We all loved the roar of the engines and the burnout smoke at the Chicago Street Race. But this year's event came with a sinister storm cloud hanging above. Remember Duane Tabinski, the audio engineer who died from electrocution last year while setting up the race that witnessed a staggering 3.35 inches of rainfall on Sunday? His widow, Kristin, sued NASCAR, the Chicago Park District, and a few private contractors for $50,000 in damages.
The lawsuit says there were exposed wires, missing safety equipment, basically, everything that could turn a workday deadly, meaning someone dropped the ball, big time. An official statement by the lawyer read, "My client came into contact with a high-energy wire that was uninsulated and unprotected. And we know that the only thing he would deal with as a sound guy was low-voltage wire. So somewhere along the line, whoever was in charge allowed this condition to happen…" It certainly is a concerning incident.
Now, NASCAR and the Park District are staying tight-lipped. But some of those contractors, particularly Malko Communications, United Rentals, and Tyler Scenic, are saying it wasn't their fault, and that it was Tabinski himself who “carelessly failed to exercise reasonable care for his own safety…”
Speaking of carelessness, OSHA closed its investigation without any citations, which, if we’re being honest, makes you wonder just how the justice system exactly functions.
Moreover, this guy wasn't any self-employed roadie. He was a true NASCAR fan who even invented a “turnkey, rentable service for full range audio across the entire track” called the TracPac, and managed to see it used at the event before his death. Indeed, that must sting his family even more.
Love for the sport and a tragic loss all tangled up together. This is one story that's far from over, folks.
A NASCAR Cup Series race with dual tire compounds is coming to Richmond Raceway next month.
While the sanctioning body has yet to tell teams what the rules will be, orders have been placed for the option tires that will be run alongside the primary compound for the event at the Virginia short track on August 10-11.
The Federated Auto Parts 400 will feature the same combination used at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the All-Star Race, comprised of the primary left-side D-5208 and right-side D-5220 and the option left-side D-5224 and right-side D-5226.
The race would also have the wet weather package tires available, which were used at the start of the spring race in March to much fanfare.
Unlike freshly paved Wilkesboro, Richmond is the most abrasive short track on the schedule and it is likely to produce an interesting challenge for crew chiefs as the option tire should produce more speed but with greater degradation.
NASCAR has officially unveiled its prototype electric race car, the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype.
The unveiling took place Saturday morning in Chicago as Xfinity and Cup teams went through practice and qualifying sessions. The prototype race car, which NASCAR developed in partnership with its OEMs (Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota), was built by the same engineers responsible for the Next Gen car and the Garage 56 entry.
The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype uses three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors (one front, two rear) supplying power directly to all four specially designed Goodyear Racing Eagle tires.
Anchored by a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery, the tunable powertrain can produce 1,000 kW at peak power. Regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into power. NASCAR says this makes the car ideal for short tracks and road courses.
The Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) body made of sustainable flax-based composite sits on a modified Next Gen chassis. The steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels are all derived from the current Cup car.
There are no current plans for an electric racing series despite Dana White saying that he was doing a deal with NASCAR regarding electric cars.
This prototype is just the beginning for NASCAR as it experiments with different powertrains. According to NBC Sports, NASCAR has mentioned sustainable fuel or hydrogen as options along with electrification via a hybrid system.
NASCAR also announced a partnership with ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation. ABB will be the first partner of NASCAR IMPACT, "the sanctioning body's platform driving NASCAR's mission to strengthen its communities and contribute to a healthier planet."
NASCAR has a stated goal of reducing its carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035 through electrification and innovative solutions.
"There could not be a more optimal moment in time to announce our first IMPACT partner than in tandem with the debut of the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype at the Chicago Street Race," said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief IMPACT Officer, in a statement.
"ABB is an industry leader and will help in efforts to decarbonize our operations as we pursue achieving net-zero operating emissions over the next decade."
NASCAR’s wildcard weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway will feature the past and present as the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage Series joins Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 race week.
The HSR NASCAR Classic will be part of HSR’s new series featuring the growing Group 8 Historic Stock Cars division within the HSR community and competitors. Fans will be able to see some of their favorite retired stock cars back in active competition as each car in the NASCAR Classic series must meet previous NASCAR rule book specifications for Cup, Xfinity, Truck and ARCA competition.
“What better way to spice up NASCAR’s wildcard weekend than to bring some throwback race cars and put them on the ROVAL™ this October,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway President Greg Walter. “Fans will love seeing some of the old school paint schemes at Charlotte again and we’re proud to host Historic Sportscar Racing for the first time. It’s yet another reason we are America’s Home for Racing.”
