Category: NASCAR Cup PR

Premium Lithium Battery Company Joins Noah Gragson for Multiple Races

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 8th, 2024) – Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and MillerTech have announced an exciting partnership that will see the premium lithium battery company partner with Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Ford Mustang team during the 2025 season. FRM and MillerTech will collaborate on compelling activation programs to engage the NASCAR community and promote their array of products while also serving as the primary partner on the No. 4 at three NASCAR Cup Series events at Michigan International Speedway, Pocono (PA) Raceway and at Dover (DE) Motor Speedway.

MillerTech – known for combining superior quality products with faith-based business values to deliver a unique and beneficial experience for end users – is excited to enter a new era with Noah Gragson at FRM following a one-race sponsorship of Gragson last season at Stewart-Haas Racing.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Noah Gragson and his new team for the 2025 NASCAR season,” said Lester Miller, CEO, MillerTech. “This collaboration perfectly aligns with MillerTech’s mission of innovation and excellence, as both our organizations share a commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving greatness. By partnering with Noah, we not only enhance our brand visibility but also create meaningful connections with our customers who value passion and performance. We recognize the incredible talent and dedication of Noah and his team, and we are confident that together, we will drive success on and off the track. As we look ahead, we are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring, and we are optimistic about a future filled with shared accomplishments.”

MillerTech’s debut with the No. 4 comes June 8 at Michigan International Speedway. In his four Xfinity starts at the two-mile, intermediate track, Gragson has a career best finish of second with an average finishing position of 3.5. The 400-lap race is scheduled for Sunday June 8 and will be televised live on Amazon Prime. Fans can also listen in from the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

“We are excited to have MillerTech join the Front Row Motorsports Family for three races in the 2025 season,” said Gragson. “Their support played a key role in our strong 6th place finish at Dover last year. As we head into 2025, we’re focused on building upon that success and pushing for even stronger results at Michigan, Pocono, and Dover.

MillerTech’s second race comes June 22 at Pocono Raceway, a place Gragson knows his way around. Pocono is the site of one of Gragson’s thirteen NASCAR Xfinity Series wins and averaged a finishing position of 8.25 at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania speedway. The 160-lap race is scheduled for Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 PM ET and will be televised on Amazon Prime. Fans can also listen to the action live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

MillerTech’s final primary race comes July 20 at Dover Motor Speedway, where last year the Las Vegas, Nevada native finished sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series’ annual visit to the track. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gragson has a career-best finish of second at the one-mile track with an average finishing position of 8.8. The 400-lap race is scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM ET and will be televised on TNT Sports. Fans can also listen to the action live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

ABOUT MILLERTECH

MillerTech Energy Solutions LLC is a Premium Lithium Battery Company that combines superior quality products with faith-based business values to deliver a unique and beneficial experience for end users. Our commitment to integrity, customer focus, quality and community engagement sets us apart as a reliable and trustworthy partner in the lithium battery industry. Choose MillerTech for premium lithium batteries that enhance your bottom line while aligning with your values. Visit millertechenergy.com and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/MillerTechlithiumbatteries.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 7, 2025) – Today, MINER Ltd., the self-perform, national service partner for smarter, safer loading docks and Spire Motorsports, announced a multi-faceted partnership that aligns two organizations committed to safety and reliability.

The partnership includes MINER serving as the exclusive dock and door services provider for Spire Motorsports’ facilities, as well as the primary sponsor of Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet for multiple NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025. MINER will also maintain an associate sponsorship presence with Hocevar and the No. 77 Cup Series team across the 2025 season.

MINER specializes in installing, repairing, and maintaining critical logistics equipment—including warehouse dock doors and levelers, commercial sectional overhead doors, HVLS fans, and related facility accessories. MINER delivers unparalleled service and expertise, ensuring facilities have access to innovative solutions that drive efficiency, reliability, and safety. The initial installation in Spire Motorsports’ race shop and showroom integrates durable glass doors and supporting equipment, enhancing security while preserving visibility and introducing a sleek, modern aesthetic.

