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Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 6, 2024) – NHRA officials announced today that VP Racing Fuels, Inc., the global leader in performance fuels, lubricants and additives, has been named the exclusive “Official Racing Fuel of NHRA” starting during the 2025 NHRA season as part of an exciting long-term agreement.   As part of a multi-year partnership, VP Racing Fuels, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, will be the official supplier of nitromethane to Top Fuel and Funny Car teams in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. VP’s standout C-25 Racing Fuel will also be the official spec fuel for Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle teams in the professional ranks, while multiple VP fuels will be used in Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.   "VP Racing is thrilled to be the Official Racing Fuel of the National Hot Rod Association,” said Bruce Hendel, Senior Vice President of Global Sales for VP Racing. “VP was founded on making better fuel for drag racing, and the NHRA has been part of VP’s heritage for over 40 years. Being named Official Racing Fuel starting in 2025, VP Racing’s 50th Anniversary year makes our association all the more exciting. Over the next decade, the NHRA and VP Racing’s fuel will together again make history.” For nearly five decades, VP Racing has been Makin’ Power® and has fueled some of the fastest racing on land, water, and air since 1975, and will now help power 11,000-horsepower nitro machines to speeds of more than 330 mph. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season is set to open March 6-9 with the legendary NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway as part of a thrilling 20-race schedule. As part of the official partnerships, VP Racing Fuels will enjoy exclusive sales onsite at every NHRA national event, as well as in-venue marketing items like top-end inflatables, signage at every national event, display space, in-venue media, and digital, social media and racer marketing opportunities.  “It has been an absolute pleasure working with VP Racing Fuels and we’re so excited to introduce them as the Official Racing Fuel of NHRA,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “VP has a long and storied history within the NHRA and racing, and they have been a tremendous partner for so many years. It’s a huge thrill to see this partnership grow in this capacity with a long-term program as we look towards an incredible 2025 season, as well as the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season in 2026.”   For more information about VP Racing Fuels, visit www.VPRacingFuels.com . For more information on NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.nhra.com . (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz.-- Joey Logano has officially secured his third NASCAR Cup Series championship, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite. With four wins this year, the second most in the NASCAR Cup Series, an All-Star Race victory, and now his third championship, Logano’s career continues to climb to new heights. He is just the 10th driver in history to win three or more championships, a testament to his skill and consistency. Yet, what’s fascinating about Logano’s championship years—2018, 2022, and 2024—is that, statistically, they don’t always position him as the clear favorite going into the Championship 4. Despite standout performances, he’s rarely considered the most likely to win when looking at the regular season alone. For example, in each of his championship seasons, Logano has had fewer top-five finishes than some of his rivals. In 2022, drivers like Kyle Larson and William Byron had more top-five finishes, better average finishes, and more laps led. Even in 2024, while Logano notched four wins, he didn’t dominate the regular season in terms of victories, and his average finish for the year was 17.4. To add another layer of unpredictability, Logano didn’t even secure a spot in the ‘Round of 8’ until the final race of the Round of 12, after Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Hendrick Chevy was disqualified following post-race inspection. But once in the Round of 8, Logano made a statement, becoming the No. 2 seed heading into the Championship 4. “Are you surprised? I’m not. I’m not. We’ve done this before,” Logano said. “It kind of seems like our way of doing it. We want to win more earlier than that, but for whatever reason, we’re able to recover seasons. It’s something I’m really proud of because there’s a lot of teams that would look at it and say, ‘We’re going to call it a rebuilding year.’ Sports teams use that excuse for struggling. We don’t do that. We go to work, try to be better, and salvage the year. I’d say we did a good job of that, getting here with two of them. That’s great. The trophy behind you—that’s really what it’s about.” In 2018, Logano only won three races, fewer than many of his competitors, and in 2022, he had just two regular-season victories before his late-season surge. This is a stark contrast to drivers like Larson and Byron, who had more wins and were statistically stronger in the regular season. For many, that might make them seem more deserving of a Championship 4 spot, or even the favorite to win it all. But Logano’s ability to “win the races that matter” has become his trademark, and it’s this skill that counterbalances the regular-season statistics. “Winning the races that matter,” Logano says, has become his hallmark. For some, his championship victories may seem like anomalies—products of a playoff format that doesn’t always reward the best overall season. But for Logano, his title wins are no fluke. He entered the Championship 4 as the veteran among the final four drivers, and it’s essential to consider key factors when evaluating his legitimacy as a contender. Ahead of Phoenix, Logano had accumulated 14 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff victories and made it to the ‘Round