None of this surprises me. NASCAR has not operated as a team effort for years and I am surprised it took this long for a team or two has taken action against NASCAR. I think it helps that Michael Jordan is a driving effort of the lawsuit.
NASCAR teams 23XI and Front Row Motorsports issued a joint statement Wednesday morning:
“We share a passion for racing, the thrill of competition, and winning. Off the racetrack, we share a belief that change is necessary for the sport we love. Together, we brought this antitrust case so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that will benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans’.”
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports jointly filed an antitrust lawsuit in the Western District of North Carolina against the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and its CEO Jim France, arguing that the stock car racing circuit and its leadership have used anti-competitive practices to prevent fair competition in the sport.
In a joint statement, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports said, “We share a passion for racing, the thrill of competition, and winning. Off the racetrack, we share a belief that change is necessary for the sport we love. Together, we brought this antitrust case so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that will benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans.”
NASCAR and the France family operate without transparency, have stifled competition, and control the sport of stock car racing in ways that unfairly benefit them at the expense of team owners, drivers, sponsors, partners, and fans, through the following anti-competitive practices:
Buying a majority of the premier racetracks that are exclusive to NASCAR races;
Imposing exclusivity deals on NASCAR-sanctioned racetracks;
Acquiring Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), the only notable stock car racing series competitor;
Preventing teams from participating in any other stock car races, while also retaining ownership over Next Gen parts and cars; and forcing teams to buy their parts from single-source suppliers chosen by NASCAR.
No other major professional sport in North America is run by a single family that enriches themselves through these kinds of unchecked monopolistic practices.
Central to the lawsuit are the original NASCAR charters adopted in 2016 and the recently updated 2025 agreements, which the 23XI and Front Row Motorsports teams did not sign because of the unfair terms. After more than two years of attempted negotiations over the 2025 agreements, during which NASCAR continually stonewalled and refused to engage constructively, we concluded that litigation was the only way to address the anti-competitive practices of NASCAR and the France family.
In the coming days, we will file a preliminary injunction to enable our teams to race in the next calendar year under the 2025 charter agreement, while continuing to pursue our antitrust litigation. The filing will seek discovery from both NASCAR and Jim France related to their exclusionary practices and intent to insulate themselves from any competition. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will seek treble damages for the anti-competitive terms that teams have been subject to under the 2016 charter agreement.
23XI Racing was founded in 2020 by Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan, and Curtis Polk, and Front Row Motorsports is owned by Bob Jenkins and has been racing full-time since 2005.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have retained Winston & Strawn LLP as legal counsel, led by Jeffrey Kessler, Winston & Strawn LLP Partner and Co-Executive Chairman.
Denny Hamlin, part-owner of 23XI Racing commented:
“It’s actually pretty simple in my opinion. When I look around, I see that the best and most competitive sports in the world understand that when teams thrive, fans benefit, and that everyone who invests in making the sport a success should share fairly in that success. With the right changes, we can certainly make that a reality in racing.”
Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing said:
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track. I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.”
ARCA and Menards announced a multi-year extension that keeps the Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement retailer as the entitlement partner for all three series within the ARCA Menards Series platform, including the ARCA Menards Series East and West.
The agreement extends the relationship between two Midwestern-based family-owned companies that trace their roots back to the 1950s. ARCA was started in Toledo, Ohio by John and Mildred Marcum and is overseen by their grandson, Ron Drager. Now in its 72nd season, the ARCA Menards Series has contested over 1500 races at 180 different racetracks. The first Menards opened in 1958, and from humble beginnings the company has grown to 341 stores in 15 states across the Midwest.
“Menards has been the cornerstone of a strong foundation for ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series since 2009 when they became a presenting sponsor,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “That relationship has only become stronger over the years and reached its pinnacle in 2019 when Menards became the series’ entitlement partner. It’s great to be associated with a company that knows racing inside and out and actively participates in building and growing the series. We are proud to continue to carry this relationship into the future.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the ARCA Menards Series,” said John Menard, President/CEO, Menards. “Our customers are hard-working people with strong Midwestern family values, and that aligns perfectly with the ARCA Menards Series, a series made up of hard-working racers who find a way to get things done on and off the racetrack.”