The company’s nationwide service footprint delivers proactive maintenance strategies and rapid emergency response, ensuring clients’ equipment operates at peak performance. The company also supports end users, general contractors, architects, and developers, from ground-up developments to tenant improvement or remodels.

“This is a unique opportunity to align with a sport that truly exemplifies speed, safety, performance, and teamwork— values that resonate deeply with MINER’s mission and culture,” said MINER President, Dave Wright. “We’re thrilled to partner with Spire Motorsports and excited to build a successful partnership for the future.”

Hocevar, a Portage, Mich., native 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. The 21-year-old impressed throughout his rookie campaign and was the top finishing rookie in 15 races on NASCAR’s senior circuit in 2024. He out-distanced his next closest competitor by a handsome 107-point advantage when the checkered flag fell on the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Hocevar made his NCS debut for Spire Motorsports on June 4, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“It’s exciting to carry the momentum from 2024 and winning the Cup Series rookie of the year into the off season by adding MINER to Spire Motorsports’ family of partners,” said Hocevar. “We’ve got a lot of great things happening and we’re already off to a good start. MINER is a great company, and we share the same commitment to performing at the highest level. It seems like we just wrapped last season but we’re full speed ahead for 2025.”

In its first season as a three-car operation in NASCAR’s premier division, Spire Motorsports campaigned the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets. The Mooresville, N.C., team collected four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes while also fielding the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

About MINER …
Miner Ltd. is the leading self-perform, national service partner for smarter, safer loading docks and a division of OnPoint Group. As the premier expert in loading docks, commercial doors and more, Miner’s team of best-in-class service professionals help large-scale facilities and Fortune 500-class companies mitigate risk and improve efficiency. With over 400 service professionals in more than 40 markets, Miner is the only company of its kind with a coast to coast footprint, offering the largest self-perform network in the country for supporting all doors, loading dock products, vehicle restraints and safety products, HVLS fans, service, aftermarket and more. Miner also supports end users, general contractors, architects, and developers, from ground-up developments to tenant improvement or extensive remodels. Learn more about how Miner delivers speed, consistency and results at https://www.minercorp.com.

About Spire Motorsports …
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.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

Drew Blickensderfer to Call Shots for Gragson and Team

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 3, 2024) – Having secured Noah Gragson on a multi-year agreement in July to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2025, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is excited to announce Gragson will drive the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, entering the team into a new era.

The Las Vegas, Nevada native rose to fame in NASCAR after winning twice in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and thirteen times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He finished second in the Xfinity Series championship in 2022.

Gragson, 26, recently completed his second season in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 59 starts in the premier division. He has seven top-10 and two top-5 finishes, most coming this past season with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Drew Blickensderfer will make his return to the organization to serve as the crew chief for Gragson and the No. 4 team. A 16-year Cup Series crew chief veteran, Blickensderfer most recently called the shots for Gragson at Stewart-Haas Racing and will join Gragson at FRM for the 2025 season. In 2024, the duo earned sixteen top-15’s, seven top-10’s and one top-5 and look to build on their success in 2025. In his previous stint with FRM in 2021, Blickensderfer sat on top of the pit box for Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team, having played a critical role in McDowell’s Daytona 500 win.

“I’m excited to be back with Front Row Motorsports,” said Blickensderfer. “I had a great experience working for Bob (Jenkins) and Jerry (Freeze) before, and now returning alongside Noah makes this opportunity even more special.”

Along with Blickensderfer, several key members from the former Stewart-Haas No. 10 team will join Blickensderfer and Gragson at FRM, including, Interior Specialist Chris Trickett, Engine Tuner Matt Moeller, Engineer Dillon Silverman, and Transport Driver Matt Murphy.

“I’m grateful to have my crew chief, Drew, along with four members from last year’s team join Front Row Motorsports,” said Gragson. “This gives us a strong foundation to hit the ground running in the 2025 season.”