On-track schedules for the Oct. 11-12 HSR NASCAR Classic at CMS will be released at a later date. The CMS event is part of a three-race series with prior events at Virginia International Raceway (Aug. 23-24) and Watkins Glen International (Sept. 13-14).
The stockcars eligible to compete in the series must carry authentic and period-correct liveries previously seen in NASCAR competition over the years. Current editions of the rules-eligible cars in each series, such as the Cup series Generation 7 chassis, are not eligible in NASCAR Classic competition. Each round will feature a maximum of 30 selected entries by HSR for each round of the 2024’s HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage.
“NASCAR stock cars of all generations are perhaps the most identifiable category of race cars in the U.S. to motorsports enthusiasts, competitors and even mainstream audiences,” said HSR President Chris Ward. “The across-the-board support, and the rapid growth of the HSR Classic Stock Cars category made starting a dedicated series around the division an easy decision.”
In addition to the HSR NASCAR Classic, NASCAR’s wildcard weekend on the ROVAL™ at Charlotte Motor Speedway features the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff race and the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race. The ROVAL™ is the most unique track on the NASCAR circuit, combining a world-class infield road course with Charlotte Motor Speedway’s legendary oval. Drivers will battle 17 turns and a 35-foot elevation change over the 2.28-mile course with berths to the next round of the playoffs on the line in both the Xfinity and Cup Series.
The Clinton County Speedway has partnered again with local brewer, Lee Powers and his Floating Feathers Brewing Company of Mill Hall to produce its own beer.
“For the second year, we are releasing a beer that features the winner of our annual 410 Sprint Car race, the Phil Walter Classic, which is coming up in August,” says Jason McCahan, speedway promoter. “Dale Blaney of Hartford, OH won last year’s racing event, so he has earned his place on our beer can.”
The beer is a 16-ounce pilsner. The can features a checkered flag background with the Clinton County Speedway and Floating Feathers Brewing Company logos as well as a picture of Blaney’s #32 410 Sprint Car.
“Working with Lee and his staff, we came up with the idea of a special beer for our largest race of the season,” says McCahan. “Last year we featured Billy Dietrich of Aspers, PA who won our race in 2022 and it was a huge hit with our fans and sold out quickly.”
Floating Feathers Brewing Company is producing 750 cans for this year’s event. Fans can pre-order the beer at https://forms.office.com/r/rvvt3JXpfE. The link is also available on the speedway’s Facebook page. Fans who pre-order the beer will be able to pick it up at the Floating Feather’s beer truck during the Phil Walter Classic on Saturday, August 10th. Cans of the limited edition beer are being sold as a single can or in a four pack.
“We are very excited at Floating Feathers to provide locally made beers and ciders with local ingredients for our local speedway,” says Lee Powers, “Giving back proceeds of every beer to improve our local track is important to us. Come out and enjoy the fast-paced action of the Phil Walter Classic with a Floating Feathers brewski.”
The 410 sprint cars are featured at the speedway twice this season. The first 410 Sprint Car show is on Friday, July 19th paying $4,000 to win. The Phil Walter Classic for the 410 Sprint cars is on Saturday, August 10th, paying $6,300 to win.
Network Windows Planned for Four Endurance Races and Annual WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Event; New 2025 Date for Watkins Glen Race
On the heels of last week’s multi-year extension of the media rights agreement between the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and NBC Sports, both parties today confirmed five IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races that will have NBC network coverage in 2025.
The five events include the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26, 2025, the two-hour, 40-minute Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 11, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on June 22, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sept. 21 and the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Oct. 11.
The availability of a network window required the Watkins Glen event date to shift to one weekend earlier than what was originally announced in March’s unveiling of the 2025 WeatherTech Championship schedule. As announced last week, NBC network coverage expands to 17 total hours beginning in 2025, nearly a 50 percent increase over 2024 and previous seasons.
“As we expected, fan and industry response to the announcement that we have extended our relationship with NBC Sports has been overwhelmingly positive,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “The addition of more hours on NBC network was especially well received, and we are pleased to follow up that news with confirmation of which races our fans will be able to find on NBC in 2025. We are grateful to NBC Sports for these expanded opportunities, as well as our teammates at Watkins Glen International for the date flexibility to accommodate this television window a week earlier than we’d originally announced.”
In addition to race coverage, one-hour season preview and championship weekend setup shows also will air on NBC network. Exact dates for those shows, along with times for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule – which will include coverage on Peacock and USA Network – will be released at a later date.
