for John Force Racing. Other stars to watch will be Jack Beckman, who will be racing for John Force in 2025, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III as they all put their 11,000-horsepower machines to the test in Gainesville. Enders, the winningest female in motorsports, was pleased to earn her first Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals win last season, but the remainder of her season did not go the way she had planned. The six-time champ went on to earn three runner-up finishes throughout the season and finished fourth in points. Taking the top spot and overall championship was her long-time rival, Greg Anderson. With six Gainesville wins and now six championships to his name, Anderson will look to take on the other stars like Dallas Glenn and Aaron Stanfield in the Pro Stock ranks. Herrera, the reigning back-to-back champion, has been undeniably dominant within the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. He raced to his second straight Gatornationals win last season when he defeated the six-time champion and rival Matt Smith. Smith also saw success in 2024 thanks to his three wins and six No. 1 qualifier positions. Herrera and Smith battled throughout the season, while others to watch include Chase Van Sant, Hector Arana Jr., Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and Richard Gadson. The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will also see the season debut in the highly competitive Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and the Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class, as well as a full slate of sportsman classes in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features some of the sport’s top drivers. Before the race, fans will again be invited to a special “Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest” at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speedshop in Ocala. In what’s become an exciting pre-event tradition, the event will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The fun-filled kickoff event will include driver appearances and autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the massive facility and much more. Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the season-opener. The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, NHRA Insider Live, meet and greets and much more. Before the first round of eliminations on Sunday, fans can enjoy a C-17 flyover from the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere of interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 7, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 8 at 12:30 and 3:10 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 9. The first round of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET and the semifinals at 3 p.m. The finals are slated for 4:30 p.m. A special Callout broadcast will air at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1. To purchase tickets to the 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. General parking is free and limited preferred parking is available for purchase. Get your tickets now for the Top Eliminator Club because these will sell out. For more info on NHRA, including the full weekend schedule in Gainesville, please visit www.NHRA.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA Melanie Johnson, daughter of 13-time Top Fuel champion tuner Alan Johnson, will pilot the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster during the 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season. Johnson will claim the North Central Region for points. Melanie, a third-generation racer, made her debut in Top Alcohol driving for McPhillips Racing during the 2024 fall regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After competing in Super Comp, she earned her Top Alcohol license at Brainerd International Raceway last August. During testing, she completed her quickest pass thus far in the Alcohol Dragster, with a run of 5.289 seconds. Her fastest speed is 274.11 mph during qualifying at the Las Vegas regional event. Johnson will pilot the famed “Green Machine” chassis, which has collected numerous victories in the 16 years McPhillips Racing has entered the car in competition. She will have support from Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE) for the 2025 campaign and will be announcing additional partnerships soon. Johnson’s goal is to become a Top Alcohol Dragster world champion, following in the footsteps of her father and her late uncle, Blaine Johnson, who together won four consecutive TAD titles from 1991 to 1994. "I've dreamed of competing in Top Alcohol Dragster for the past six years, and I couldn’t be more eager to get out on the track and race this season,” said Melanie Johnson. “TAD is an incredibly competitive class, and with Rich [McPhillips] and Richie [McPhillips Jr.] handling the tuning and the strength of AJPE power, I’m confident we can achieve great success this season." McPhillips Racing was formed in 1969 with team owner Rich “Pops” McPhillips Sr. getting his start behind the wheel of a bracket-class altered drag car, then a Comp eliminator altered, before running an Alcohol Econo Funny Car. McPhillips would then transition to an Alcohol Funny Car before running Top Alcohol Dragsters. Hailing from Pennsylvania, McPhillips Racing has earned nearly 100 wins and nine regional/divisional championships during their 56 years in competition (Rich McPhillips Sr. – 3, Troy Coughlin Jr. – 2, Matt Cummings – 2, Mike Coughlin – 1, Tony Stewart – 1). Joining Pops is Richie McPhillips Jr., who co-owns the team, with the pair serving as lead mechanics on both Top Alcohol Dragsters. Notable drivers for McPhillips Racing have included Peter Gallen, Skip Gladstone, Bill Litton, Rich McPhillips Sr., Rich McPhillips Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr., Mike Coughlin, Cummings, and Stewart. The team is looking to earn their first world championship in 2025. “We’re really excited to have Melanie and the Johnson family join McPhillips Racing,” said team owner