“Menards supports racing because the entire Menard family loves the sport,” said Mike Helton, Senior Advisor, NASCAR. “The continued partnership between Menards and ARCA is a tremendous benefit to the racers who compete in the ARCA Menards Series and the fans all across the country who love to see the stars of tomorrow racing at both grassroots-level short tracks and some of the biggest motorsports venues in the world.”
Acquired by NASCAR in 2018, the ARCA Menards Series platform has proven to be the premier training ground for drivers with aspirations of competing in one of the three NASCAR national series. In 2023, nearly 80% of the drivers racing across the three national NASCAR series – representing dozens of series championships and hundreds of race wins – started their journey in the ARCA platform.
The 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship will be determined on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the series’ home track, Toledo Speedway. The race will be televised live on FS2 starting at 4 pm ET; live timing and scoring data will be available at ARCARacing.com. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.
PT Autosport today announced the eight finalists who will compete in its third annual Aspiring Driver Shootout in November at New Jersey Motorsport Park, with the winner earning a racing partnership and the chance to join the team’s junior racing program.
The Aspiring Driver Shootout winner will receive up to a $250k driver partnership (with $50k guaranteed). Second place earns $10,000 toward a racing school or coaching program while third place gets $5,000.
The team received 225 applications (60% more than last year) from aspiring drivers located all over the world, spanning four continents, four countries, and half the U.S. states. Applications came from a diverse base of gender, ethnicities, education levels and social backgrounds – including students and graduates from 125 different universities and 98 high schools. Those applications were whittled down to 88, who received an intensive second round of scrutiny to set the final list of candidates.
Of the eight selected candidates, two are returning from the 2023 Shootout.
Among those reviewing the applications and making the (difficult) final decisions were PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers and head of driver development – and the team’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America driver – Alex Sedgwick. Both noted the number and caliber of this year’s applicants.
“We are really excited for this year’s crop of shootout contestants,” said Myers. “It was the largest and most diverse field of applicants we’ve ever had, along with the most prepared and well-sorted applications. I think we’re going to have a very close competition. Only two veterans are returning so we’ve got five other new applicants along with our eSports winner, so we’ve got a great swath of experience and backgrounds.
“Our first shootout winner and Toyota GR Cup standout Henry Drury will be in attendance, helping with operations and other tasks,” continued Myers. “Henry is really the epitome of what we look for in a PT Autosport driver: dedication, competition, fitness, along with a great attitude and work ethic. We couldn’t have done better finding him our first year out so we are now looking forward to another winner of similar caliber!”
“It was extremely difficult to decide on the finalists this year,” said Sedgwick. “That was one of the reasons we decided to narrow the field down to eight, in order to give maximum attention to these candidates, and to enable them to have a little bit more track time, and a little bit more focus from our coaches to really try and get the most out of them – which I think will pay off in the assessment process. They must have an understanding that this is where the hard work starts. This is the start of a very long, hard road to getting to where they all aspire to be, so I'm looking forward to what we see in November. I'm looking forward to getting to New Jersey – it will definitely be an interesting couple of days.”