of 4’ six times, cementing his reputation as the “even year Champion.” The 2024 season marked his 11th playoff appearance, and what can be drawn from this is his sustained excellence and ability to compete at the highest level year after year. Crew Chief Paul Wolfe, who has worked with Logano through multiple championship runs, highlighted the team’s ability to execute under the current NextGen playoff format, despite not always having the fastest car during the regular season. “Were we fast a lot of races this year? No. But we executed to what the format is now, and that’s why we’re the champions. There’s a lot of cars that had speed early in the season that weren’t able to show up when it mattered, and whether that’s the pressure or what it is, I don’t know. But as a team, we want to run good every week, right, but we know when it’s time that you have to be your best and what it takes to prepare for that, and that’s what we’ve been able to do as a company,” said Wolfe. Logano and the No. 22 team have been able to thrive in the current playoff structure, and Wolfe acknowledged the team’s ability to adapt and perform when it counts most. “Obviously we’ve been able to walk out every championship with this new-generation car. I don’t really know what to say other than that. If we’re going to go back to the other format, then we’ll gear up and do our best for that format,” Wolfe added. Together, Logano and his team have shown that it’s not always about being the fastest on the track—it’s about performing at the right moments and executing the right strategy to earn the championship. Denny Hamlin, ever the outspoken critic, made it clear that if Logano were to win the championship, it would ignite a firestorm on social media regarding the playoff format. “I can tell you this, and it’s not their fault or his fault, but if Joey Logano wins this title, there is going to be a wrath on social media about this format. It already is. It’s so interesting because Kyle Larson, who you said you wanted to put an emphasis on winning, has won more races than anyone by a long shot, and yet he’s not part of the title fight. Kevin Harvick won 10 races and didn’t get to race for a title. The format is broken, and if you disagree, you’re in denial.” For Logano, his focus will quickly turn to closing those gaps and finding ways to come back stronger, continuing to build on the legacy that’s made him one of the sport’s most consistent and determined champions in the NextGen playoff system—and his ability to thrive in it. He’s proven time and again that when it comes to the final stretch, he can rise above the competition, laughing all the way to the bank. “I just think that’s just a bunch of hearsay back there and people that just got to accept what the times are. Times change, right? And I don’t know if you have a lot of the moments that we have today without the playoff system that we have. Do you want to see the championship crown with three races to go? Because that’s what used to happen. That’s pretty boring. You’ve got do-or-die moments. You’ve got the pressure. You’ve got all these things going on the last 10 weeks. You have guys trying to get into the playoffs,” said the now three time Champion.   “You have that storyline. How many storylines could we make? It’s amazing. For people to complain, it makes me mad. It makes me frustrated to hear that.” Looking ahead, Logano’s track record as the “even-year guy” suggests he’s not done adding championships to his resume. Known for his mental toughness, he’s evolved as a competitor over the years, with his growth recognized both on and off the track. As Team Owner, Roger Penske reflects, “I think first he had to shake off some of the reputation he had. They called him sliced bread, I think it was, or whatever it was. But he shook that off pretty quickly. We were behind him, and I think that was key, and he just grew and grew and grew. And not only on the track but off the track, when you think about what he does.” This maturation process has been key to his success. “When he puts the helmet on, there’s nobody out there that runs harder than he does, and I think that was just him maturing over time and getting the confidence that he could win and he could race anyone.” Logano’s growth has clearly paid off, as his ability to handle pressure and continue to win speaks volumes. “He certainly proved it today, and he has for the last three championships for sure.” Much like his nickname evolution, Logano has moved on from the “Sliced Bread” label that Randy Lajoie once gave him. And while “even year” has stuck in recent years, don’t expect it to define him moving forward. As Logano and his team begin their celebration of the 2024 championship, the focus will soon shift to 2025. The offseason won’t be a time for rest, as Logano’s competitive drive pushes him to reflect on his journey. Once the initial excitement settles, he’ll look back on his 2024 performance, always searching for ways to improve and learn more about himself as a competitor. It’s never long before Logano finds that next competitive edge. He’s just waiting for the next “dang it” moment of clarity. But for now, as he so often does, he’ll take some time to enjoy the victory and process what comes next. “Too soon to tell. I’ll kind of go back and forth a little bit on it. But as strong of a playoff run and winning the three races in the playoffs, that’s fantastic, but there’s obviously a lot of areas that we can be better as a team. Like we can’t just relax now and say this was great. We definitely have to find some areas where we are weak. I can pinpoint three or four of them right now that we need to go to work on. We’ll enjoy this because championships are really hard to come by. So we need to celebrate and we need to have fun together and do all the parties and everything that comes along with it. It’s really special and it’s really fun to do all that. But we can’t forget next year is coming, and the same weaknesses will be there if we don’t address them. Give me a little bit of time.”

Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. --Because it's the Championship weekend for NASCAR and the final hoorah for Stewart-Haas Racing, all eyes were on the No. 00 SHR Ford of Cole Custer to cap off the SRH era on a high-note. With a win in stage 2 of the NXS Championship Race and dominant performance, it almost seemed certain that Custer would pull off the back-to-back feat.  As with many things in life, outcomes don’t always unfold as expected. Despite the odds being in his favor, Justin Allgaier, the “comeback kid” who entered Phoenix for his series-leading seventh Championship 4 appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, overcame every setback imaginable this weekend to claim his first NXS championship. Allgaier drives the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. “ Yeah, it definitely stings,” said Custer. “There were a lot of points in that race where I felt like we were in a really good spot here. But it just came down to that restart with the 21 and him staying out on older tires, which is their right. We were all going for a championship, and I would have done the same thing.” Allgaier, who described his Phoenix car as the best he’d ever had, crashed during Friday’s Xfinity Series practice, forcing him to start Saturday’s race in a backup car from the back of the field. As if that wasn’t enough, he then battled through an early flat tire and back-to-back penalties that put him a lap down. Despite the setbacks, Allgaier worked his way through the field, ultimately passing Championship contenders Cole Custer and Austin Hill (No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet). “Obviously you’re always going to be a little bit salty when you finish second, but at the end of the day, that’s just how it goes sometimes,” said Custer. After Sunday’s Cup Series Championship, SHR will cease operations for good. As many of the team's drivers from across NASCAR’s national series have reminisced about their time with the organization, it was a bittersweet closing race for Riley Herbst, Saturday night’s Xfinity Championship Race winner. “Excited to leave on top and see what’s next,” said Herbst, whose 2025 plans are still unclear.  “It’s not even just Tony [Stewart]. It was an emotional week last week. There was a lot of crying people in that race shop. Its been home to a lot of good people for a long time, including myself. It was validating to win for Davin and everybody on the number 98 team but all the men and women at the shop don't get the notoriety, and they work 9 to 5 every single day of the week, even in the off season. Those guys mean the most to us and this win is just as much theirs as it is mine, so I’m excited for all of them to go out on top.”  Herbst, who wasn’t contending for the championship, led 167 of the 213 laps to claim his third career victory in the series. After two restarts during NASCAR overtime, Herbst made a last-lap pass around Xfinity Champion Justin Allgaier, who finished second. He said he was aware that Allgaier was racing for a championship and was willing to do everything it took to win, even if it meant he might move Allgaier out of the way.  “I was going to move him. He luckily, I think — I listened to the spotter replay. Eddie said that we’re not racing him, so he kind of gave me the bottom. But I was going to move him off the bottom in 3 and 4.”   Herbst’s No. 98 Ford literally smoked the field, surging to the front after rubbing his left rear tire to secure SHR’s final Xfinity win in Saturday’s race. “He did [move me], multiple times throughout the course of the night. He actually tried to flatten the left rear tire at one point. He wanted to win this race. I wanted to win the race, also, and I wanted to win a championship a lot more,” said Allgaier   “I think if he ever gets an opportunity to be where we were at tonight, I think he’ll look back at this win and probably wish he would have done some things different. But at the end of the day, you know what, everybody has got the way that they’re going to do it, and wins are obviously super important.   I’m not upset at him. There’s no hard feelings. I just think that the moment tonight was way different than just winning the race, and I believe that.” As Stewart-Haas Racing prepares to close its doors after Sunday’s Cup Series Championship, the weekend was a bittersweet reminder of the legacy the team has built in NASCAR.  Riley Herbst’s victory in the Xfinity Series Championship race marked a fitting end to SHR’s involvement in the series, with the team’s final win a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone behind the scenes.  While Justin Allgaier’s comeback story will be remembered for its grit and determination, Cole Custer’s near-miss and Herbst’s triumph underscore the unpredictability of racing and the fierce competition that defines the sport. As the SHR chapter closes, the memories, wins, and championships earned will forever be part of NASCAR history, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and a team that gave it all until the very end.

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsport Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. — Cole Custer, a Championship 4 contender in the Stewart-Haas #00 Ford, took a moment during NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 Media Day to discuss the mindset and approach needed to secure a championship on Saturday. “I think it is mainly just our team,” Custer said. The reigning 2023 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) Xfinity Series champion emphasized the importance of teamwork, consistency, and execution. “I think we have done a great job executing all year, and the process that we take throughout the week of checking all the boxes has worked really well for us. We just have to go out there and do it one more time,” he said. Custer’s reflection underscores the fact that success is not the result of a single moment or individual effort. Instead, it is the outcome of a well-executed process built on preparation, discipline, and attention to detail. By “checking all the boxes” and sticking to the proven methods that have worked throughout the season, the team is poised to perform at its best when it matters most. Earlier in the 2024 season, SHR co-owners Gene Haas and Tony Stewart announced in a joint statement that the team would be closing its doors at the end of the season. SHR has a storied history, with 69 NASCAR Cup Series victories, 22 Xfinity wins, and three championships. If Custer wins another NASCAR Xfinity Series title this weekend, it would be a fitting way to cap off a 16-year operation. “It is huge. It would mean so much to everybody in that building, but at the same time, I think it would be so cool to see Tony and Gene go out on top in a series in NASCAR. We are going to give everything we’ve got to try to do that and end this thing strong," said Custer. “We know that we are a team that, when we do things right, we are going to be towards the front.” SHR’s emphasis on consistency and efficiency highlights the belief that championships are earned through sustained excellence — not just talent, but by following the right process. Custer’s confidence in their strategy this season gives him belief that if the team stays true to their approach, they can claim victory one final time together. Chris Justice, a long-time member of the SHR family, has played a key role in the team’s success for over half of his NASCAR career. Before becoming an IT Specialist, Justice was a football player at Wake Forest. He joined NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity pit crew class in its groundbreaking years nearly two decades ago. “I have been working for Stewart-Haas for what would be 12 years now. I started in 2012, so this would mark the 12th year. Prior to Stewart-Haas, I was a tire guy, a pit crew guy in all three series. I started in March of 2012 at Stewart-Haas, and I’ve been an IT guy since 2012.” Justice has celebrated wins in Victory Lane with various teams, including the Daytona 500 with Kurt Busch in the Cup Series. He also jumped over the safer barrier at Phoenix Raceway last year to celebrate Custer’s 2023 NXS championship. When asked how meaningful it would be to go back-to-back with Custer this weekend, Justice said, “It would be great. I just started this career out learning, and you travel the journey, you win, you lose. Having the doors close behind you tonight as a champion would forever be a good memory.” Looking ahead, Gene Haas will continue to compete in the 2025 season with a new team, called Haas Factory Team. This smaller organization will field one Cup Series car and two Xfinity Series cars. WATCH Video: Cole Custer talks to Racing Refresh on Championship 4 Media Day. Phoenix Raceway, NOVEMBER 07, 2024, Avondale, Arizona.