Rich McPhillips Sr. “Their family has racing in their DNA like we do. Melanie is a former collegiate athlete that has a fierce competitive mentality. We’re looking forward to being a part of the start of her professional racing career and can’t wait to accomplish great things together.” The 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season kicks off March 6-9 for the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2025) – Returning for a third year, the special “Swamp Rat Alley,” featuring historic cars from legendary “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, will again be a featured attraction at the upcoming 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series opens the 2025 season on March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway. The ”Swamp Rat Alley” inside the Hot Rod Junction at the famed Gainesville Raceway has been a popular destination for fans the past two seasons, giving fans a unique chance to check out historic cars driven by Garlits, one of the most iconic drivers in NHRA history. This year, “Swamp Rat Alley” will feature a variety of historic Swamp Rat 1 cars from the 1950s and will be a can’t-miss item during the Gatornationals. Included in “Swamp Rat Alley” in 2025 will be: Swamp Rat I Purple Car: This Garlits painted SR-1 purple after watching Mel Heath win the 1956 U.S. Nationals in a purple car. This car went as quick as 10.4-seconds, reaching a top speed of 140 mph. Swamp Rat 1 – The 176 mph Car: Garlits made a flurry of chassis changes to this car, lowered the front end to make it less wind resistant and also completely modified the fuel delivery system. On the first run in Brookville, Fla, Garlits broke the track record with a run of 165 mph, and then went an incredible 8.79 at 176.40, setting the world record in a pass Garlits called “a shot heard around the world.” Swamp Rat 1 – First Time Out: This is a recreation of SR-1, as it appeared at the Brooksville, Fla. Airport in 1956, and went 128 mph at 10.3-seconds. Swamp Rat 1-B: This was built by Garlits in Tampa in 1959. Driven by Art Malone, the car went a record 183.66 on its first run in Sanford, Maine. In 1961, Garlits went 204.54, becoming just the second car in drag racing history to run faster than 200 mph. The car was retired in late 1961 and Garlits and Jim Hunnewell recreated an exact replica in 2004. The “Swamp Rat Alley” section is one of many incredible items at Gainesville Raceway as part of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kick-off, making this a can’t-miss weekend for any race fan. Leading into the weekend, Garlits and the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame will induct its 2025 class on Thursday, March 6. Among the inductees this year is Charlie Allen, longtime NHRA National Dragster Editor Phil Burgess, Gary Dyer, Jim Head, Jay Howell, Gary Scelzi, Terry Vance, Byron Hines Debbie Bader and Paul Sergi. The 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals promises to be one of the biggest races of the year, delivering 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph racing action, the NHRA’s biggest stars, the Top Fuel All-Star Callout, free parking for fans, pre-race festivities, and a host of events and action on and off the track. In 2024, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won on the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway to open the year. It marked the first double-up victory for Kalitta Motorsports, while six-time world champ Enders won the historic race for the first time. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including coverage of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 8 and eliminations at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Brown won the Top Fuel All-Star Callout a year ago, using that momentum to clinch his fourth world title. The standout will look to defend his title in the thrilling one-day bonus race, which adds the unique callout element to the big-money specialty event. Action in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will start with two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, the Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday and then eliminations on Sunday. More top names that will be in action in Gainesville include Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, reigning rookie of the year and motorsports legend Tony Stewart, and local native Josh Hart, Funny Car stars Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III and Jack Beckman, who will be driving for legendary champion John Force in 2025, Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield, Dallas Glenn and Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, Richard Gadson and Chase Van Sant. Before the race, fans will again be invited to a special “Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest” at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speedshop in Ocala. In what’s become an exciting pre-event tradition, the event will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The fun-filled kickoff event will include driver appearances and autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the state-of-the-art facility and much more. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 7, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 8 at 12:30 and 3:10 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 9. The first round of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET and the semifinals at 3 p.m. The finals are slated for 4:30 p.m. To purchase tickets to the 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Upgraded experiences in the Gainesville Top Eliminator Club – which features a premium experience and a number of exclusive benefits at one of the biggest races of the season – are also available for purchase. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA GLYNDON, Minn. (Feb. 5, 2025) – NHRA officials are pleased to announce that Interstate Raceway is back with the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the NHRA’s West Central Division (Division 5). Located in Glyndon, Minn., just east of Fargo, N.D., the longtime raceway is under new ownership, as the Rolie Racing Team – a group that includes Kyle and Chuck Rolie – have purchased the facility, starting an exciting new chapter in the track’s history, one that spans more than six decades. In a short time, the Rolie family has been hard at work to bring the track back to life and is set for an exciting 2025 season. The addition of Interstate Raceway also marks the seventh track to join the NHRA Member Track Network this off-season, adding to the more than 100 NHRA member tracks. “We are pleased to announce the first and oldest drag strip in the state of Minnesota is being officially reopened under the new race management of Rolie Racing,” Interstate Raceway operator Kyle Rolie said. “The NHRA has been a tremendous help in teaching these green horns the rope. We have been absorbing everything there is to know about drag racing and we look forward to taking on this great responsibility and opportunity head on, especially with the incredible support of my newfound team.” Interstate Raceway will be eligible to offer racers in the area a variety of NHRA-sanctioned racing opportunities in the future, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Street Legal, NHRA Jr. Street and more. Additionally, the track will have the chance to host NHRA specialty events like the NHRA Summit King of the Track and more. The Rolie family, which has a long history in drag racing, is determined on returning Interstate Raceway to a standout facility in the local racing community, partnering with NHRA to grow the grassroots racing community in the area. By rejoining NHRA’s Division 5 also gives racers another track to compete at in the growing West Central Division. "We are very excited to bring NHRA Drag Racing back to the Fargo area after a two-year hiatus,” NHRA West Central Division Director Nick Duty said. “Interstate Raceway has been a staple of that community for more than 60 years and I think Kyle, Chuck and the entire Rolie Racing Team are going to do a great job taking the reins of the historic facility. I can't wait to see what they are able to do in 2025 and beyond." For more information about Interstate Raceway, please visit https://interstateraceway.com. For more information on NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.nhra.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | ELITE MOTORSPORTS Elite Motorsports ended 2024 with six drivers inside the NHRA top 10 championship points standings and wins at 13 of 21 events. The first event to play host to an Elite winners circle? The SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout where Erica Enders rallied to victory. The nine-car team will look to make the same splash at this year’s event held once again at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Enders, driving for Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, Melling Performance and SCAG, comes into the event looking to defend her victory from 2024 where she was also the No. 1 qualifier. The momentum carried over to Enders’ NHRA season where she won at Gainesville Raceway for the first time in her career at the season-opening Gatornationals. “Our sport, like a lot of sports, is all about momentum. I took a lot of pride in winning that first SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout race, the atmosphere was electric. I don't like the word epic, but that's what it was for me,” said Enders who ended the 2024 NHRA season sitting fourth with championship hopes all the way to the Finals. “The way that the fans were involved and engaged; coming back from the top end after we won the finals in Bradenton there were, like, just hundreds of people lined up giving me high fives as I went by. It gives me goosebumps to talk about. I loved starting the year off like that.” Representing SCAG Power Equipment for the second year, Jeg Coughlin Jr., who made his return to Pro Stock last season after a three-year hiatus, is looking to build off his 2024 momentum. At last year’s SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout, Jeg Jr. made it to the semifinals after qualifying No. 7, he was cut short of the final round by his teammate and eventual event winner Enders. Jeg Jr. went on to pick up four victories in the 2024 NHRA season finishing fifth in championship points. Aaron Stanfield, in the JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers hot rod, is looking to pick up right where he left off. While 2024’s PRO Superstar Shootout had Stanfield being handed a second-round loss to Enders, the 2024 NHRA season would be a career best for the versatile driver. Six wins in 10 final rounds had Stanfield in championship contention up until eliminations at the NHRA Finals. Stanfield would ultimately finish third in points for the second time in his career. Troy Coughlin Jr. and the familiar JEGs.com yellow and black hot rod will also be hitting the Bradenton Motorsports Park drag strip in hopes of building momentum for their NHRA season. Troy Jr. will be looking to improve on his No. 10 qualifying spot and first round loss from last year’s SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout. In his NHRA season, Troy Jr. picked up his fifth career Pro Stock victory and finished out the season ninth in points. Cuadra Boys Racing will return to competition with a bit of a new look. The three brothers, Fernando Jr., Cristian and David Cuadra, will be promoting their tequila brand, Corral Tequila, on the sides of their hot rods in 2025. The SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout kicked off what turned into a successful season for Cristian who qualified third and made his way to the quarterfinals coming up short to Jeg Jr. Cristian would go on to finish the NHRA season seventh in points, a career best. David qualified 13th and had a first-round loss to Enders at Bradenton last year, he ended up 14th in the NHRA points with his first career semifinal finish at the fall Nevada Nationals. Fernando Cuadra Jr. had a similar fate