The Finalists are:
Joao Marcos Ribero (Johnny) Carvalhal
Age: 23
From: Born in San Diego, California and lives in Dallas, Texas
Experience: is an MSF level two instructor and NASA advanced driver
Hobbies: sailing, going to music festivals, martial arts, skiing, exploring new countries and video games
Note: is a graduate of TCU
Liam Crystal
Age: 22
From: resides in Tempe, Arizona, carries Brazilian and South African citizenship
Experience: after an extensive karting career, tested Porsche GT3 Cup and junior formula cars
Hobbies: traveling, trying new foods and activities, keeping fit in the gym and running outdoors
Note: has raced in the UAE, Europe, and South Africa
Nicky Hays
Age: 23
From: Huntington Beach, California
Experience: after an extensive karting career, finished third in the 2019 F4 France series, and ninth in the US F4 series, fourth in the 2020 FRA series, seventh in the 2022 USF2000 championship, competed in the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Hobbies: building track cars (he and his father compete in a Honda CRX), working as a sales agent in real estate, mixed martial arts
Note: no. 1 bucket list item is to win the Long Beach Grand Prix – a race he has attended since the age of 5
Zach Hollingshead
Age: 21
From: Lake City, Florida
Experience: raced with Ocala Gran Prix and as a TB Kart factory driver, SCCA Porsche GT3 and Spec Miata race winner, crews for Copeland Motorsports in the Toyota GR Cup
Hobbies: basketball, building cars, iRacing, fashion, photography
Note: is also an experienced driver coach
Bryce Rodriguez
Age: 21
From: Beacon, New York
Experience: after an extensive karting career, graduated from the Skip Barber GT Racing school, 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout runner up
Note: is an accomplished sim racer
Aaron Smith
Age: 23
From: Hollywood, South Carolina
Experience: accomplished sim racer
Hobbies: mowing the grass and meeting new people
Note: races with the PT Autosport by Amped Sim Racing Team
Max Stallone
Age: 18
From: Austin, Texas
Experience: karting, ChampCar endurance series, NASA and SCCA Spec Miata, Toyota GR Cup Esports league
Hobbies: surfing, wakeboarding, iRacing, reading my bible and hanging out with friends
Note: aspires to one day start his own motorsports organization that provides racing to underfunded young drivers
Alexandro Vielma
Age: 19
From: La Habra, California
Experience: accomplished sim racer and karting driver, has raced Spec Miata and Porsche Spec Boxster, Radicals and US F4, earned a spot in the Prodigy Three Championship
Hobbies: running (has competed in cross country & track at the NCAA D1 level)
Note: co-captain for More Than Miles Track Club, promoting clarity through movement
The winner will receive extensive coaching and racing experience designed to assist progression to an advanced racing series within the team’s structure, or with one of the team’s operational partners. The 2022 winner, Henry Drury, graduated from Porsche Club of America races to the Toyota GR Cup this season, earning his first series podium last month at Road America.
The Shootout will take place November 11 to 13 at the team’s main headquarters, New Jersey Motorsports Park. The candidates will undergo an extensive series of examinations to decide the winner: media interviews, driving (including sim work), and fitness testing, then a full day of driving – with the evaluation process (including eliminations) taking place throughout the day.
About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.
PT Autosport, based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, campaigns rising star Alex Sedgwick (UK) in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America series with JDX Racing and 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury (UK) in the Toyota GR Cup North America series with Precision Racing LA.
PT Autosport is dedicated to providing merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.
A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.
PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.
Ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick has sparked a debate by questioning the legitimacy of pop icon Taylor Swift’s recent public endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
Patrick, who is known for her vocally conservative views, expressed her doubts about the timeliness and genuineness of Swift’s political stance on social media.
Swift, who is currently making an estimated $13.6 million for each performance on her Eras Tour, voiced her support for Harris shortly after the presidential debate on September 10, 2024. This public statement quickly became a contentious subject, eliciting responses from various celebrities and political commentators.
Patrick, the most successful female driver in the history of American open-wheel racing, posted her skepticism about the impromptu nature of Swift’s endorsement on Instagram. “I love her music TBH (to be honest). But there’s no way that long post was ready right after the debate. I have been on the other side, that was probably written and revised by a team over the last week. Aka. A plan,” she stated.
The comments made by the retired race car driver have ignited a discussion about the nature of celebrity endorsements in the realm of contemporary politics. Patrick’s critique extends beyond Swift’s political ideology, suggesting that such endorsements are often meticulously planned, rather than being impulsive responses to political occurrences.
Since her retirement from professional racing in 2018, Patrick has used her influence to promote a healthy lifestyle and fitness. Despite her own battle with high cholesterol, she regularly shares her workout regimens and dietary habits with her followers, becoming a known advocate for clean eating.
