Author: Official Release

Speedway Children’s Charities Grants $25,000 to ThreeAustin-Area Nonprofits
- Dell Children’s Foundation, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Best Buddies in Texas each received a grant from Speedway Children’s Charities to benefit 1,325 children in need in the Austin, Texas community.
- Funds were raised during the March 2024 NASCAR weekend at Circuit of The Americas.
- Learn more about Speedway Children’s Charities at SpeedwayCharities.org.
AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 18, 2024) – Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC), the official charity of Speedway Motorsports, has distributed $25,000 through three grants to Dell Children’s Foundation, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Best Buddies in Texas. The $25,000 will serve 1,325 children in need in the Austin area.

“We are thrilled to be able to help three different children’s organizations this year,” said Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter Executive Director Marissa Chaney. “Race fans are incredibly generous, and we’re looking forward to raising even more money in just a couple months when NASCAR returns to Circuit of The Americas.”

DELL CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION

Funds will support Dell Children’s Mental Health Family Fund for uninsured children who have been victims of trafficking, homelessness or battling terminal illness.

“We are grateful to Speedway Children’s Charities for their continued support of Dell Children’s,” said Dell Children’s Foundation Senior Director of Pediatric Grants and Development Jenn Davis, GPC. “The most recent grant to our Mental Health Program enables our hospital to provide comprehensive, holistic and family-centered care for children and adolescents facing mental health crises. We are honored to be partners with Speedway Children’s Charities in our shared mission of serving our community’s children.”

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE

The Austin Chapter partners with local organizations, churches, businesses and community members to build, deliver and assemble fully furnished beds – frames, mattresses, sheets, pillows and blankets – to children living in poverty who do not have one or whose families have just overcome homelessness. Chapter leadership shows volunteers how to take a pile of wood and construct twin bed frame components with drills, sanders and saws.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Speedway Children’s Charities,” said Sleep in Heavenly Peace Austin Chapter President Steve Gielda. “This financial donation will enable us to put 40 kids in brand new beds, giving them a better night’s sleep that will help them to become happier, healthier young kids that grow into better students and better sons and daughters while teaching them the importance of leaning on their local community to support one another.”

BEST BUDDIES IN TEXAS

BB Friendship Programs build one-on-one friendships between students with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities, offering social interactions while improving the quality of life for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Their goals are to increase opportunities for socialization and inclusion of students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, develop critical social skills in all students and increase awareness of the abilities of all children with intellectual or developmental disabilities in schools.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this grant from Speedway Children’s Charities in support of our friendship programs here in Central Texas,” said Best Buddies International Central Texas Area Director Morgan Ilika. “Everyone deserves a friend, and with partners like Speedway Children’s Charities, we are able to offer increased opportunities to alleviate the social isolation of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies does this by creating one-to-one friendships and cultivating the leaders of tomorrow through shared experiences of inclusion.”

The grants resulted from donations received during the fourth annual NASCAR weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in March 2024. Race fans who attended NASCAR at COTA took part in fundraising opportunities and events including:
- Laps for Charity: Race fans experienced driving their own vehicle around the 3.41-mile, 20-turn permanent road course behind an official NASCAR at COTA Toyota pace car.
- Live Auction: Race fans bid on unique experiences and autographed memorabilia during the Friday night THOR Family of Companies Camper Appreciation Party.
- Fan Assistance Golf Carts: Donations were accepted as the golf carts escorted race fans all over COTA property.
Donations can be made any time at SpeedwayCharities.org/Donate/#COTA.

There are 11 SCC chapters around the country, and combined in 2024, SCC distributed more than $4 million in grants to hundreds of different charitable organizations across the country, bringing the total funds distributed since 1982 to more than $72.6 million, ensuring many children in need are given the tools to build a better, brighter and healthier future. The money raised comes in large part thanks to the fundraising efforts of 11 Speedway Motorsports facilities and events: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR at COTA, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

Tickets:

Tickets for children ages 12 and under are just $10 for the March 2, 2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race and free for the March 1, 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. For individual tickets, weekend packages and camping, fans can visit NASCARatCOTA.com.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

About Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC)

The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities is to care for children with educational, financial, social and medical needs to help them lead productive lives. Founded by Bruton Smith in 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing funding for hundreds of non-profit organizations that meet the direct needs of children. Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $72.6 million in grants. The goal is to ensure that every child in need be given the tools to build a better, brighter and healthier future.
December 18, 2024
Forte Racing Announces Two New Drivers for 2025

Daytona Beach, Florida (Wednesday, December 18, 2024) – Forte Racing is pleased to announce that German driver Mario Farnbacher will join Canadian Misha Goikhberg behind the wheel of the GTD Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 for the full 2025 season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, while American driver Parker Kligerman will join the duo for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Michelin Endurance Cup driver is yet to be announced.

Goikhberg is returning for his third season with Forte Racing after consecutive fifth place finishes in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship. In 2023, Goikhberg, along with Forte Racing teammates Loris Spinelli and Patrick Liddy, won the prestigious Petit LeMans 10-hour endurance race. Over his two seasons with Forte Racing, Goikhberg has amassed eight top five finishes, including 2nd place finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Virginia International Raceway in addition to a 2nd place finish at Petit Le Mans in 2024.