at the pre-season specialty race, qualifying eighth but making a first round exit to Cristian. He would finish the NHRA season 15th. Two additions to the Elite Motorsports team in 2025, Greg Stanfield and Stephen Bell, will both be competing at the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout. Joining his son, Aaron Stanfield, Greg is officially making his return to Pro Stock coming off a championship in the Factory X category. Greg will be representing Janac Brothers racing and The Rod Shop for 2025. Newly licensed, Bell will get his first taste of Pro Stock competition at the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout ahead of making his official NHRA debut at the Gatornationals in just a few weeks. The PRO Superstar Shootout will feature some of the biggest names in drag racing vying for bragging rights and momentum headed into the 2025 NHRA season. For the second year in a row the three-day event will feature two days of qualifying on Thursday and Friday followed by a day of elimination rounds and exhibition runs on Saturday. The event will feature autograph sessions, driver Q&A’s and additional fan-friendly entertainment elements. The specialty event will once again be broadcast on FloRacing all three days. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | SCAG RACING BRADENTON, Fla. (February 06, 2025) – Entering into their second season as NHRA’s only factory team, SCAG Racing, made up of Top Fuel standout Justin Ashley, second generation Funny Car driver Daniel Wilkerson and Funny Car rising star Dave Richards, will hit the dragstrip for the first time in 2025 at the second annual SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Ashley comes into the event having finished third in the NHRA points standings in 2024. In the fight for the championship up until the final event, Ashley will be looking to start 2025 competition with a statement. “I am super excited about the SCAG Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park. It’s our first opportunity to put our offseason initiatives into practice in an effort to achieve our 2025 goals both on and off the racetrack. There’s no better way to do that than by competing against the best teams in the world in front of the best fans in the world,” said Ashley who last year lost to eventual race winner Doug Kalitta in a pedalfest first round. “A special thank you to everyone from SCAG Power Equipment, PRO, FloRacing, Bradenton Motorsports Park, and all those in between for making this race possible. We are all looking forward to kicking the new year off right by burning some nitro.” Wilkerson, in his sophomore season as a full-time driver, has been eagerly awaiting his chance to get back into the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car. Tuned by Wilkerson’s father, fan favorite and hall of famer, Tim, the Wilkerson duo ended 2024 seventh in points with a runner-up finish and three semifinal appearances. “The off season went by super quick for us here at SCAG Wilkerson Racing. We did a lot to pick up our game over the winter and there were a few rule changes we had to work on, so I had to sit in our Mustang to fit head pads and I got all excited,” said Wilkerson who last year competed in the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car exhibition on Saturday after qualifying No. 10. “I was like a little kid with his first go-cart. I can’t wait to get to do race car things with my friends again. Getting to kick off our season at the SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout is a great way to do it. One of my favorite parts of racing is representing SCAG and it is extra special to do it at their title race. Hopefully we can put this SCAG Funny Car in the SCAG winner circle this weekend.” Perhaps arguably the most excited member of the SCAG Racing team is Richards. He enters the new year in position he’s never been in before, with two brand-new built for him race cars. The BlueBird / Versatran team found some late season success in 2024 and are hoping with their new hot rods, they’ll be putting up a fight for a winners circle spot early in 2025. “I’m really looking forward to the PRO Superstar Shootout. It a special event not just because it’s a unique way to kick off the new year but the representation SCAG has as title sponsor, I’m proud to race under their banner and we’d like to show our appreciation by putting a good show,” said Richards who last year competed in the Top Fuel vs. Funny Car exhibition runs on Saturday after qualifying outside of the top eight. “I can’t really decide if I’m more nervous or excited. Brand new race car, that’s a first for us. I keep telling myself not to be afraid of what could go wrong and get excited for what can go right, and there’s a lot that can go right.” The PRO Superstar Shootout will feature some of the biggest names in drag racing vying for bragging rights and momentum headed into the 2025 NHRA season. For the second year in a row the three-day event will feature two days of qualifying on Thursday and Friday followed by a day of elimination rounds and exhibition runs on Saturday. The event will feature autograph sessions, driver Q&A’s and additional fan-friendly entertainment elements. The specialty event will once again be broadcast on FloRacing all three days. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | ARMSTRONG EUROPE RACING Armstrong Europe Racing, the newest American-owned entrant in the 2025 FIA European Drag Racing Championship, announced Tuesday that it has selected a crew chief to lead its Top Fuel program. While the team is finalizing details before making the official announcement, team leadership is confident in its choice to spearhead the effort. "We have selected a proven leader to guide our program in its debut season," said team owner Chris Armstrong, speaking from a business trip in Kansas City. "This individual has the experience, knowledge, and winning mindset we need to be competitive right away. We are excited about the future and will announce our full leadership team soon." Armstrong Europe Racing also named David Gaterell as general manager and co-crew chief. Gaterell, currently a co-crew chief for an NHRA Top Fuel team, will oversee assembly, crew management, and international logistics as the team prepares for its FIA European Drag Racing Championship debut. The team will announce its driver in the coming weeks, with multiple candidates under consideration for the Top Fuel seat. The team is also finalizing partnerships with key sponsors, including industry-leading brands from both the United States and Europe, as it prepares for its inaugural FIA European Drag Racing Championship campaign. With its leadership team coming together, Armstrong Europe Racing aims to make an immediate impact in its first season. The team will continue preparations ahead of the 2025 season opener, with further announcements expected soon. (Photo Credit: x.com/ SantaPodRaceway )