Patrick’s critique of Swift’s endorsement has found resonance among some conservative audiences online. One social media user shared a video reposted by Patrick, which read, “Dear Swifties voting for Kamala just because Taylor endorsed her. May I remind you that 90% of her hit songs are about choosing the wrong person.”
Patrick’s venture into political commentary isn’t new. She has been a consistent supporter of conservative causes and has been known to post content critical of Democratic policies and figures.
Patrick’s racing career was riddled with several pioneering feats. She was the first woman to clinch a victory in an IndyCar race and secured a third-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, the best performance by a female driver to date. After retiring, she pivoted to media work, serving as an analyst for Sky Sports F1 and NBC’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500.
In addition to her media ventures, Patrick has also established a successful entrepreneurial career. She launched a sportswear brand, Warrior by Danica Patrick, and a wine label named Somnium, Latin for ‘dream.’
While Swift’s team has yet to directly respond to Patrick’s comments, the debate has revived discussions about the influence of celebrity endorsements on public opinion and their potential impact on voter behavior.
Mike Adaskaveg
Jimmy Keenan took over the reins of Dallas County Fairgrounds Speedway in 2023. Prior to that, he had raced hobby stocks, crew chiefed for John Watson, and promoted RC car races at Send It R.C. Speedway at the Dallas County Fairgrounds. Keenan said what he had learned from promoting RC car racing applies to full-sized cars at the dirt oval in Adel, Iowa.
“I learned [from RC cars] the way you treat people will give you your biggest growth,” Keenan, of Ankeny, Iowa, said. “I treat everyone the same — I don’t care who they are or how long I knew them. Level respect — everyone treated the same — is the key to success in running a racetrack, whether it be RC or figure 8.”
Dallas County Fairgrounds Speedway pulled 20 to 30 cars a week at the end of 2022, according to Keenan. This season, the track averaged 74 cars per night.
“I turned DCFS into the fun place to be on a Saturday night,” said Keenan. “One thing was lacking there — there needed to be a connection from the grandstand to the pits.”
How Keenan Grew Dallas County Fairgrounds Speedway
To build that connection, Keenan instituted a twice-a-year Front Stretch Party. Cars line up on the frontstretch and fans can meet the drivers and see the cars up close. Drivers hand out hero cards and candy. Young fans get rides in the race cars. For all nights, Keenan invites the entire grandstand to the pits after the racing program ends.
“Kids who see a race car from the stands don’t know who drives it,” Keenan said. “We give kids and adults a chance to see and talk to the drivers face to face. Young girls find out this isn’t just a guy’s game. We have eight women drivers.”
DCFS also offers promotions to draw children to its events.
“Our last bicycle giveaway saw 150 kids in the grandstands,” said Keenan. “And they all brought their parents.”
The track also offers other events that build the racing community at DCFS.
“We had a bonfire for everyone and cornhole tournament for the race teams,” Keenan said. “There were 12 teams in the cornhole tournament. It created comradery. It brought racers and crew members together where they could actually talk to each other and have fun together. Some racers never physically talk to the people in the very next trailer on race night. That’s what I’m hoping to change. Racing can be fun, and lifelong friendships can be made at the racetrack.”
Keenan still promotes the RC car races, too, located at the other end of the fairgrounds from the dirt oval.
“It runs on weekends opposite of the speedway,” said Keenan. “There is some crossover from the speedway. A few drivers compete at both tracks.”
The Building Blocks of a Show
DCFS runs six classes total, with two on the figure 8 track and four on the oval.
The figure 8 track has a stock class, with former stock cars and hobby stocks, and an open class, which is a center-drive car with open engine rules.
The oval classes include JR FWD (for those 12–15 years old), FWD, cruiser cars, and hobby stocks.
“Our hobby stock class is unsanctioned and has different rules than the sanctioned classes at area tracks,” Keenan said. “Our hobby stock class makes it so racing is much more affordable — things like no stamped parts. We’re going back to the days when parts were built instead of bought. We are allowing the 5.3-liter LS engine that can be bought for $1500 at area junkyards.”
The cruiser cars feature a pilot and a co-pilot.