“Very happy to work alongside Mario (Farnbacher) for the full season,” Goikhberg said. “He needs no introductions in GT racing and has won multiple championships. We were on sister cars in 2020, so we know each other very well.

“Also, I would like to welcome Parker (Kligerman) to the team,” the Canadian driver added. “He is a big stock car talent, and all-around wheelman. Not the worst guy to have matching Rolexes come the end of January.”

Farnbacher has successfully competed in multiple series including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Farnbacher won the Michelin Endurance Cup in 2017 with Riley Motorsports followed by GTD class IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championships as a -full-time driver in 2019 and 2020 with Meyer Shank Racing.

After winning the Pro Am class in the GT World Challenge America in 2022 with Racers Edge Motorsports and the 2023 Pro category runner-up title, the Ansbach native returned to IMSA in 2024 driving for Heart of Racing’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTDPRO Championship entry.

“It’s my first day in the new job and it was nice to get into this new environment and into the new challenges as well,” Farnbacher said yesterday. “I think the first test day today was good. Definitely a lot of things that are new that I need to learn and get my head around. I think we made some good progress and are getting to know each other as a new team. Really looking forward to the future and the ROAR and Daytona weekends. I think we have a strong package and I’m really looking forward to this season. I’d like to thank the team and Lamborghini for giving me this opportunity.”

Joining the 2025 full season drivers for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is NASCAR driver and announcer Parker Kligerman. The Connecticut-native has raced in all three of NASCAR’s premier series since starting his career in 2013 and has spent the last two seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Big Machine Racing. During his NASCAR career, Kligerman has amassed 3 wins, 37 top five finishes, and 98 top ten finishes across all three series.

Kligerman has served as an analyst and pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC since 2015 and stands as one of the youngest correspondents to ever serve as a pit reporter for a NASCAR Cup race. He has also produced and developed multiple original programs for NBC Sports such as Proving Grounds and In The Wall. This will be Kligerman’s first-time racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“This race has been on my bucket list my entire career,” Kligerman said. “I’m super excited and grateful to be doing it with a race winning and top caliber organization like Forte Racing. We’re here to go for a Rolex. The team has been so welcoming to my partners Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers and have created a great atmosphere and cool vibe. This is my first endurance race. I’ve done sims and have done the broadcast the last 5 or 6 years, but to actually be driving in the race is super cool. I’m so pumped! It’s a dream come true.”

Forte Racing GTD Program Manager Michael Harvey is excited to have Goikhberg returning and is looking forward to getting to know the new additions to the team. With fifth place championship finishes in the team’s first two seasons competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD Championship, Harvey is hoping to start the 2025 season with a strong finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in his quest to win the team’s first IWSC GTD title.

“It’s a pleasure to watch this group grow,” Harvey said, “we are very committed to taking the next step as we fight for a championship. So happy to continue this journey with Misha, and super excited to add a multiple champion like Mario to the program, His experience will be invaluable. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be able to add Parker to our Rolex charge, definitely a talent who will shine over the 24 hrs.”

Find out more about Forte Racing on our website Forteracing.com and our Instagram page and make sure to tune in and support Forte Racing’s new lineup of drivers for the Rolex 24 at Daytona January 23-26 on NBC, USA and Peacock.

*Photos Courtesy of Brayan Castiblanco

About Forte Racing (Formerly known as US RaceTronics)

Forte Racing is a Los Angeles and Charlotte based Motorsport team, supported by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, competing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar GTD Championship, the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series.

While the Forte Racing brand was created in 2023, the team is operated by Shane Seneviratne’s US RaceTronics which was founded in 2005 to compete in the formula car Atlantic Championship. The team finished 5th in points its first year and ultimately amassed a total of 21 podiums, 7 poles, 5 race wins and finishing 3rd in the 2009 Atlantic Championship before the Series was put on hiatus.

Seneviratne fully returned to racing in 2015 managing entries in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American (LBSTNA) Series. The team won the Team Championship, Dealership Championship, Pro Championship and Amateur Championship that season. That success reignited Seneviratne’s passion for racing and he relaunched US RaceTronics to compete in the 2016 LBSTNA Series. The team has won multiple North American and World Championships since switching to IMSA racing.

In 2023 the team expanded to include an IMSA WeatherTech GTD entry with their Lamborghini Huracan EVO2 GT3, driven by Misha Goikhberg and Loris Spinelli. The team finished the 2023 and 2024 seasons with four top five finishes in each season and included a 2nd-place finish at Indianapolis and VIR, along with a win at the 2023 season-finale Petit Le Mans and a 2nd-place finish at Petit Le Mans in 2024. The team finished fifth in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship in its first two seasons, further solidifying their reputation as a rising force in the GTD Championship.

For more information on how to become a driver with US RaceTronics, learn more about the Series, or attend a race, visit www.forteracing.com.

About Change Racing

Founded by Lamborghini Charlotte CEO and long time real estate developer, John E. Littlefield, Change Racing is the premier championship winning team. Claiming 18 titles in various classes; Change Racing has competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series since its inception in 2013.

Most recently claiming the 2021 Amateur World Championship in Misano, Italy. Change Racing also claimed all SIX 2020 North American Championships, including the Pro, Pro-Am, Am and LB Cup class championships as well as the Team and Owner championships.