Announcements regarding the No. 4 partner lineup will come at a later date.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Comes Back as Cup Driver to Organization Where He Won Truck Championship

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 2, 2025) – Zane Smith is coming back to the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The 25-year-old Huntington Beach, Calif. native will again race for Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2025 under a multi-year agreement. Smith joins former teammate Todd Gilliland and the newest FRM driver Noah Gragson to complete a young and dynamic driver roster.

“I’ve always felt at home with Front Row Motorsports,” said Smith. “They believed in me when I signed with them to race in the Truck Series initially in 2022 and we shared so much success together, winning six races and a championship in two seasons. Unfortunately, everyone had to make tough decisions because there were only two Cup cars available at Front Row Motorsports going into last season when I was ready to move up full-time.

“Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better line up of teammates. Todd and Noah are great friends of mine and we all have a lot to prove as young drivers in the Cup Series. It is a great time to come back and continue to build my career with an organization where I know I can win.

Smith won the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with FRM in one of the most dominant seasons in the series. Smith won four times, including Daytona, collected 14 top-five finishes, led 492 laps, won the regular season championship, and capped the season off by winning at the Phoenix Raceway season finale to capture the series championship in dramatic fashion.

In 2023, Smith defended his wins at Daytona and the Circuit of the Americas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with FRM, but barely missed out on qualifying for the Championship 4 for the fourth consecutive season.

The same year, Smith made his second start in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his first Cup race with FRM in the Daytona 500. He qualified in an open entry and impressed with a 13th-place finish. Later that year, Smith earned his first top-10 in the premier series with FRM after finishing tenth at the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway – a crown jewel NASCAR event.

The 2024 season officially marked Smith’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series as the full-time driver of the No. 71 car, which was highlighted by his runner-up finish at the Nashville Superspeedway in June and fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen International in September. Since his initial Cup Series debut in 2022, Smith has recorded five top-10 and 17 top-20 finishes. In fact, Smith has finished in the top-20 in over a third of his 45 Cup career races, including the last two Daytona 500 races. He will return to the Ford Performance stable next season more experienced and is looking forward to his return to FRM.

“I want to thank Bob (owner, Bob Jenkins), Jerry (general manager, Jerry Freeze) and Mark Rushbrook at Ford for making this happen. I know that we can win together in the Cup Series like we did in the Truck Series. It’s a great time to come back as we continue to make FRM even better.”

Going into his third year with the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team, Ryan Bergenty will serve as the crew chief for Smith in the 2025 season. Bergenty called the shots for Smith in a limited schedule in 2023, running six races throughout the season and earning a 10th place finish in the Coca-Cola 600.

“Our team is excited to be working with Zane” said Bergenty “He is an outstanding talent and brings a strong competitive spirit to the group.”

FRM will continue to build its organization for 2025 as it grows to a three-car NASCAR Cup Series organization next season.

“We want to welcome Zane back to Front Row Motorsports,” said Bob Jenkins, owner, Front Row Motorsports. “He brought us our first championship and we believe that he can win in the NASCAR Cup Series, too. We have always believed in his talents, and we will work hard to give him what he needs to be successful. We have confidence in Zane.

“This finalizes our drivers for 2025 in the Cup Series and we can now make all our teams as strong as possible. We have come a long way, but there is a lot more ground to make up, too. We now have the drivers who can build on where we are today and take us to the next level.”

FRM will now turn its attention to finalizing its partners, crew chiefs, and driver and car number pairings for the 2025 season.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Popular Pickle Car Returns in 2025 for Multiple Races

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 23, 2024) – Due to the overwhelming popularity and excitement around the Pickle Car piloted by Todd Gilliland at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and again at the Michigan International Speedway and the Daytona International Speedway, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and Grillo’s Pickles have announced an extension of their partnership.

Race and pickle fans everywhere will be able to cheer for the iconic pickle company and Gilliland for multiple races during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. The Grillo’s Pickles Ford Mustang Dark Horse Pickle Car is scheduled for three races in 2025.