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz., --AJ Allmendinger was the first to make it to the NASCAR Xfinity Championship 4, gifting Kaulig Racing team owner Matt Kaulig a special birthday present in Las Vegas. The team's first win of the 2024 season was sealed with a kiss to the camera. The California driver now has the opportunity of a lifetime to win a championship in Phoenix with the same #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet he piloted to victory in the Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I’ve had a rough, I’d say, 6 months thinking about getting AJ a win. Been so close, yet been so far away. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for me, probably because AJ’s probably one of my best friends I’ve ever had as a driver. So winning here was something pretty special,” said Kris Rice, President of Kaulig Racing. Allmendinger, with 18 victories in 130 Xfinity Series starts, had a rollercoaster of a season. After having to earn his way into the Playoff Round of 8 on points, the Vegas win became an emotional moment. Allmendinger attributes his success this year to his deep love for the organization and its people, which fuels him to give his best effort. Allmendinger is a two-time NXS Regular Season Championship but has yet to win the NXS Series Championship. "I want to win this championship. For me personally, it’s something you add to your resume. Like I said, there are a lot of people who don’t get the opportunity, but does it change my life whether I’m standing in victory lane with a championship on Saturday? It doesn’t change my life,” he shrugged. “I know what I’m doing next year. I know that Matt and Chris have made the commitment to me that I can be here for as long as I want to be, but the satisfaction might change other people’s lives inside the race team, and that’s where the determination and intensity this week will come from. Trying to bring a championship to Matt, Chris, and all the men and women because I’ve seen the hard work, and I feel at times I’ve let them down. So, it means more to me for them than it would ever for me.” When reflecting on the times he feels he’s let the team down, Allmendinger admits he doesn’t necessarily evolve from those moments. “Ha! I don’t ever think I’ll evolve from it,” he chuckled. While he acknowledged that it’s not an ideal approach, this determination to prove himself and work through challenges helps him stay focused and resilient, especially under high pressure like NASCAR Championship Weekend. “It’s what I do because I just love everybody in the organization so much, and I see the effort. More often than not, they’re picking me up, in the sense of saying they believe in me and things like that. So, it’s not the best way, I think, to go about life—the ups and downs—but it’s the way I motivate myself. The biggest thing I’ve always said, for anybody that’s on my race car or anybody that I drive for, is I just want them to know how much I care. Like, that’s the only thing I’ve ever said: ‘Man, I want them to walk away and be like, THAT GUY CARES and drives his tail off, every lap that he’s in the racecar.’ The best way I can go about it is to go win a championship, bring home the championship, and show ‘em how much I appreciate ‘em.” Allmendinger has a strong sense of responsibility not only to himself but also to his team, especially to those who believe in him. His desire to ensure that his teammates—no matter the team—know how much he cares about the effort he puts in, and to repay that belief with success, highlights the importance of team loyalty and performing for others. WATCH Video: AJ Allmendinger talks to Racing Refresh at NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 Media Day. NOVEMBER 08, 2024 at Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona.