About O’Gara Motorsport

O’Gara Motorsport was founded in 2014 by owner Tom O’Gara and celebrated winning the 2015 North American Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver and team Championships. The team goal is to achieve victories in the Series as well as showcasing the brands of their sponsors both on and off the track. With a vertically integrated platform that starts at the dealership and accelerates to the top levels of professional sports car racing, everyone at O’Gara is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program for anyone, from the casually curious to the dedicated racer.

December 18, 2024
Tim Brown: Rookie or Ringer?

Rick Ware Racing To Give Winningest Driver in Bowman Gray History

First Career NASCAR Cup Series Start in Feb. 2 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 17, 2024) – Ever since he was a fresh-out-of-high-school 19-year-old just beginning his racing career, Tim Brown had an eye on competing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Nearly 35 years later, Brown will finally get the opportunity to race in NASCAR’s premier division.

Rick Ware Racing (RWR) has tabbed Brown to drive its No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the Feb. 2 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray, the season-opening exhibition race for the NASCAR Cup Series.

Brown isn’t some journeyman. With 101 victories, he is the all-time winningest driver at Bowman Gray Stadium, the flat, quarter-mile asphalt oval in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that is the country’s longest-running weekly racetrack. NASCAR runs the venerable facility and the city of Winston-Salem is listed as its owner, but Brown has made “The Madhouse” his house by augmenting his win tally with 12 track championships and 146 poles.

The 53-year-old from Yadkinville, North Carolina, competes in the track’s Tour Type Modified division, where he has set just about every record imaginable. Beyond having the most wins, the most poles and the most championships at Bowman Gray, Brown owns the fastest lap ever recorded (12.965 seconds on April 30, 2016). He won every pole during the 2003 season, and his championships span four decades, with titles in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2021 and 2022.

“I’ve worked my whole life to try to be a Cup driver,” said Brown, who toils fulltime at RWR as its suspension and drivetrain specialist. “I’m good with working on racecars for a living because it’s still a pretty cool gig, but I always wanted to drive for a living. For Rick Ware and everybody involved here at RWR to give me the chance to go run a Cup race is so humbling and so heartwarming. It’s really cool.”

Ware is a former driver who transitioned to team ownership after injuries took him out of the seat.

“As someone who understands what it’s like to try to achieve goals and move up the racing ladder, it’s just a great opportunity for Tim and it’s something we’re proud to do,” Ware said. “We’ve had the opportunity to give a lot of drivers their first Cup start, and this is one that’s very well-deserved, especially at this track.”

Brown has turned thousands of laps around Bowman Gray, and he will turn even more before the NASCAR Clash. He will race his Modified in the undercard Madhouse Clash on Feb. 1. That means in addition to the track time Brown will get in a Cup car via practice, qualifying and his heat race prior to the NASCAR Clash, he will get a practice session in his Modified before qualifying and the 125-lap race.

“That time in the Modified will be very helpful for multiple reasons,” Brown said. “NASCAR has already done some updates to the stadium with soft walls and things like that. That’s going to change the line of the racetrack because you make the track smaller. So the line that we generally run, you won’t be able to run because they run right out against the wall. If the soft walls take up 2-and-a-half or 3 feet, now that’s 3 feet that you can’t let the car drift out to the wall. Just getting some track time before we climb in the Cup car, which I’ve never driven before other than on the chassis dyno, will be very helpful.”

While Brown has not driven a Cup car, he knows it inside and out. He has been building Cup cars since he was in high school, first with Cale Yarborough Motorsports and through the many iterations of Cup technology, including the current-generation car.

“I’ve been Cup racing for almost 35 years now, and I don’t know that you’ll find a Cup driver who actually gets to build his own Cup car from the ground up, chassis dyno it, and then go race it,” Brown said. “These guys that work here at RWR, they’re my buddies and they’re all racers, and we get to do this as a group effort. I actually get to put the nuts and bolts on it, and mount a seat, put the motor in it, and go drive it on the chassis dyno before I run it in the Clash. That’s pretty cool.”

The cool factor is heightened because the opportunity is coming on NASCAR’s biggest stage.

“The guys who race these Cup cars today are elite,” Brown said. “They’re the best drivers in the world, and I’m not even going to put myself in that same category. I’m just going to do the best I can.

“I want to climb out of that thing at the end of the Clash and see my son and our family with big smiles on their faces and knowing that we did the best we could because, I promise you, I’m going to give it 110 percent. I just want to enjoy the moment, relish it and soak it all in. I’m not going to leave there and say, ‘Hey, I’m a Cup driver, now.’ I’m just going to leave there knowing this was the experience of a lifetime.”

Beyond creating an exceptional moment for Brown, Ware envisions this endeavor highlighting grassroots racing and the skills of its personalities.

“At Bowman Gray, Tim really has the same opportunity as anybody else,” Ware said. “He was with Roush for decades before he was with us. He’s a very good mechanic. He’s built all his own racecars and he understands racing. I think he’s got an inside track just because he has touched every single part of these cars. He’s a racer, and particularly at this track, he’s got a lot of experience.”

The NASCAR Clash will be broadcast live by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Rick Ware Racing:

Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver’s seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).