Press Release | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB SiriusXM announced today that seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion driver Jimmie Johnson and veteran journalist and best-selling author Marty Smith are teaming up for a new SiriusXM podcast, “Never Settle.” The podcast debuts on February 12, during Daytona 500 Week. Johnson, who will be competing part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series this season in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, will attempt to qualify for a spot in the Daytona 500 field that week. Listeners can hear “Never Settle” every week on all major podcast platforms. New episodes of the podcast will debut every Wednesday and the show will also air Wednesdays (2 pm ET) on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel (ch. 90). Each week, Johnson and Smith will discuss the headline stories in NASCAR, and will share stories and perspectives gleaned from Jimmie’s many successful years competing on the track. Marty and Jimmie will take the discussion beyond the world of motorsports, too, discussing lifestyle matters, music, and sharing experiences and lessons learned staying true to the motto “never settle” as they navigated through success and challenges in their lives and careers. “It’s crazy that this podcast has finally come to life,” said Johnson. “Marty and I have known each other for 20 plus years and he is one of the all-time best storytellers out there. He’s also hilarious and the two of us have had a lot of fun together throughout the years. We’re excited to work with SiriusXM and we can’t wait to share some entertaining stories with listeners and have some great guests in their 2.0 version of life on the show with us. It’s going to be wild.” “Jimmie and I have had so many great conversations through the years about life on the track and off it, and we’re thrilled to team up with SiriusXM to create a podcast that will invite listeners into those conversations with us,” said Smith. “From racing to fatherhood to business and more, we’re excited to get into it all, and hopefully we’ll enlighten and inspire some people along the way.” Jimmie Johnson is not only one of the greatest racecar drivers of the modern era, he is also one of the most accomplished professional athletes in sports. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Johnson remains the only racecar driver in history to be named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2009). Johnson was a 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. Throughout Johnson’s storied career, he and the No. 48 team of Hendrick Motorsports recorded 83 wins in 686 starts. He shares the record of seven championship titles with NASCAR Hall of Fame legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. After Johnson’s final full-time season in NASCAR, he spent two seasons in the INDYCAR Series competing for 16-time INDYCAR champions, Chip Ganassi Racing. Johnson and wife Chandra are co-founders of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation (JJF), which focuses on K-12 public education. The JJF has contributed more than $13 million to organizations and schools in need across the U.S., since its inception in 2006. Marty Smith has been a reporter and host for ESPN since 2006. He has been a mainstay on the network’s NASCAR and college sports coverage and also hosted the interview show “Marty Smith’s America.” Prior to ESPN, Smith covered motorsports and college sports as a journalist at the Roanoke Times, The Washington Post and The News & Advance. He has authored two books – the New York Times bestseller “Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American Soul” (2019) and “Sideline CEO: Leadership Principles from Championship Coaches” (2023). (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | BUSCH BEER Busch Light returns to the biggest day in sports this year with not only one, but two new spots that will deliver trail-tested know-how and a good laugh for fans, with one spot that puts a playful spin on “going in circles” featuring NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain. As the official beer sponsor of NASCAR, Busch Light knows a little something about going in circles. But when it comes to the outdoors, circling through the woods is a surefire way to get yourself lost.The spot titled, “Circles,” opens with two bewildered backpackers making laps on their hike, when Busch Guy steps in with a tip to avoid going in circles by noting recognizable landmarks-like Chastain’s iconic No. 1 car. Chastain then pops out of his tent wondering aloud what’s so bad about “going in circles,” prompting Busch Guy to clarify exactly what circles he’s referring to. “As one of the most popular rising stars in NASCAR, Chastain has helped us ignite a new chapter in our NASCAR legacy. And with the official NASCAR Cup Series season kicking off with the Daytona 500 just one week after the big game, we knew he was the perfect star to spotlight alongside Busch Guy in one of our spots this year,” said Krystyn Stowe, Head of Marketing Busch Family & Natural Family at Anheuser-Busch.