November 09, 2024 From Reid Spencer I NASCAR Wire Service   AVONDALE, Ariz. — All Ty Majeski needed was a green-flag run to finish off his domination of Friday night’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race—a victory that earned him his first series title.   Majeski led 132 of 150 laps at one-mile Phoenix Raceway, and when the race-ending 27-lap green-flag run finally came, Majeski pulled away to a 3.945-second victory over Corey Heim, who recovered from a restart violation to finish second.   “I can’t believe it,” said Majeski, who won for the first time at Phoenix, the third time this season at the sixth time in his career. “Huge thank you to (ThorSport Racing team owners) Duke and Rhonda Thorson, (crew chief) Joe Shear Jr.—he’s one bad dude.   “This is so much fun racing with this group. I’m so proud to have the opportunity to drive these great race trucks. There’s a lot of times in my career when this looked like a far dream. Duke and Rhonda really gave me my third opportunity after I had two opportunities that failed—man, I can’t thank them enough.”   The championship was the second for Shear, who guided Johnny Sauter to the title with GMS Racing in 2016. For ThorSport, it was a series-record sixth championship, adding to three with Matt Crafton and two with 2023 champion Ben Rhodes.   ThorSport has won three of the last four Truck Series titles.   Heim restarted 19th on Lap 108 after his penalty and quickly moved forward, but the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota couldn’t overcome the speed in Majeski’s No. 98 Ford.   “I’m really disappointed to come up short like that,” said Heim, who will return for a third season with TRICON next year. “It’s hard to even be upset. I did almost everything right except for that restart violation (changing lanes before the start/finish line).   “But we were able to get our track position back pretty quick and make the most of it. I just had nothing for the 98. All day, he was so fast… We’ll move forward with our heads up high, a six-win season—career highs for myself my team, organization, everybody—just one spot short of the championship.”   Championship 4 drivers Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger finished third and fifth, respectively, after pitting for fresh tires on Lap 113. Though they were able to move through the field, they had nothing for the race winner.   Before the final green-flag run, three quick cautions—including a six minute, nine second red flag for a nine-truck wreck on the backstretch—interrupted the action at the start of the final stage, bringing the total for yellows to six for 43 laps. After Majeski got away in clean air from a restart on Lap 124, however, the race was over.   Starting from the pole position, Majeski streaked to a lead of more than two seconds, but Heim tracked him down in traffic and passed the No. 98 Ford for the top spot on Lap 39.   Three laps later the Ford of Frankie Muniz spun after contact with William Sawalich’s Toyota, ending the first 45-lap stage under caution.   But Majeski reclaimed the lead, with Eckes advancing to second, after Heim slid past the marks in his pit stall under the caution for the stage break and came out third.   Heim complained on the team radio channel that the concrete pit stall was one of the slickest he had ever experienced.   Majeski flipped the script in Stage 2, passing Heim for the top spot on Lap 71, six circuits after a restart that followed Jack Wood’s hard crash into the Turn 2 wall.   By the end of the stage at Lap 90, Majeski had expanded his advantage to 3.597 seconds. But stage wins were inconsequential to the Championship 4 contenders, who would settle possession of title in the frenetic final segment of the race.   Nick Sanchez finished fourth as the only non-Championship 4 driver to crack the top five. Taylor Gray was fifth, followed by Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, Rhodes and Layne Riggs.   NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Phoenix Raceway Avondale, Arizona Friday, November 8, 2024   (1)  Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 150. (2)  Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 150. (4)  Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 150. (7)  Nick Sanchez, Chevrolet, 150. (5)  Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 150. (14)  Taylor Gray, Toyota, 150. (8)  Kaden Honeycutt, Chevrolet, 150. (9)  Connor Mosack, Chevrolet, 150. (20)  Ben Rhodes, Ford, 150. (11)  Layne Riggs #, Ford, 150. (15)  Tanner Gray, Toyota, 150. (10)  Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 150. (19)  Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 150. (27)  Jake Garcia, Ford, 150. (6)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, 150. (24)  Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, 150. (13)  Conner Jones #, Ford, 150. (3)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 150. (22)  Matt Crafton, Ford, 150. (25)  Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 150. (18)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 150. (29)  Timmy Hill, Toyota, 150. (23)  Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 149. (16)  Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 149. (28)  Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 148. (33)  Nathan Byrd, Chevrolet, 147. (34)  Thad Moffitt #, Chevrolet, 147. (30)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 146. (32)  Keith McGee, Ford, 146. (35)  Lawless Alan, Ford, 146. (26)  Andres Perez de Lara, Chevrolet, Accident, 99. (17)  William Sawalich, Toyota, Accident, 98. (12)  Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, Accident, 98. (31)  Frankie Muniz, Ford, Accident, 95. (21)  Jack Wood, Chevrolet, Accident, 58.   Average Speed of Race Winner:  86.276 mph. Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 44 Mins, 19 Secs. Margin of Victory:  3.945 Seconds. Caution Flags:  6 for 43 laps. Lead Changes:  7 among 3 drivers. Lap Leaders:   T. Majeski (P) 1-38;C. Heim (P) 39-48;G. Enfinger (P) 49;T. Majeski (P) 50-64;C. Heim (P) 65-70;T. Majeski (P) 71-93;G. Enfinger (P) 94;T. Majeski (P) 95-150. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ty Majeski (P) 4 times for 132 laps; Corey Heim (P) 2 times for 16 laps; Grant Enfinger (P) 2 times for 2 laps. Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,98,19,2,9,5,7,38,66,52 Stage #2 Top Ten: 98,11,38,2,19,7,9,17,52,99