December 17, 2024
Zeigler Auto Group Returns to Spire Motorsports for 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign
Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar to Carry Zeigler Livery for Multi-Race Program

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 16, 2024) – Zeigler Automotive Group, one of the largest privately-owned automotive dealer groups in the United States, will return to Spire Motorsports to partner with Michigan native and reigning NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar for multiple races in 2025.

“We are very excited for the 2025 season with Carson and the Spire team,” said Aaron J. Zeigler, president and CEO of Zeigler Auto Group and Zeigler Racing. “This past year has been nothing short of incredible, with Carson earning the well-deserved Rookie of the Year award. His performance on the track has exceeded all expectations, and if this past year is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for an exciting ride. Carson’s commitment to excellence, both on and off the track, has made a tremendous impact, and we are honored to continue to support our hometown hero. His dedication to the community has been inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for Carson, Zeigler, and the entire Spire team.”

Zeigler.com and Zeigler Auto Group will be showcased as the team’s primary sponsor in eight Cup Series races in 2025 beginning with the first points-paying race of the season Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.

The distinct yellow and black Zeigler paint scheme will be featured aboard Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevy Camaro at the following races in 2025:
- Daytona International Speedway – February 16
- Homestead-Miami Speedway – March 23
- Darlington Raceway – April 6
- Nashville Superspeedway – June 1
- Michigan International Speedway – June 8
- Chicago Street Course – July 6
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway – July 27
- World Wide Technology Raceway – September 7
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. The family-owned and -operated organization has been a regular on the Cup Series tour since 2019.

Hocevar, 21, earned top 2024 rookie honors on the strength of one top-five, six top-10 and 13 top-15 finishes. In his first full-season at the controls of the No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar brought home a career-best third-place finish in the Cup Series’ September visit to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

“I’m excited to continue our partnership with Zeigler Automotive Group after a successful rookie season,” said Hocevar. “They’ve been such a great support group since day one for me and the No. 77 team. I’m looking forward to continuing to build our partnership on and off the track and can’t wait to take the Zeigler Chevrolet to Victory Lane.”

The Portage, Mich., native impressed throughout his rookie campaign, accumulating 686 points and being the top-finishing rookie in 15 races on NASCAR’s senior circuit. He out-distanced his next closest competitor by a handsome 107-point advantage when the checkered flag fell on the 2024 season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

The 21-year-old made his NCS debut for Spire Motorsports on June 4, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway. In addition to his NCS debut, Hocevar made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Spire Motorsports in 2023, earning top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway (sixth) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (eighth).

Hocevar is the third Michigan-born driver to win Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Johnny Benson (1996) and Erik Jones (2017).

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will also be the first NASCAR event streamed live on Amazon Prime. The first of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Zeigler Auto Group …
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top one percent of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023.

The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor’s top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.

For more information, please visit zeiglerracing.com or follow us on @zeigler_racing on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Linkedin.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigned the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fielded the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
December 16, 2024
Niece Motorsports Signs Christian Rose to Full-Time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Season in 2025

Rose to compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors driving the No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado

Salisbury, NC (Dec. 16, 2024) – ARCA Menards Series graduate Christian Rose is making the jump up to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for a full-time bid with Niece Motorsports in 2025.

Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Rose did not come from a racing background, but rather, was raised on his family’s farm. When he was a child, Rose dreamt about becoming a professional driver, but his path to the career was formed by a unique journey.

A former Division 1 college baseball pitcher, Rose graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2022, he was enshrined into the school’s Wall of Fame for his playing achievements. Shortly after graduating, Rose became a bouncer at a bar & grill in Ocean City, Maryland, before embarking on his driving career.

Starting out in Super Late Models, then later progressing into the ARCA ranks, Rose has gained experience racing on all types of tracks throughout the country.

In 2023, he joined AM Racing to complete two full-time ARCA national seasons – both of which resulted in top-five finishes in the points standings – highlighted by a third-place title run during his rookie year.

Looking ahead to 2025, Rose will take on a new challenge as he learns the ropes of the Truck Series. His rookie campaign will come from behind the wheel of the team’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST.

“For me, it’s a huge opportunity to make the jump from the ARCA Series,” said Rose. “I got my feet wet a little bit in the Truck Series a few years ago, but I believe in everything that we have going on in this building and am very excited to get to Daytona. The speed that we’ve seen from this team is a big reason why we signed our deal, and I’m just excited to make that transition. I think if we do the right things and show up and put the work in, we can have a lot of great things to look forward to next year.”

Rose joins fellow teammates Matt Mills and Kaden Honeycutt, who will both compete on a full-time basis for the team in 2025. Additional driver lineup announcements, along with primary partnership announcements for Rose’s truck, are forthcoming.

Niece Motorsports will enter its 10th season competing in the Truck Series in 2025, marking a milestone year for the organization.

“We’re all excited to welcome Christian on with our team next year,” said Cody Efaw, Niece Motorsports CEO. “I think our program has the possibility to have a banner year with the driver and partner lineup that we have. Christian’s drove well in his time running in ARCA, and he will have all the tools he needs to learn from our group of guys. It’s going to be a great year.”

Away from the racetrack, Rose enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife, Brooke, just welcomed the birth of their second son, Rip, a handful of weeks ago.