“The gas pedal is moved to the passenger side,” said Keenan. “The passenger runs the throttle; the driver steers the car and handles the brakes. We have husbands and wives teaming up. We have new drivers like James Robinson, who won last week with co-pilot Chris Mitchell — the guy he just bought the car from. It’s so much fun for the fans to watch.”
Keenan said another lesson he applied from the high-volume world of RC cars was to run an efficient race program.
“We learned how to keep the show moving, so there are no gaps between qualifying races, division features — fans and racers appreciate that,” Keenan said. “We offer cheap, exciting entertainment — a four-hour show that costs $10 for adults and $5 for kids.”
That formula seems to be working, and Keenan plans to stay at the helm of Dallas County Fairgrounds Speedway for years to come.
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
FedEx is expected to continue reducing its sponsorship presence with Joe Gibbs Racing after this season and could conclude the longtime deal altogether, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that would end one of the more winning driver-sponsor combinations in NASCAR history.
The Memphis-based global delivery and logistics giant has been a major sponsor of the team since 2005, and at its height was spending close to $25 million a year just in rights fees to JGR. The company or its divisions and sub brands over the years sponsored every race on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota during NASCAR’s 38-event schedule up until 2021, when it began cutting back and JGR started finding other companies to fill the open positions.
JGR has been in the market looking for new sponsors for the No. 11 for next year, sources say, and that’s being done in anticipation of FedEx dropping more – and possibly all – of its remaining primary positions. It could not be confirmed whether JGR was still holding last-ditch talks with FedEx and the sides have yet to comment on the matter. FedEx did not respond to a request for comment, while JGR declined comment.
FedEx has been reshuffling its sports marketing portfolio in recent years amid a broader cost-cutting drive, including this past offseason ending its longtime stadium naming-rights deal with the Commanders, the franchise that JGR owner Joe Gibbs coached to three Super Bowl wins. That deal had been in place since 1999.
How do drivers make money in Dirt Racing? Reader Tanner Holmes tells you.
There is 1 main way a driver gets paid by a team and it is based off a percentage of the purse each night. This means if a driver is hired by a team, they usually get a % of the purse as payment. It is rare in dirt racing for a driver to be paid a salary. So if you win a standard $10,000 to win show, most drivers would get 30%-50% of the $10,000 ($3k-$5k). Some teams structure it so if you run better you get a higher percentage, and some are just flat number across the board no matter what place you finish. The best drivers usually get 50%, or if you bring sponsorship to a team that can help you as a driver get a better deal. If a driver has a better deal than listed above, then they struck a gold mine.
DEREK WARWICK Never look back: The racing life of Britain’s double World Champion," by Derek Warwick with David Tremayne, is now available in the U.S.
With forewords by Ross Brawn, Alex Hawkridge and Jean Todt, this books is a warts-and-all memoir by one of Britain’s most prominent and successful racing drivers.
Derek Warwick has been a popular and highly respected figure in motor racing for nearly 50 years, known for his tough and determined personality as well as his talent and bravery behind the wheel. Now, with characteristic honesty and humor, he tells his inspiring story in a memoir that holds nothing back. Although he never won in Formula 1, due to ill fortune and so often being in the wrong car at the wrong time, he did achieve the results he deserved in sports car racing, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Championship in 1992, plus finishing series runner-up with Jaguar in 1986 and 1991. In the twilight of his racing career, that world title was a fitting companion to the one he had earned as a short-track oval racer nearly 20 years earlier.
Key Topics:
• Warwick’s unconventional racing baptism saw him excel on short-track ovals, winning the World Championship at Wimbledon Stadium in 1973, aged 19.
• Climbing the ladder: winner of 33 Formula Ford races and the European championship in 1976; champion in one of two major British F3 series in 1978 battling against Nelson Piquet and runner-up in the other; second in the European F2 Championship to Toleman team-mate Brian Henton in 1980.
• Into F1 with Toleman, gradually establishing himself as the fledgling turbo team gained momentum after a disastrous start in 1981–82, then scoring points in 1983 and becoming sought-after by other teams.