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Christian Eckes, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship 4 driver, developed a deep understanding of how evolving as a competitor is rooted not just in individual performance but in his newfound deeper ability to rely on and trust his Chevy Silverado McAnally Hilgmann Racing team. He said it was the most important lesson learned throughout the 2024 season and playoffs. “The ability of people, more than anything.” Early season mechanical issues could have led to frustration or self-doubt but for an elite driver aiming to take it all at one of NASCAR’s highest levels, Eckes speaks to how his team persevered. It highlights both personal and collective resilience– learning how to push through adversity and maintain focus on the long-term goal, which is crucial for success in Friday's high-stakes battle.  “Starting the year it didn’t go very well. Four of the five first races, we had some sort of mechanical issues. Some of them didn’t really affect us but when you have that much mechanical failure it's easy to get down but our team really got together and really cranked out one of the most consistent years in the truck series.” Personal growth in terms of mental fortitude and an increased confidence in the team’s capabilities to deliver a quality on-track product shows his growing understanding that winning a championship will require more than just his skills as a wheelman; it calls for a well-oiled, dependable group effort. He said, “Just have more faith in people. Ya know?” Lessons learned from early struggles like facing adversity, trusting the team, and maintaining focus, are now being applied to his championship pursuit where team cohesion and reliability will play a major role in securing the win. Eckes entered Phoenix as the No. 2 seed with 4,000 points. This is the fourth time he has competed in the NCTS Playoffs and his first NCTS Championship 4 appearance. In his past three playoff runs he's been eliminated in either the ‘Round of 8’ or 'Round of 10'. When it comes to being the one to burn down the tires at the end of 150 laps on Friday night, he said he’ll lean into the deeper trust he has for his people more than anything.  “Just having the confidence to rely on them. That they're going to bring a quality product for me to race. It's a very tight-knit group we have and I have lots of faith in them for sure.” WATCH Video: Christian Eckes talks to Racing Refresh on NCTS Championship 4 Media Day at Phoenix Raceway. November 07, 2024 Avondale, Arizona.

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsport Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. — A winning recipe starts with the right ingredients, and mental toughness is a crucial part of a champion’s mindset. When tasked with controlling a 3,000-pound machine at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, it’s no surprise that we often see the best drivers in fire suits drenched in sweat and fatigued arms boosted by the adrenaline from the challenge, hoisting the championship trophy in Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway. Grant Enfinger, Craftsman Truck Series Championship ‘Round of 4’ contender seems to have all the ingredients to come out on top this weekend and claim the championship. “I’d say, just as a whole this year, you’re always evolving. The guys at Team Chevy, Josh Wise and Scott Speed, are always helping us become better racecar drivers,” Enfinger said of his development throughout the season. “Through the early-season struggles, when it’s kinda hard to find confidence and things just aren’t clickin’, we really didn’t have the speed we were looking for. We couldn’t find any trends that we were lacking earlier in the year to, you know, bouncing right back and having race-contending speed.” Enfinger punched his ticket to Phoenix with a win at his home track, Talladega Superspeedway, during the ‘Round of 8’ opener. The victory was significant for Cody Rohrbaugh’s CR7 Motorsports, marking the team’s first win since joining the Craftsman Truck Series in 2018. It was also Enfinger’s 11th career win. Heading into Championship Weekend at Phoenix, he enters as the No. 1 seed in the series and holds the most playoff wins this season, with seven. As last year’s runner-up, Enfinger understands the confidence and resilience it takes to make it to the Championship 4 once again. “The round of 8 was really good to us,” Enfinger said. “I felt like we could beat the best in the Craftsman Truck Series when we’re at our best. Our pit crew, our crew chief, our spotter—we have all the ingredients. While we haven’t been as consistent as I’d like to this year, I feel like, at our best we can beat the best. That's what we’ve been focusing on, and I think that all the times when you have those challenges through the course of the year, I think at the end of the day you grow and you become better for it.” As Enfinger heads into the final race of the season, he’s not just aiming for a title; he’s proving that a commitment to constant improvement, resilience, and teamwork are noteworthy to his success.  With the confidence built through overcoming early-season challenges and a strong support system at CR7 Motorsports, he has all the right ingredients to be crowned champion. In a sport where mental toughness is as crucial as raw speed, Enfinger's recipe for victory is abundantly clear: execute at your best when it matters most, and trust that the hard work will pay off.  As the Championship 4 battle unfolds at Phoenix Raceway, he is ready to prove he has what it takes to be the last driver standing. WATCH Video: Grant Enfinger talks to Racing Refresh at 2024 NCTS Championship 4 Media Day. November 07, 2024 at Phoenix Raceway