The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season will commence under the lights at the iconic Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 14th. Tune-in to FOX Sports 1 to see Christian Rose make his first NCTS outing with his new team.

Follow Christian Rose on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Visit niecemotorsports.com for all the latest news.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, Niece Motorsports enters its tenth season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

December 16, 2024
Greg Van Alst Joins Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen for 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen confirmed today the signing of ARCA Menards Series veteran driver and race winner Greg Van Alst to compete in a majority of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule, beginning with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Sat., Feb. 14, 2025.

Van Alst, a former ARCA winner at Daytona, will pilot the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro as part of an already announced two-car effort for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team beginning with the season-opening race at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway.

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to compete in most of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen,” said Van Alst.

“This is an essential step in my racing career, and with a tunneled vision focused on the Xfinity Series, I believe I can step up to the plate and not only be competitive but also produce some strong finishes that can propel our team into the spotlight.

“I’m ready to get to work and make the most out of the opportunity to make my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Daytona in about two months.”

Van Alst, 43, graduated to the Xfinity Series part-time with Alpha Prime Racing in 2023 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, respectively.

After spending most of the 2024 season competing in the ARCA Menards Series aboard his family-owned No. 35 entry, Van Alst paired with SS-GreenLight Racing this year for five races, earning a career-best finish in the penultimate race of the season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in early November.

Co-team owner Joey Gase announced last week that his family-owned team had added additional investment support from entrepreneur Scott Osteen. He is excited to work with Van Alst and conquer their season-long goals.

“Scott Osteen, myself and our entire Joey Gase Motorsports team are extremely excited to have Greg and his partner be a part of our team in 2025,” offered Gase. “It’s crazy how things happen and work out sometimes.

“Greg was in our shop in 2022 when our team started pulling down his ARCA car. Whoever thought he would be driving for us a few years down the road, plus we both have good taste in car numbers.

“We became good friends at the track the last few years in the Xfinity garage. We would throw questions at each other and race each other with respect on the track. Now, we’re joining forces with one mission. I’m looking forward to getting started at Daytona.”

Beginning at Daytona and throughout the 2025 Xfinity season, Van Alst’s No. 35 Chevrolet will carry continued support from Anderson, Ind.-based CB Fabricating.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Nestled in Van Alst’s hometown, CB Fabricating’s partnership will continue for a fifth consecutive season.

“I am excited about this new partnership with Greg and the Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen team, said Chris Barkdull, owner of CB Fabricating.

“This is the next chapter of Greg’s and I’s relationship, and we look forward to making some great memories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the 2025 season.”

Van Alst added, “None of this would have been possible without the support of Chris (Barkdull) and CB Fabrication,” he added. “Chris has been there through the highs and lows of my racing career that reignited back in 2021.

“To have his blessing and overwhelming support to make this major leap towards more racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is incredibly important to me and something I will never forget.

Since 2002, Van Alst has 53 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit, one win, five top-five and 26 top-10 finishes.

For more on Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, please like them on Facebook (Joey Gase Motorsports) and follow them on Instagram (@joeygasemotorsports) and X | Twitter (@J_G_Motorsports).

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on X | Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

The 120-lap United Rentals 300 is set for Saturday, February 14, 2025, with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

December 16, 2024
NHRA AND ZMAX DRAGWAY ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER FOUR-WIDE RACE IN THE COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals brings thrilling four-wide racing to playoff race for the first time in NHRA history

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 13, 2024) – For the first time in NHRA history, there will be four-wide racing in the Countdown to the Championship. NHRA and zMAX Dragway officials announced today the first four-wide playoff race, as the revamped NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals will take place Sept. 19-21, 2025, at the Bellagio of Dragstrips, zMAX Dragway.

The annual fall event in Charlotte serves as the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 16th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The playoff race had previously taken place in drag racing’s traditional two-wide format, but one of the most unique spectacles in motorsports will make its playoff debut, with four-wide racing set to bring an intriguing and exciting aspect to the championship race and the fall event at state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway.

“Creating remarkable events is at the core of what we strive to do every day, and a four-wide Countdown race is the next in a long line of firsts we’re proud to be part of in motorsports,” said Greg Walter, president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’ve seen the popularity of four-wide racing with fans for years at our spring event, but with championship implications on the line, next year’s showcase of speed promises to be our best yet.”

Since its debut in 2010 at the spring race at zMAX Dragway, the first-ever purpose-built four-lane dragstrip, four-wide racing has been a huge favorite with fans, packing the spacious facility each year during the early-season extravaganza.

Bringing the spectacular nature of four-wide racing to the Countdown to the Championship adds a thrilling, must-see aspect to the fall race, which comes in the middle of an important stretch of three straight race weekends to open the playoffs.

Last year, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the Carolina Nationals, with both Brown and Prock finishing the season as world champs, and Glenn and Smith taking second in points in their respective classes.

Over the years, zMAX Dragway and four-wide racing have provided incredible moments, unbelievable side-by-side-by-side-by-side action and record-breaking runs, setting the stage for a wild four-wide doubleheader in 2025. The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals on April 25-27 will feature the 1,000th race in the illustrious Top Fuel category, with fans also getting the chance to witness four-wide racing in the fall for the first time ever, only adding to the playoff intensity and electricity at zMAX Dragway.