The Pickle Car will return for Pocono Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and the Chicago Street Race. Grillo’s Pickles can’t wait to continue their fun with Gilliland and NASCAR fans next year.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Todd and Marissa Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports,” said Adam Kaufman, President and CEO, Grillo’s Pickles. “Todd and the Front Row Team have been amazing partners to encourage Grillo’s Pickles and NASCAR fans to Chill Out and Eat a Pickle. We can’t wait to go bigger and better with this program next year with a great slate of races.”

Grilllo’s Pickles will also be a season-long associate partner of Gilliland and his team in 2025. Gilliland has been impressed with all the fans of pickles.

“I think everyone loves Grillo’s Pickles,” said Gilliland. “They debuted such an awesome scheme at New Hampshire and fell in love with the program. The Pickle Car has really taken a life of its own and I can see it becoming one of NASCAR’s most popular schemes. I really want to thank Grillo’s Pickles for becoming a bigger partner of our program in 2024 and now for 2025. Things are getting better and better with our team and the partners make it all possible.”

Grillo’s Pickles and FRM also collaborated on compelling social media content with Gilliland, his team, and Sam Sam the Pickle Man. Now, with Grillo’s returning to Gilliland’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2025, Grillo’s Pickles will continue Sam Sam’s journey in becoming the “World’s Most Interesting Pickle” at the track and away.

“I’m super excited Grillo’s is continuing their partnership with Todd in 2025,” said Marissa Gilliland. “I am really looking forward to being involved with the partnership as well. Grillo’s has been “all in” on Todd and I can’t wait to do my part in the partnership to further build their brand.”

Made with a 100-year old family recipe, Grillo’s Pickles started in the Boston Common in 2008 selling pickles out of a Cutlass Supreme and then a Pickle Cart. Since then, Grillo’s has grown to national grocery distribution and will extend their partnership with FRM in the 2025 season.

ABOUT GRILLO’S PICKLES

For people who want freshness, Grillo’s is the pickle company that is changing the game. That’s because Grillo’s uses only clean, garden-fresh ingredients to make deliciously simple foods that deliver all the crunchy, tangy, satisfying flavor you’ve been searching for, with none of the junk. How do we do it? Our products are made cold, shipped cold, and consumed cold. You get an incredible crunch, and we never have to mess with artificial preservatives. In fact, the only thing traditional about us is our 100-year-old family recipe. The rest? It’s fresh. Grillo’s offers mouthwatering bites nationwide with their selection of spears, chips, wholes and Pickle de Gallo. For more information, visit GrillosPickles.com or contact grillos@autumncommunications.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and

Mohawk Teams Up for Three Races with Ryan Preece

CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) – RFK Racing has announced that Mohawk Northeast – a premier heavy-civil contractor – has joined the team as a partner for Ryan Preece and the No. 60 team.

“It’s so exciting to have Mohawk with RFK in 2025 to continue building the relationship we’ve had for the past 10-plus years,” said Preece. “They’ve been supporting me since the beginning and I’m looking forward to accomplishing our goals together with their support.”

A longtime supporter of Preece, the company has been providing high quality construction services to a wide variety of clients. Specializing in heavy highway, railroad, movable and fixed bridges and marine construction, Mohawk has completed countless projects safely, on time and within budget.

Mohawk can self-perform all phases of construction and they offer an extensive fleet of cranes, barges, offshore tugboats and many other heavy equipment pieces. Clients include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USACE, Generic Dynamics – Electric Boat, Connecticut DOT, Massachusetts DOT, New York DOT, Metro North Railroad, Amtrack, and various other clients.

Mohawk will appear on Preece’s No. 60 in three races in 2025, making its debut at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network). They will return as the primary partner a week later at Watkins Glen (2 p.m. ET, USA Network), before their final race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, now a playoff race, on Sept. 21 (2 p.m. ET, USA Network).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

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).

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.