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Corey Heim, 22 year old driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra, reflected on his development in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, focusing on both his personal growth and the lessons learned from the previous season. Several key themes emerged that highlight how he’s matured overall as a competitor. Earning the NCTS Regular Season Championship and finishing 3rd in the 2023 season, it’s worth revisiting past events—even the chaotic ones. With just 30 laps remaining in the 2023 Championship 4 finale, the on-track drama reached a boiling point, and right in the middle of it all was Championship contender Corey Heim. However, that doesn’t mean he’s coming into this race weekend with a chip on his shoulder because of it. “Not from what happened with racing and wrecking side of what happened in the championship race last year. I feel like we just had so much speed and had a really good opportunity to close out that race and didn’t. That has certainly put a chip on my shoulder to come back and do it this year. I think we were the best truck out of the four, last year, and to come back and have a shot at it again has definitely put a chip on my shoulder for sure,” said Heim. He acknowledged that his first full-time season was a learning experience and has grown both in terms of how he handles tough situations and improving as a driver. It’s a continual learning process, and his development is not just a result of one or two key moments but the cumulative effect of all the challenges and experiences he’s faced. Heim’s self-awareness and understanding of where he needs to improve will be significant in his pursuit of the championship title. It isn’t just about speed or performance but about handling the pressure of the high-stakes moments in a ‘winner-takes-all’ race. “I certainly learned a lot from last year – circumstantially and how to handle myself in tough situations. I feel like every race I’ve grown as a driver, and I feel like I’ve done that every year at TRICON since I’ve started out with those guys. Last year was my maiden full-time voyage and I learned a lot on the points race and how to put myself in position, now that I have the full season under my belt and can run it back, I can improve on that from last year and I feel even better about it.” Being the least seasoned driver in the Championship 4, his competitive experience, confidence, and insight to improve and tackle future challenges with a more mature mindset can’t be doubted. “I think a lot of it is just experience. Last year was my first full-time year, and I was able to keep a level head and put myself in a good position for stages one and two. Just feel like there was some circumstances – green flag pit stops were tough. It’s hard when you don’t have a lot of experience in that kind of stuff. I made some of my own mistakes on those. Late race restarts where you have to kind of be clutch – just getting those extra laps and extra reps in throughout last year and leading into this year was really big for me. I feel like the experience out of it has really paid off for me.” Heim heads to Phoenix as the No. 4 seed in the 2024 NCTS Playoff standings with 4,000 points and with all of the lessons learned over the last season he feels rested and mentally prepared to be crowned a champion come Friday night. “I feel like I just really learned kind of how to mentally prepare for these races. The preparation side has always been pretty key to my success and being able to mentally focus going into a race weekend. Over the last couple of years, I’ve kind of learned what matters and what doesn’t in a given week on preparing for a race. Just being able to spend some time for myself and be able to feel mentally cleansed going into a race weekend and not feel so overloaded with information, on the preparation side of things. Just a healthy balance and all of that kind of stuff leads to good things as well.” WATCH Video: Corey Heim talks to Racing Refresh, NCTS Championship Playoffs Round of 4 at Phoenix Raceway Media Day. November 07, 2024

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ty Majeski, driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150, enters the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway with a mindset shaped by his previous playoff experiences. This marks his third appearance in the postseason, and he emphasizes the importance of staying focused and treating the high-pressure race just like any other, despite any added preparation required for his second Championship 4 run. “I’m excited for the opportunity to go and compete at a high-level Friday night. I feel like in 2022 I learned a lot just from a mindset of what this all means – being here on Media Day and going through the motions. I kind of know what to expect this time around and feel like that makes me that much more prepared,” he said. Drawing on the strength of his tight-knit team at ThorSport, highlighting the importance of accountability and the dedicated work of Truck Chief Tyler Shullick and Crew Chief Joe Shear Jr., which has helped them perform at an elite level. “My 98 team has been really good. We’ve been together for three years now. Obviously, there are some moving pieces, but Joe, I, the truck chief, have been three really solid people throughout our tenure at ThorSport. Tyler Shullick, my truck chief, Joe Shear, my crew chief –we have a great relationship. We work really, really hard in the shop. That’s what it takes. It’s all about attention to detail and understanding and taking accountability of when we’re off, when I’m off, when I make a mistake, when Joe makes a mistake we hold each other accountable, but we’re incredibly close and we push each other to be better. I think that’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve been able to put really good runs together each season.” On the eve of the season’s finale in Phoenix, Majeski’s mindset is uncomplicated: only focus on what he can control. “I think the biggest thing is trying to treat this how we treat any other race. There’s more preparation that goes into it, but as far as the mental state of it, you have to treat it just like every other one. You can’t get caught up in the moment and have to sort of make the moment smaller and execute at a high level. There’s a lot that’s out of your control in the past rounds. There are different races and different types of tracks and you’re relying on other people not to win in certain scenarios, so there are really more variables that are out of your control in the previous rounds, so our perspective was all we can do is the best we can do. This race, you kind of control your own destiny a little bit. It’s winner take all. You have to execute at a high level and not make mistakes. You don’t want to do something that’s gonna take you out of it at the end of the race, so I have to be smart and I have to mindful. Stages don’t matter. To this point, stages are a huge deal getting those points, pointing our way to the next round as we did each of these rounds. This week it’s winner take all. Points don’t matter.”   Control what you can, execute flawlessly, and avoid mistakes. For Majeski, that’s the recipe to seize the opportunity and claim the championship. WATCH Video: Ty Majeski talks to Racing Refresh, NCTS Championship 4 at Phoenix Media Day October 07, 2024