“I think it’s positive. You have to go as many rounds as you can in those six (Countdown) races no matter what, and I think it’ll be good,” Mac Tools Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta said. “If it helps the attendance, that’ll be a double bonus, and I’m totally down with it. People can be pretty opinionated about the four-wide races, but Bruton Smith stepped up like he did his whole life building these beautiful facilities trying to grow the sport.

“If somebody’s willing to spend the money to build a four-wide track to try to improve the sport, I’m definitely down with supporting people and efforts like that. I like the four-wide, and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. Just like with NASCAR and what they do with the road courses and the Roval, we’re mixing it up. I’m for doing whatever it takes to promote our sport and get the most fans at the events.”

Added Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III: “We race for the fans, and the engagement for the four-wide races is off the charts. The track thought it would be a great addition to the Countdown, so why not? Four-wide racing pushes some drivers out of their comfort zone, but I’ve had great success in this format. It’s an intense, electrifying experience that the fans absolutely love, so I say give the fans what they want and make it part of the Countdown.”

Some of the biggest names in the NHRA have also been the biggest winners when it comes to four-wide racing in Charlotte. In the Top Fuel ranks, Brown and Steve Torrence, who both have four world championships, have enjoyed massive success in Charlotte. Torrence has four four-wide victories (and six overall), while Brown has two four-wide wins (and six overall). Funny Car legend John Force won the first four-wide event in 2010 and also the most recent in 2024, with Ron Capps and Jack Beckman also winning twice at the biggest spectacle in drag racing.

In Pro Stock, reigning world champion Greg Anderson has three wins in the four-wide format at zMAX Dragway, including a 2024 triumph, while back-to-back Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gaige Herrera also has won the spring race the past two seasons in Charlotte.

“We’re excited to team up with the incredible team at zMAX Dragway and have our first-ever four-wide drag racing in the Countdown to the Championship,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “The Smith family and everyone at zMAX Dragway have always been eager to bring new and innovative ideas to the table, and it was great to see the support from our race teams and partners. We wanted to try something different for our fall race in Charlotte and this marks a thrilling new challenge and full of playoff intensity, and one we think our fans will be eager to see next fall.”

Tickets for the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals are on sale now and available at https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/nhra-carolina-nationals/. The spectacular, can’t-miss four-wide action will include two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday for the pivotal playoff race.

For more information on NHRA, including the full 2025 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com. For more information on zMAX Dragway, please visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

December 14, 2024

NHRA AND FOX SPORTS RELEASE TV SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING 2025 NHRA MISSION FOODS DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 13, 2024) – NHRA officials and FOX Sports announced today the television schedule for the upcoming 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which includes eight broadcasts on the FOX broadcast network.

All 20 races, along with the NHRA All-Star Callout events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the GETTRX NHRA All-Star Callout race in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, will be broadcast on either FOX or FS1 during the 2025 campaign. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opens March 6-9 with the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals at legendary Gainesville Raceway. The race includes the NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, which will be broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 8 on FS1 and eliminations from the season-opener airing from 7-10 p.m. the following day.

For the fifth consecutive season, a September event in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs will also air on FOX adjacent to an NFL broadcast, providing NHRA to a huge audience during its playoffs. That opportunity has repeatedly led to impressive viewership numbers, including an average of more than 1.2 million viewers on FOX last year during the broadcast from Maple Grove Raceway.

That marks the final race of the season appearing on the FOX broadcast network, following a summer filled with incredible racing action on the broadcast network. Races scheduled to appear on FOX include the NHRA New England Nationals from New England Dragway in Epping, N.H. (June 1), the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals from Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk (June 29), the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals from Pacific Raceways (July 20), a special showing of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge from Sonoma Raceway (July 26), and the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals from Brainerd International Raceway (Aug. 17), leading into the world’s biggest drag race.

The prestigious 71st annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, which takes place Aug. 27-Sept. 1 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, will air on both FOX and FS1, including eliminations on FOX on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1 from the Big Go. The Funny Car All-Star Callout will also air on FOX on Sunday, Aug. 31, ensuring two days of coverage on FOX for NHRA’s biggest event. Eliminations will receive five hours of coverage on Monday, starting with two hours (12-2 p.m. ET) on FS1 before moving to FOX.

Along with the nitro Callouts, both the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout and the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout will receive special Saturday broadcasts. The Pro Stock version, which takes place Saturday, June 28 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, will air at 3 p.m. ET that day on FS1, while the PSM Callout from Sonoma Raceway will air at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 26 on FS1.

The NHRA and FOX relationship began in 2016, and NHRA and FOX Sports announced a multiyear extension of their agreement in 2021, including expanded coverage, the NFL adjacent event during the Countdown to the Championship, and extensive finals coverage at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend each year. The partnership has also led to numerous innovations on the broadcast in recent years, with the NHRA on FOX team collecting numerous Telly awards in 2024.

FOX Sports and NHRA are also scheduling NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series broadcasts, as well as shows featuring the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series across the FOX Sports networks.

NHRA races will also appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing as well, as well as through the FOX Sports app.

For more information on NHRA, including the full 2025 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.