New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) and RK Auto Group are pleased to announce a partnership and sponsorship agreement that brings together the locally known dealer of trusted brands and the region’s premier road racing and motorsports facility.
“Racing is not a one-brand industry, that is why NJMP is embracing the diversity of the ever-expanding world of motorsports with this new partnership,” noted Brad Scott, President and COO of New Jersey Motorsports Park. “NJMP is excited to reach a wide variety of car enthusiasts by partnering with RK Auto Group.”
RK Auto Group, based in Vineland, NJ, has been serving the community for many years, by stocking it’s showroom with various trusted and affordable car brands, like Chevrolet, KIA, and Subaru.
The sponsorship agreement includes branding and signage along the racetrack and the facility along with promotional digital campaigns provided by NJMP.
"We are excited to join forces with New Jersey Motorsports Park," said Tom Kennedy, eCommerce Manager at RK Auto Group. "This partnership allows our customers to enjoy unique benefits at one of the premier motorsports facilities in the country. Together, we are dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for car enthusiasts and the broader community."
As part of this partnership, customers of RK Auto Group will have access to exclusive events, special promotions, and unique experiences at NJMP. This initiative reflects RK Auto Group’s ongoing commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering strong community relations in the months and years to come.
The agreement enables RK Auto Group to display and sell vehicles at NJMP along with the opportunity to host new events at NJMP such as an RK Auto Group Car Show, a Poker Night to benefit Breast Cancer Research, and even the development of an RK Subaru Dog Park within the NJMP facility.
Moreover, this collaboration will enable RK Auto Group to expand its cherished Breast Cancer Fund Raising Car Show. From its humble beginnings, this event has grown significantly, thanks to the unwavering support of our community. The vision is to elevate this car show into one of the premier annual events in South Jersey, drawing car enthusiasts from all over and raising substantial funds in the fight against breast cancer.
"We take immense pride in being the number one dealership in the country raising money to combat breast cancer," Kennedy added. "Our Breast Cancer Fund Raising Car Show is a cornerstone of our community involvement, and we are committed to its growth and success. This partnership with NJMP will provide a fantastic platform to reach more people, raise more funds, and make a bigger impact."
RK Chevrolet and the entire RK Auto Group are dedicated to making a positive difference, both on the road and in our community. NJMP and RK Auto Group look forward to a successful collaboration and the continued growth of their philanthropic initiatives.
In addition, RK Auto Group owners can now enjoy interesting experiences and events offered by NJMP, such as our exclusive Drivers Club program. For more information about the exclusive benefits available to RK Auto Group customers through this partnership or details about upcoming events, please visit [rkautogroup.com]rkautogroup.com or contact the customer service team at 866-417-3083.
Today, NASCAR, America's most popular motorsport, has officially entered the Fortnite ecosystem - announcing its debut with a one-of-a-kind, high-octane racing experience built in Rocket Racing.
Developed in partnership with award-winning UK metaverse studio, Karta, the experience launches with a Chicago Street Course map, styled on the real NASCAR Chicago Street Race taking place this Sunday 7th July, merging the thrill of NASCAR racing with the dynamic creativity of the Fortnite ecosystem.
With the first Chicago Street Map, players navigate multiple routes, master the art of speed, drift and avoid obstacles in intense multiplayer races or solo time trials.
Debuting ahead of the real-life Chicago Street Race, NASCAR’s official launch on Fortnite brings its second annual event in the center of one of the world’s greatest cities, into the Fortnite world. The map gives NASCAR fans, and players of all levels who may have never interacted with the sport, the chance to get closer to the real event than ever before - setting it apart from typical Rocket Racing maps.
With this fun experience aimed at gamers of all levels, NASCAR’s move into the Fortnite ecosystem isn’t just a one-time event while the Chicago race takes place. NASCAR is setting its sights on a permanent fixture on the platform, with the Chicago map marking the start of a long-term racing experience for players to continuously visit. Looking ahead at the NASCAR calendar, fans of America’s No. 1 form of motorsports and the Fortnite community can get excited, as NASCAR eyes wider plans to add more virtual recreations on the platform.
"NASCAR has always been about pushing boundaries and connecting with fans in exciting ways," said Nick Rend, Managing Director of Esports & Gaming at NASCAR. "Fortnite provides the perfect platform to engage a global audience, blending the intensity of NASCAR racing with the immersive world of Fortnite. Karta, with their incredible creativity, attention to detail and innovative approach, were the perfect partners to help us bring this vision to life. We wanted to build something with longevity for both diehard NASCAR enthusiasts and the wider Fortnite community and we think we have succeeded with just that.”