• After landing a plum seat at Renault for 1984, bad luck stopped him taking a deserved victory in the opening race, but he did achieve four podiums; but it all turned sour in 1985 with the team’s decline and then withdrawal.
• With F1 opportunities drying up, Warwick switched to the World Endurance Championship with Jaguar for 1986, finishing second in the standings; by mid-season, he also found himself back in F1 with Brabham after the sad death of Elio de Angelis.
• Three F1 years with Arrows (1987–89) saw him add to his reputation as a fast and committed racer, followed by a difficult season with Lotus (1990) that brought a huge accident at Monza and an even worse one for team-mate Martin Donnelly at Jerez.
• Back with Jaguar in a Ross Brawn-designed sports car for 1991, Warwick won four races, but one disqualification meant he was runner-up in the Sportscar World Championship for the second time.
• On 21 July 1991, the Warwick family was torn apart when Derek’s younger brother Paul was killed at Oulton Park. Paul was pursuing a racing career of his own and had graduated to the British F3000 Championship, which he dominated and ended up winning posthumously.
• World Champion again: invited to join Peugeot’s sports car team for 1992, Warwick started to rebuild his life with a hugely successful year, winning both Le Mans and the Sportscar World Championship.
• One final year of F1 (1993), back with Footwork-branded Arrows, followed by some touring car racing, including with his own team 888.
• And more besides: he built up a small group of car dealerships in the UK and Jersey, selling the UK ones in 2003; he constructed or renovated over a dozen houses in Jersey, two of them at the time the most spectacular ever built on the island; ownership of three building companies in the UK; President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club; serving as an FIA steward at Grands Prix; coping with cancer.
This officially licensed history features stunning photography, including rare images from the Hendrick Motorsports archive.
Since Rick Hendrick launched Hendrick Motorsports in 1984, the ensuing four decades, it has become one of the most successful and high-profile teams in the sport’s long history. Competing in the elite NASCAR Cup Series, as of 2023, the team had posted the most points-paying wins and the most championships.
Authored by long-time NASCAR journalist Ben White, with a foreword by Jeff Gordon and afterword by Rick Hendrick, the 200-page book includes images from top NASCAR photographer Nigel Kinrade and from Hendrick Motorsport’s archive. From that first win at Martinsville that saved the team, to the groundbreaking Garage 56 Le Mans program, the full story of the team and the contribution of countless people is told here.
As the official 40th anniversary book covering the team’s entire history, Hendrick Motorsport: 40 Years is the ideal retrospective – and will make a great gift for the holidays!
The 62nd anniversary season of auto racing action at Grandview Speedway for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds and the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman concluded recently with two exciting and action packed racing events during the Freedom 76 weekend of racing.
The final racing events of the 2024 season will be with the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Cars on Friday, October 18 in another double header plus the addition of the Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds starting at 6 pm and there will be a Halloween party for the kids before the races starting at 6 pm.
The 2024 season for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds was brought to an exciting conclusion this past Saturday night with the running of the 54th annual Freedom 76 Championship race which was won by Alex Yankowski, who scored his first ever win in the prestigious event and second ever Grandview Speedway feature win, having previously won a Thunder on the Hill Racing Series event in August of 2022.
Yankowski worked his way forward from his tenth starting spot, and hooked up in a great battle for the top spots first with Kevin Hirthler for second position, then was able to outrun race leader Jeff Strunk on a lap 47 restart to motor on to the victory worth $32,187 including purse, bonus, and lap prize money!
The entire evening was a spectacular night of racing action, as 73 race teams participated in seven qualifying heats, three consolations, a cash dash and the Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20 leading into the Freedom 76 lap Championship feature finale for the 2024 racing season.
Jeff Strunk was officially crowned the 2024 T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modified Grandview Track Champion one week prior on September 14th, capturing his 11th career point title at the track. Strunk won the point title without the benefit of a feature win, scoring 8 top five’s, and 16 top ten finishes in 18 events this season.
The remaining drivers completing solid seasons in the top five positions in points include Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Jared Umbenhauer, and Duane Howard.