“Busch Light has experienced upward growth for five years because we invest in meeting fans where they already are with a Busch Light in hand-whether they’re rooting for Ross in a NASCAR race, enjoying the great outdoors, or watching the big game.” Since 2024, the brand has served as the primary sponsor of Ross Chastain, partnering with Trackhouse Racing to bring 21+ fans along for the ride of their lives and offer unparalleled access to the sport. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Busch Light will continue its tradition of creating exciting paint schemes—from the “For the Farmers” design to flavor innovations and more—that showcase what fans love most while they enjoy their favorite sport and their favorite beer. “I used to daydream about seeing my race schedule hung up at my local bar in Busch Light’s famous blues and whites.Now I’m not only on those walls, but in a commercial that will air in my hometown during the big game and across the nation this NASCAR season, starting with the Daytona 500!”said Chastain. “I’ve manifested this moment my entire life, and I can’t thank Busch Light enough for supporting my racing career through their massive platform. It’s a dream come true-and so was cracking open a cold Busch Light with the iconic Busch Guy after a long, fun day filming in the woods.” In the spot titled, “Time,” the Busch Guy provides another lesson in the series of cold and smooth survival skills by teaching fans how to tell time when in the great outdoors by using a Busch Light can to tell when it’s time for happy hour. Both spots are a continuation of “The Busch Guide,” a series of lighthearted ads that star the brand’s rugged fan-favorite mascot, the Busch Guy. The new ads follow the brand’s reprisal of its classic 1979 jingle, “Head for the Mountains,” with Grammy award-winning saxophone legend Kenny G from its 2022 spot, and partnership with famed singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan to help fans find shelter in its 2023 spot. Additional ads featuring various survival skills and lessons from the Busch Guy’s full “Busch Guide”will air throughout 2025. Fans in select markets can catch the new spots on game day before they air nationally throughout the2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, starting with the Daytona 500. Make sure to follow Busch Light on Facebook, Instagram and Xfor more to come throughout the year! (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

NASCAR.COM NASCAR officials introduced specific penalty options for manufacturers in an update to the NASCAR Rule Book on Wednesday in case the sanctioning body finds any wrongdoing from any of its three Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs. Competition officials noted in a January update a formal penalty structure would be implemented for rules violations made by OEMs. In Wednesday’s update to the official language in the rule book, that structure was announced as a new section in the rule book, Section 10.5.2.8.c, including but not limited to the following possible reprimands: Loss of 25-50 manufacturer points Loss of 30-60 wind-tunnel hours Loss of 250-500 RCFD (restricted computational fluid dynamics) test runs Loss of 2-4 vehicle tests Section 10.5.2.8.A of the rule book states: “NASCAR reserves the right to determine if an OEM has violated the NASCAR Rule Book and may impose penalties on the OEM or its representatives accordingly. The following framework serves as a general guideline for assessing OEM penalties. The examples provided are illustrative and not exhaustive, offering clarity on the types and ranges of infractions that may result in penalties, should NASCAR determine enforcement is warranted.” Conversation surrounding manufacturer penalties arose following the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway. Multiple teams were penalized after NASCAR determined the actions of those involved violated sections 4.4.B&D: NASCAR Member Conduct of the Rule Book, which includes race manipulation and actions detrimental to stock car racing. In an additional rule book update on Monday, Section 5.5.A, which regards competitors’ performance obligation, was updated to include the following language: “Any member who attempts to improperly influence the outcome of the event or encourages, persuades, or induces others to do so shall be subject to penalties, as outlined in Section 10 Violations and Disciplinary Action. Prohibited actions include, but are not limited to, intentional planning or conduct that prioritizes objectives other than achieving the best possible competitive result for their team.” The 2025 Cup Series campaign officially kicks off with the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | WSCG INC WSCG, and its consumer brand HUMBL, a leading innovator of digital wallets, web platforms and blockchain technologies, is proud to sponsor NASCAR driver Joey Gase at the upcoming United Rentals 300 on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway. This marketing partnership includes the HUMBL logo on Gase’s race car, a fan contest for an exclusive Behind the Scenes – VIP Experience and will have its logo featured in the latest NASCAR video game. “We’re thrilled to partner again with Joey Gase for the United Rentals 300,” said Brian Foote, CEO of WSCG, Inc. “Joey’s dedication to racing aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and excellence in technology. We look forward to an exciting race and engaging with NASCAR fans through this unique collaboration.” As part of the partnership, HUMBL’s logo will be prominently displayed on the quarter panel of Gase’s race car. Race fans will also have the chance to win an exclusive VIP Experience, providing a behind-the-scenes experience and the opportunity to sit on Joey’s pit box during the race at Daytona International Speedway. The contest will be hosted on HUMBL’s social media channels, offering multiple ways to enter. Additionally, NASCAR fans can experience the HUMBL-sponsored car in the latest NASCAR video game, allowing players to drive Gase’s car and compete in virtual races from home. Registered users of HUMBL Financial will be automatically entered into the VIP Experience contest for two pit passes, making it easy for fans to participate. The giveaway is free to enter – simply create an account at HUMBLFinancial.com for a chance to win. No purchase is necessary to win. (Photo Credit: x.com/HUMBLPay )