Erik Londré, CEO of Karta, added, "Working with an icon of motorsports like NASCAR has been a dream come true. Our goal was to capture the essence of NASCAR racing - the speed, the strategy, the adrenaline – and inject it with a dose of Fortnite fun. The result is something truly special - a high-octane, visually stunning racing experience that we know players will love."
Karta is an award-winning metaverse studio renowned for creating engaging virtual gaming experiences for global brands. Karta has established itself as a leader in creating accessible and impactful brand experiences within the metaverse across gaming, music and esports.
Since its inception in July 2021, Karta has collaborated with a diverse range of global brands, including Nicki Minaj, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Amazon Music, McDonald's, Spotify, and Hugo Boss, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the ever-evolving landscape of metaverse entertainment.
NASCAR Chicago Street Race is available to play on Fortnite now via the map code 0012-6902-9252. For more information on NASCAR please visit www.NASCAR.comand for Karta, visit www.karta.game.
New Hampshire was another step in the right direction for NASCAR
Count it a success.
The idea, testing, and implementation of the damp surface tires for a NASCAR Cup Series race has officially progressed from hopeful hypothesis to a proven can-do. The series made real-time use of the new technology and “let’s try it” spirit in Sunday’s rain-affected USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
And the result was a compelling final 86-lap shootout that likely wouldn’t have existed only a few years ago because of the challenging weather.
Following a nearly two-hour rain delay, teams put on damp surface tires and were able to complete the race – the field running four and five-wide at times and concluding with a close finish between winner Christopher Bell and runner-up Chase Briscoe.
Equally as important, NASCAR proved to fans, teams and drivers that under the right circumstances races could run competitively under damp conditions – something unheard of even five years ago.
NASCAR’s Senior Vice President for Competition Elton Sawyer told reporters after the race the series had been working closely with the weather service and knew there was a sizable time-window once the rain had passed. And he was pleased with the result.
“Absolutely [a success], if you look at the reason we came up with this and we started working through it with our teams and the folks at the NASCAR R&D Center (Research and Development), it was to do exactly what we did yesterday with the Xfinity race and today with the Cup race,” said Sawyer, noting Saturday’s Xfinity Series race started on time with damp tires before the field switched to the normal racing slicks.
“Huge success today, shout-out to Goodyear, to our race teams everyone working together and our fans that stayed around to see 300-plus laps of racing which is what they paid for.”
An ebullient Bell joked that it was as if he ran two different races on the same day – in the dry and in the damp. And ultimately, while it was a career-weekend for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who earned his first career weekend sweep after taking the trophy in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race too, he said Sunday’s race was absolutely one of the most memorable of his career.
“It was just so fun to get to experience that, run whatever it was, 80 laps in wet, damp conditions,” a smiling Bell said. “Just a lot of fun. That was so much fun.”
The significance of the event was not lost on him either.
“Just how historic it was,” Bell said. “For NASCAR to run in the rain like that – not in the rain, but run in the damp conditions on an oval, I mean it ended up being hopefully a good show. You can answer that more than me, but I had a blast, it made it different.
“That’s what the key is to having successful races and entertainment. Hopefully, that was entertaining because it was something different, something new, and nobody knew what to expect and what to do. The guys that figured it out the quickest were the most successful.”
Interestingly, the front of the field looked notably different following the red flag re-start. Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin were leading when cars were called to pit road for the heavy rains. But it was a distinctively different group of drivers – most with vast dirt track experience – ultimately leading the field to the checkered flag.
“It was fun,” said fourth-place finisher and NASCAR Cup Series championship leader, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson. “I think when it’s like that, I think that is why you see a lot of the dirt racers kind of migrate to the front.”
Runner-up and fellow dirt track driver Chase Briscoe agreed with Larson. He wasn’t even in the top-20 when the red flag came out; a situation similar to several of the top finishers.
“I’ve always joked this is one of my worst racetracks, so to run second is kind of surprising to be honest with you,” Briscoe said. “The rain definitely helped us. If it wasn’t for the rain, we literally would have run 24th probably. We were able to have a couple of good re-starts and our guys did a really good job just understanding the rain balance.
“I think we learned a lot when we did it [raced in damp conditions] at Richmond (Va.).”
And starting in 2025, Bell and Briscoe will be seeing a lot more of each other, as it was announced today that Briscoe will take over the driving duties of the No. 19 Toyota currently driven by Martin Truex Jr.