2025 NHRA on FOX Sports Television Schedule (all times Eastern)

March 8	NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout	Gainesville	9:00 PM	FS1
March 9	NHRA Gatornationals	Gainesville	7:00 PM	FS1
March 23	NHRA Arizona Nationals	Phoenix	6:30 PM	FS1
March 30	Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals	Pomona	6:30 PM	FS1
April 13	NHRA 4-Wide Nationals	Las Vegas	6:30 PM	FS1
April 27	NHRA 4-Wide Nationals	Charlotte	TBD	FS1
May 18	Gerber Collison & Glass NHRA Nationals	Chicago	2:00 PM	FS1
June 1	NHRA New England Nationals	Epping	6:00 PM	FOX
June 8	Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals	Bristol	3:00 PM	FS1
June 22	Virginia NHRA Nationals	Richmond	4:00 PM	FS1
June 28	GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout	Norwalk	3:00 PM	FS1
June 29	Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals	Norwalk	2:00 PM	FOX
July 20	Muckleshoot Casino Resort Northwest Nationals	Seattle	4:30 PM	FOX
July 26	Sonoma Mission 2F2T Challenge	Sonoma	6:00 PM	FOX
July 26	GETTRX NHRA PSM All-Star Callout	Sonoma	9:30 PM	FS1
July 27	Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals	Sonoma	4:00 PM	FS1
Aug. 17	Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals	Brainerd	3:00 PM	FOX
Aug. 31	NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout	Indianapolis	5:00 PM	FOX
Sept. 1	Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	12:00 PM	FS1
Sept. 1	Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	2:00 PM	FOX

Countdown to the Championship Television Schedule

Sept. 14	NHRA Reading Nationals	Reading	2:00 PM	TBD
Sept. 21	NHRA Carolina Nationals	Charlotte	3:00 PM	TBD
Sept. 28	NHRA Midwest Nationals	St. Louis	3:00 PM	FS1
Oct. 12	Texas NHRA FallNationals	Dallas	4:00 PM	FS1
Nov. 2	NHRA Nevada Nationals	Las Vegas	5:00 PM	FS1
Nov. 16	In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals	Pomona	5:00 PM	FS1

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

December 14, 2024

Rajah Caruth Returns to Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for 2025

HENDRICKCARS.COM to Support the Most Popular Driver’s Full-Season Effort

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 13, 2024) – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Most Popular Driver Rajah Caruth will return to Spire Motorsports in 2025 to pilot the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado in pursuit of the division’s championship honors.

In addition to announcing his plans for the 2025 season, Caruth walked the commencement stage Friday morning to accept his college diploma. The newly crowned graduate collected a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Management from Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University.

HendrickCars.com, the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group, will return to the team and serve as Caruth’s primary sponsor.

“I’m thrilled to confirm that Rajah Caruth will be back with us in 2025 driving the No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “He took the incredibly high expectations we placed on him to start the year and exceeded them in every way. I’m impressed with how he’s balanced his commitments to his race team, his craft, the media and his growing fanbase while managing a full workload at Winston-Salem State University. Our organization believes in Raj and he has consistently shown the leadership, form and work ethic that every team looks for in a driver. Everyone at Spire Motorsports is really happy to run it back with him next season.”

Caruth, a native of Washington D.C., earned his first career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole position and victory in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, becoming just the third African-American driver to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.

“It is great to have a home and stability heading into next year,” said Caruth. “I believe this is the first time in my career I won’t be with a new team or competing in a different series at the start of the season. I really appreciate the opportunity Jeff (Dickerson) and T.J. (Puchyr) have given me, and I’m excited to continue preparations for 2025. Our organization has really grown over the past year, and we have shown what we are capable of. We have set the bar high for the season and the expectation is to win more races and compete for a championship.”

The 2024 season marked a career year for the 22-year-old, collecting two Cometic Gasket Pole Awards, one win, five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes across 23 races. Caruth compiled a 10.7 average starting position in 2024, nearly five positions better than his 2023 efforts, while his 11.6 average finish calculates to an impressive 6.6 positions better than the year prior.

Caruth raced part time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the 2022-2023 seasons and matched his career/series best 12th-place finish in October 2023 at Martinsville Speedway. He was named the 2021 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award recipient in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, an award based on a driver’s final Weekly Series national standing and on-track performance, sportsmanship and community service.

“Rajah is a young man of tremendous character and has proven to be a great representative of HENDRICKCARS.COM and our nearly 11,000 teammates across the country,” said Rick Hendrick, the chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. “In addition to being extremely talented, he has an incredible work ethic. We couldn’t be prouder to make this announcement on the same day Rajah and his family celebrate his college graduation. He has a very bright future in the sport, and we are thrilled to continue supporting his journey in 2025.”

“It is very special to have Hendrick Automotive Group and HENDRICKCARS.COM support me and my racing career,” added Caruth. “When I got the opportunity to drive their Xfinity car at Phoenix in 2023, it felt like an audition for 2024. I didn’t have any plans at that point. I’m thankful for everything Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick and all the great people at HENDRICKCARS.COM and Hendrick Automotive Group have done for me. I’m super thankful for their support and I’m ready to put on a show for them next year.”

The organization’s team and crew chief lineup is still being finalized and will be announced at a later date.