Press Release | DGM RACING For the third consecutive year, Shippy’s Rolling Plains Construction will serve as a primary sponsor for Ryan Ellis’ No. 71 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, March 8th. Rolling Plains Construction has sponsored Ellis since 2023 in the first of the Xfinity Series’ two dates at Phoenix Raceway each year. Ellis brought the Rolling Plains No. 43 Chevy back with 19th and 21st place results in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and hopes to build on those results for 2025 with DGM Racing who has claimed three Top 15s and eight Top 20 finishes at the one-mile oval located in Avondale, AZ. “The Rolling Plains Construction team is pleased to announce our continued sponsorship of Ryan Ellis and the DGM Racing Team at our home track for the third consecutive year,” said Robert Shippy, Owner of Rolling Plains Construction. “We look forward to supporting the No. 71 Chevrolet and are confident in Ryan and the DGM Racing team’s ability to deliver an outstanding performance on the track. We can’t wait to cheer you on as you chase victory in Phoenix. Let’s Go!” Rolling Plains Construction is a distinguished national and global fireproofing contractor, recognized for its excellence in the industry. The company’s diverse project portfolio ranges from prominent sports venues like SoFi Stadium to large-scale industrial projects such as the Tesla Gigafactory in Texas and semiconductor facilities located in Israel. “Having the continued support of Rolling Plains Construction is really meaningful to me and my team,” Ryan Ellis shared. “They’ve been one of the sponsors that has been a core partner since joining us in 2023. We’re always really excited to see all of the exciting projects their team is working on and I always enjoy seeing so many of their team members while we’re out in Phoenix. I know they pride themselves heavily in the tremendous family-like environment they’ve created for their employees, and I know they’ll enjoy seeing that same feeling at DGM Racing. Phoenix is one of my favorite tracks on the NASCAR schedule, and I’ve always felt that it fits my driving style really well. In my last few races there, I feel like we’ve been plagued by little incidents that ultimately hindered our results, but I feel confident that we’ll be able to bring that No.71 Rolling Plains Chevy home with a finish this beautiful car deserves.” With more than 40 years of experience in the Division 7 Scope, Rolling Plains Construction has over 700 employees and offers its services to all 50 states and worldwide. As the largest Fireproofing Contractor in the nation, Rolling Plains Construction is known for its expertise in Spray Applied Fireproofing, Intumescent Coatings, Thermal & Acoustical Insulation, Shop Applied Fireproofing, Gypsum Underlayment, Lightweight Insulated Concrete Roofing, Firestopping, and Board Application. RPC has offices in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Texas. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | NIECE MOTORSPORTS This year marks a significant milestone for Niece Motorsports as it plans to enter its 10th season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran, Al Niece, in 2016, and has seen considerable success in the years since. Niece, born in 1945 in LaPorte, Indiana, enlisted in the service in 1967 after graduating high school. While serving, Niece was deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division, Lima Co. 3rd Marine Regiment – where he earned the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return from the service, Niece laid the groundwork for what would become his first company, Niece Equipment, in Austin, Texas. Beginning in 1978, and through the decades that followed, Niece Equipment began to grow its manufacturing capabilities producing water equipment, fuel and lube trucks, and other specialized forms of machinery used in mining. The company later expanded its operations to include sister companies, Niemco and Niece Products of Kansas. Today, Niece Equipment is known as a juggernaut in the machining industry, with three plants based in Fort Worth & Buda, Texas, and Fort Scott, Kansas. It was a fascination with fast cars and durable trucks from a young age that prompted Niece to enter the racing world. Originating from its humble beginnings as a one-truck team, housed out of a rented garage with one bay, and only three employees, Niece Motorsports made its first NCTS start at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016. From there, the team was off and running. In 2017, Niece embarked on its first full-time schedule, and in the year that followed, expanded to two entries, later growing to three full-time teams beginning in 2019. On May 10, 2019, the team captured its first victory with Ross Chastain at Kansas Speedway. That year, the team went on to compete for the series title in just its third full-time attempt, winning three races and qualifying for the Championship 4. Having made the Playoffs for five seasons, Niece Motorsports trucks have visited victory lane on nine occasions – all at different tracks. In 2023, the team once again qualified for the Championship 4 after winning its season-record of four races with Carson Hocevar. Now, having made 525 combined starts by 50 drivers, the team has eclipsed milestones including 50 top-fives and over 100 top-10 finishes in a decade. Niece Motorsports is now the third longest-tenured, active team competing in the series, employing nearly 80 mechanics, fabricators, and marketing staff. Since its inception, the team has continued its theory of growth through a way of disruption. It is one of the lone Truck Series operations that produces every aspect of the truck in-house, including the manufacturing of its own chassis and bodies, to the training of