By Adam Carabine Throughout the playoffs, the StatChat Power Rankings are focusing in on the 16 Cup Series Playoff Drivers.  Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races   Ty Gibbs – This week: 16th – Last week: 16th What seemed like an inevitability this season will likely have to wait until next year – Ty Gibbs likely won’t get his first Cup Series win in Phoenix.  It’s been a trying few weeks for the youngster, but it’s likely all part of his learning process.   Harrison Burton – This week: 15th – Last week: 14th DNF at Martinsville, finishing almost in last place – that’ll bring you down in the Power Rankings a few notches.  He’s finishing out his Cup Series season knowing that he’ll be returning to Xfinity next year, and maybe that weighs on him?  Pair that with the 21 not always being super competitive equipment, and you’ve got Harrison in 15th this week.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 14th – Last week: 15th If anyone at SHR has been trying their best to finish the season strong, it’s Briscoe.  He earned a Top 15 at Martinsville last week, and while he’s out of the running for the championship, he’s not bad at Phoenix – it is where he earned his first Cup win after all.    Daniel Suarez – This week: 13th – Last week: 11th Daniel Suarez seems like the forgotten child in this year’s playoff group.  He earned his way in with a win at Atlanta – the second race of the year, and he’s been fairly quiet since.  There have been some high points, certainly, but it seems like he’s not talked about as much as the others.    Austin Cindric – This week: 12th – Last week: 13th While Cindric’s playoff run was cut short at the Round of 12,  his performance overall has gone up during the final races of the season.  His average finish has gotten 2 places better, which might not sound like a lot but it could be significant over the long term.  If he can match this intensity (and maybe even find more) next season, he could be someone to keep an eye on.   Brad Keselowski – This week: 11th – Last week: 12th Keselowski was vocal on Twitter/X about his displeasure with the current playoff format.  For the record, if we were just going on regular points for the entire year, Brad K would currently rank 10th, with no shot at the championship (though he would be ahead of Logano).  While RFK continues to grow, it’s nice to see Keselowski still competing at a high level, and it seems like his team is continuing to get better each year.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 10th – Last week: 10th The lowest ranked of our Championship 4 in the Power Rankings, but really it could be anyone’s race on Sunday.  His average finish over the last 3 races is 23, and that includes a win at Homestead.  While he didn’t need a good finish at Martinsville, he’ll be hoping that his multiple laps down-P34 won’t carry some negative momentum into the final race.   Alex Bowman – This week: 9th  – Last week: 9th Bowman has had a hell of a playoffs, and it’s unfortunate that his DQ at the Charlotte Roval kicked him out of the playoffs when it did.  He’s earned the third-most points of any driver in the playoffs, and that’s including the single point he got for his Roval performance.    Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 8th – Last week: 7th It was looking a little too ‘storybook perfect’ for Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville (they literally named the track after him!).  His final season before retirement, a track where he’s had some dominant performances, and he earns the pole.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as he finished P24.   Joey Logano – This week: 7th – Last week: 8th As the first one locked into the Championship Four, Logano hasn’t had to work too hard these last few weeks.  Credit where credit is due, though – he earned a Top 10 at Martinsville.  Does he win his third championship this weekend?  It is an even-numbered year…   Denny Hamlin – This week: 6th – Last week: 5th Hamlin had a steep hill to climb in points deficit, so despite a really solid Round of 8, he still wasn’t able to advance.  8th, 3rd, and 5th were his finishes this round, but with only one spot available on points alone, it wasn’t meant to be.  Sounds like next year will have to be Denny’s year.   William Byron – This week: 5th – Last week: 3rd Speaking of good rounds, William Byron was the lone driver to point his way into the final race.  His round consisted of a 4th and two 6ths. He had a bit of a point advantage over Hamlin coming into the Round of 8, but that’s why you race the races!  Byron hasn’t won in 27 races – does he have one more in him on Sunday at Phoenix?   Ryan Blaney – This week: 4th – Last week: 6th They say history repeats itself.  Last year Blaney came in 2nd at Homestead, won at Martinsville and then won the championship.  He earned his spot in the Championship Four with his walk-off win at Martinsville this year, and also had a heartbreaking P2 at Homestead… could this be Blaney’s year (again)?   Chase Elliott – This week: 3rd – Last week: 4th Chase Elliott comes up short at Martinsville, and can’t move into the Championship Four, despite a P2 finish.  What really hurt him was his P33 at Vegas, which essentially put him in a must-win scenario after just one race.  Chase Elliott has been one of the most consistent drivers of the field this season, and if he can keep that up he’ll be a contender again next year.   Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 1st What a finish the Martinsville race was for Christopher Bell.  Unfortunately he gassed up too much in the final corner and ended up riding the wall.  This led to a safety violation from NASCAR, and the cost was his playoff spot.  His P22 finish was his first finish outside of the Top 15 this playoffs, and his first finish outside of the Top 5 since the Charlotte Roval.  Watch out for him next year, too.   Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 2nd Another driver that needed some more points in this round was Kyle Larson.  While he performed well in key moments, his P11 and P13 at Vegas and Homestead respectively (plus an extra 13 stage points) weren’t enough to get him back to the Championship Four.  It was enough, however, to get him back to the top of our Power Rankings!    Stay tuned for our final Power Rankings of the season after we have crowned a new champion!