Over the past four years, Caruth has juggled a full academic course load while competing full-time in a touring division. In total, he completed 120 course credit hours while making a combined 108 starts between the NASCAR Xfinity Series, CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series, in addition to various short track and road course events.

“I’m glad to be done with school,” added the second-generation college graduate. “It required a lot of hard work and sacrifice, along with diligent time management between coursework and everything associated with racing including team meetings, simulator time and travel. I appreciate everything Dr. (Clay) Harshaw, Dr. (Dennis) Felder and all my professors at Winston-Salem State have done to help me finish school while chasing my dream. It is super cool to have the faculty, student body and WSSU National Alumni Association following me in my journey and cheering me on. The crew chiefs I’ve had through the years have been flexible with my schedule so I could finish this chapter, and I’m ready for racing become my lone focus.”

The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season kicks off with the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway. The season-opener will be televised live on FS1, Friday, Feb. 14 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The first of the series’ 25 races will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About HENDRICKCARS.COM …
HendrickCars.com is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 thousand new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigned the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fielded the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

December 13, 2024
Turn 3 Motorsport Welcomes Alessandro De Tullio for the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship

Young racing talent set for full season campaign with reigning champions

Mundelein, Ill. (December 13, 2024) – Turn 3 Motorsport is thrilled to announce Alessandro De Tullio has signed with the 2024 Championship winning team for the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire. The 18-year-old Miami native joins the team following an impressive debut in the final three races of the 2024 USF Pro 2000 season, where he qualified and finished in the top ten in his first outing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, earned a stellar fourth-place finish on the streets of Toronto, and capped off the year with another top-ten performance at the Portland International Raceway season finale.

De Tullio, a rising talent in American motorsport, brings an impressive resume to Turn 3 Motorsport. His formula car journey began with notable success in the USF Juniors series in 2022, where he finished fourth in the championship standings. His season included five wins—three of which were a clean sweep at Virginia International Raceway—four additional podiums, and five fastest laps. Beyond open-wheel racing, De Tullio has made a name for himself in both karting and Esports. He is a Road to Indy eSeries winner and was a formidable competitor in United States F4’s Esports Championship.

After his USF Juniors campaign, De Tullio returned to karting, finishing sixth in the USA SuperNationals for X30 Senior karts in 2022 and becoming the SKUSA Winter Series Champion in both X30 Pro and KA100 Senior karts in early 2024. His diverse racing background, blending real-world and virtual racing success, underscores his adaptability and potential.

De Tullio’s off-season preparation with Turn 3 Motorsport has been nothing short of impressive. During the USF Pro Championships Fall Combine in October, he consistently posted top-five times, concluding the final session with the second-fastest lap time. Further testing at NOLA Motorsports Park and Sebring International Raceway these past couple of weeks saw De Tullio consistently among the quickest drivers on track, solidifying his readiness for a full campaign in the highly competitive USF Pro 2000 series.

#44 Alessandro De Tullio // USF Pro 2000

DTI Group / Sport Summa / Inter MS
“I’m very excited to be joining Turn 3 Motorsport for the 2025 USF Pro 2000 season,” said De Tullio. “We’ve had many positive test days, improving and having good pace at different tracks. I can’t wait to show what we can do together next year! I want to give a huge thanks to my partners DTI Group, Sport Summa, and Inter MS for making this possible.”

Team Owner, Peter Dempsey
“It’s great to have Alessandro (De Tullio) with us for the 2025 season,” said Dempsey. “He is a driver I have watched for a few years and always felt he is very talented, and his resume backs that up. He has settled in very well to the team, and we have improved at every test we have done together so far. We are really looking forward to seeing what he can for us in 2025.”

Alessandro De Tullio tests a Turn 3 Motorsport car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fall Combine / 📷: Gavin Baker
Turn 3 Motorsport heads into the 2025 season with high expectations as it continues to build on its strong foundation. With Alessandro De Tullio joining the team, Turn 3 Motorsport is poised for another successful campaign in the USF Pro 2000 Championship.

The 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship will consist of eight events and 18 races across North America with the season opener kicking off in St. Petersburg, Florida from February 28 – March 2.

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

For more information or images, please contact Mandy Dempsey at turn3motorsport@gmail.com.
About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. The team was founded in 2016 by race car driver and coach Peter Dempsey and is co-owned by Peter and Mandy Dempsey. The team currently competes in the USF Pro Championships presented by Continental Tire.

In 2024, Turn 3 Motorsport were crowned the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Champions with Australian driver Lochie Hughes who clinched the championship title at the season finale in Portland. Turn 3 Motorsport also finished second in the Team Championship with a total of four pole positions, five wins, and six additional podium finishes with drivers Lochie Hughes and Danny Dyszelski.

In 2023, T3M tied for the most amount of wins in the USF Pro 2000 season with drivers Michael d’Orlando and Christian Brooks earning a total of five wins for the team. The team also earned seven pole positions, the most of any other team, and finished second overall in the Team Championship.

In 2022, T3M achieved a podium, win, and/or pole at 7 of the 9 events on the Road to Indy calendar with rookie drivers Josh Green, Jonathan Browne, and Christian Weir each earning the aforementioned results across two different series (USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000).

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport won the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

December 13, 2024