its pit crews – everything is managed internally through its 80,000 square foot home base located in Salisbury, North Carolina. As the 2025 season commences, the team will fondly look back on memorable moments throughout the years that helped shape it into what it is today, beginning with the introduction of a special logo to be used across the board. On the team’s social media handles, the “10 Seasons Celebration” campaign will delve into storytelling of the team’s inception, highlighting 10 individuals who were instrumental in its growth, and share appreciation for every fan, partner, driver, and employee that have helped build the company. Commemorative merchandise will be available for purchase through the team’s online store, with a special 10-year anniversary hat available now. Additional anniversary merchandise will drop throughout the season. “Being a part of Niece Motorsports over the past 10 seasons has been so much more than a job,” said Cody Efaw, General Manager. “It’s been an opportunity for myself to grow as a person, leader, manager, and as a pupil in the business world. Al Niece has become so much more to me than just a boss. He has afforded me the opportunity to direct and lead an amazing business. Al has had my back through great times and bad times. We have spent almost every day over the past 10 years talking on the phone. He has always taken the time to share stories of his past business experience and use them as teaching moments for myself. The amount of respect I have for him is second to none. He has been a man that has kept his word and has always pushed forward. He has altered the course of my life and the knowledge I have gained from him, I will use for the rest of my life.” “Running NMS has been my life day and night for the past 10 years. I am beyond thankful for all the men and women who have carried the Niece namesake, for all the amazing partners that I have had the chance to work with, and the many friendships/family relationships that have been built because of NMS. We all do this because we want to win and be competitive, however, when I look back, it’s not the wins that stick out. For me, it’s the Niece family I have gained, the daily challenges I learned to embrace, and the obstacles we overcame together that I cherish the most. I look forward to the future with NMS and still look back in amazement of how far we have come!” Looking forward to the season ahead, Niece Motorsports will field four trucks vying for success. The No. 41, 42, 44, and 45 teams will proudly represent Al Niece’s commitment to his country and the sport he loves. Next week, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season begins at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 14. Live coverage of the Fresh From Florida 250 will air on FOX Sports 1, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:30 PM ET. Follow Niece Motorsports on Facebook, X, and Instagram and visit niecemotorsports.com for all the latest news. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | FREEDOM RACING ENTERPRISES NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Veteran Driver and Team Owner, Spencer Boyd confirmed today that Tibbetts Lumber will be back as an anchor sponsor in 2025. Tibbetts Lumber will also be the primary sponsor for the Freedom Racing Enterprises No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado in the ‘Fresh From Florida 250’ and marks their third season with Boyd. Tibbetts Lumber made their debut with Boyd during the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. “Long-term partners mean so much to me,” commented Boyd. “It becomes more than a marketing program when the years go by, and we’ve become like family. Without getting too sentimental, we are very much looking forward to this race in Tibbetts home state of Florida. Our superspeedway truck was good to us last year and we did some tinkering in the off-season to get it where we want it to be. It seems the talent in the truck series keeps getting better and better, so this will be one the fans won’t want to miss!” Boyd enters his sixth full-time season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and his second as Driver/Owner for Freedom Racing Enterprises. Russ Hallenbeck, CEO and Vice-Chairman of Tibbetts Lumber remarked, “Daytona has always been a huge weekend for our company. It’s an opportunity for us to bring our employees and customers out to enjoy each other’s company with the backdrop of the world’s most iconic racetrack. Being partnered with Spencer has elevated the experience for us and we are truly grateful for the relationship. There will be a sea of Tibbetts orange cheering him on from the stands as that beautiful No. 76 takes on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway!” Headquartered in the Tampa Bay area since 1949 with 12 locations throughout Florida, Tibbetts designs and manufactures wood roof and floor trusses, lumber and building materials, custom interior and exterior doors, millwork, siding, windows, and offers installation services. The new team brings back the familiar number 76 for Boyd and a bright orange paint scheme that won’t be missed on the high banks of Daytona. You can watch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Fresh From Florida 250 race at Daytona International Speedway on FS1 on February 14, 2025. Catch Spencer in the Tibbetts Lumber No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado and all the Daytona 500 weekend action on the FOX family of channels. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

(Photo Courtesy NASCAR) The Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium earned a 1.55 rating with over three million viewers on Fox, according to Adam Stern. Ratings were up from last year’s event but down compared to the previous two years. The race was the second most-watched sports event of the week, trailing only the PGA Tour. We shared our thoughts on The Clash during Speed Syndicate, so be sure to check that out. Don’t forget to subscribe and visit RacingRefresh.com for all the latest motorsports news!