“I’m excited for this opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing and Bass Pro Shops,” Briscoe said. “From a competition standpoint, JGR is the place to be if you want to go win races week in and week out and to race for the championship every year.”
Obviously, the sport would rather have ideal weather conditions at each stop on the schedule, but now having two points-paying events – at Richmond Raceway and at New Hampshire – succeed in the trying weather gives the series a sense of well-earned achievement.
“Man,” said third-place finisher, SHR’s Josh Berry. “That was a lot of fun, honestly.”
NHRA officials have announced that Mark Dawson has been named Northeast Division Director (Division 1), overseeing NHRA member tracks in Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as facilities in Canadian providences New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.
Dawson, who has more than 30 years of drag racing operations experience, comes to Division 1 from Famoso Dragstrip where he served as the Director of Racing Operations. He also spent time at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, as well as Maple Grove Raceway, home of the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
“My time on the West Coast has been incredible,” Dawson said. “I have had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside countless great people. As I move on to this new chapter, I'm excited to return home and join the fantastic team in Division 1.
“I look forward to working with the tracks, racers, and sharing the excitement and opportunities that NHRA offers both now and in the future. I am committed to continuing the proud traditions of NHRA drag racing while taking on new opportunities for growth and innovation in this amazing sport.”
Dawson joins a team of division directors who represent the seven divisions of the NHRA. The Northeast Division hosts several Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events throughout the season, as well as NHRA national events at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H., Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va., and Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
“We’re thrilled to welcome someone with a wealth of experience like Mark to the NHRA Division Director team,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA Vice President of Racing Administration. “Having already spent time at Maple Grove Raceway, Mark is a natural fit for the Northeast Division. He’s a great addition to our talented team of division directors, and Mark is passionate about growing the sport and working closely with our race teams, tracks and partners in Division 1.”
On July 26 – 28, one of the oldest organizations in vintage racing, and the only one with a national presence, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) is coming to the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ with the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour.
Formula Cars from Around the World to Compete Head-to-Head
In addition to an array of vintage cars, the event will feature racing from Formula Race Promotions, Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and Formula Regional America Championship (FR Americas), which are both led by Race Director, Scott Goodyear—the former racecar driver and television personality—who will also be on site!
The New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour features F4 U.S. Championships and FR Americas wheel-to-wheel racing! The Formula Regional Americas Championship and Formula 4 United States Championship are the first two steps on the Road to F1. The two series will descend on New Jersey Motorsports Park’s 14-turn Thunderbolt Raceway for Rounds 10-12 of their 18-round Championship season. When the lights go out at NJMP, five countries and 14 states across the USA will be represented across the two championships.
This event is in partnership with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). SVRA is committed to presenting the best possible experience for competitors and fans. From 200 MPH Indy and Formula 1 cars to classic Jaguars and Porsches, SVRA events provide a rolling history of motorsport where the cars are the stars.
Car Shows and More Off-Track Fun!
Car enthusiasts will also enjoy the display of classic, vintage and exotic cars at the Hagerty Cars and Caffeine car show right in the Thunderbolt paddock. Spectators who are looking to get behind the wheel themselves are welcome to book an Arrive and Drive go-karting session at NJMP’s outdoor go-karting track! Compete with friends and family to see who can get in the most laps in NJMP’s Sodi gas-powered go-karts.
All guests are welcome to enjoy lunch and dinner at the full-service restaurant and pub, the Finish Line Pub, located right in the center of the facility. Here families can enjoy picnic games like cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball (bring your own paddle and ball), and disc golf (bring your own disc). And when it gets too hot, those with a ticket are eligible for a pool pass to NJMP’s outdoor pool!
Get your tickets now for this thrilling family weekend event at www.njmp.com!
Rains in the morning and the expectation for more showers as the day wears on has prompted Williams Grove Speedway officials to cancel the July 12 racing program.
The weather cancellation is the first at the track since May 11.
The oval will enjoy a Summer Break next week, July 19before returning for a two-day World of Outlaws stand on July 26 and 27.
On tap to end the month will be the C & D Rigging Summer Nationals on July 26 and 27 with action both nights getting underway at 7:30 pm.
The event will be the first contest of the season at Williams Grove pitting the outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse against one another.
Fans will be treated to 25 laps of action on Friday and a 30-lap feature in the Summer Nationals Finale on July 27.
Keep up with all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval’s official website at www.williamsgrove.com or by following the track on Facebook, Instagram and X.