The entire 2024 season of T.P. Trailer Modified racing was competitive from beginning to end, as twelve different drivers reached victory lane. Defending 2023 Champion Brett Kressley was the leading winner with five checkered flags, followed by Louden Reimert with three. Doug Manmiller and Eric Kormann each scored two wins (one plus a Thunder Series win), while one time feature winners included Nate Brinker, Mike Mahaney, Cody Manmiller, Bobby Trapper Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, John Willman, and Freedom 76 winner Alex Yankowski.
The final top twenty in points for the T.P. Trailer NASCAR Modifieds are 1. Jeff Strunk – 4377, 2. Craig Von Dohren – 4107, 3. Mike Gular – 3863, 4. Jared Umbenhauer – 3536, 5. Duane Howard – 3534, 6. Eddie Strada – 3387, 7. Doug Manmiller – 3347, 8. Louden Reimert – 3214, 9. Brett Kressley – 3210, 10. Tim Buckwalter – 3063, 11. Ryan Watt – 2815, 12. Kevin Hirthler – 2701, 13. Kyle Smith – 2080, 14. Ryan Grim – 2035, 15. Mike Lisowski – 2034, 16. Jimmy Leiby – 2022, 17. Justin Grim – 2006, 18. Jon Kellner – 1989, 19. John Willman – 1932, 20. Eric Kormann – 1819.
The T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman season was also super competitive, with Logan Watt ending the season as the 2024 Track Champion and the leading feature winner with three victories, and he also scored the win in the 11th annual Freedom 38 Championship race last Friday evening. Watt picked up $3487 for the win including purse, lap and bonus money.
It was also a huge final night of action for the season for the T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman, as a huge field of 67 drivers arrived for competition and participated in seven qualifying heats, three consolations, and a B main leading into the Freedom 38-lap Championship feature race.
Logan Watt was officially crowned T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman Champion on September 14th after a very close late season point battle with Dylan Swinehart, after leading the points for most of the season. Watt finished the year with three wins, 8 top five’s, and 12 top ten finishes in 18 events.
Following Watt in the final point standings were Dylan Swinehart, Mike Schneck Jr., Brett Gilmore, and Addison Meitzler.
For the 2024 season, fourteen different drivers visited the winner’s circle led by Watt who scored three wins. Dylan Swinehart and rookie Gavyn Krupp each scored two wins, with Alex Bartorillo, Kenny Bock, Brett Gilmore, Brian Hirthler, Mark Kemmerer, Dakota Kohler, Jared LaBagh, Jesse Landis, Addison Meitzler, Colton Perry, and Zach Steffey each taking one checkered flag.
The final top twenty in points for the T.P. Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman are 1. Logan Watt – 3648, 2. Dylan Swinehart – 3594, 3. Mike Schneck Jr. – 3536, 4. Brett Gilmore – 3225, 5. Addison Meitzler – 3217, 6. Jesse Hirthler – 3201, 7. Adrianna Delliponti – 3172, 8. Ryan Graver – 2941, 9. Logan Bauman – 2618, 10. Nathan Mohr – 2428, 11. Jesse Landis – 2393, 12. TJ Mayberry – 2165, 13. Gavyn Krupp – 2072, 14. Brett Grim – 1952, 15. Kenny Bock – 1891, 16. Dakota Kohler – 1849, 17. Joey Vaccaro – 1848, 18, Parker Guldin – 1841, 19. Mark Mohr – 1809, 20. Teague Miller – 1759.
A final wrap up on the Friday night Freedom 38 T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman Championship, saw several bonus awards and lap money posted, which totaled $2275 in extra prize money for the competitors. THANKS to all who added to the success of the 11th annual event!
Some final totals for the bonus and lap prize money for Saturday night’s Freedom 76: Cole Stangle led laps 1-7 and earned $442 in lap money, Justin Grosso led laps 8-11 and earned $170 in lap money, while Jeff Strunk led laps 12-47 and picked up $1501 in lap money, while winner Alex Yankowski lead from lap 48-76 and picked up $1025 in lap money. All totaled the lap prize money, which saw some additions on race night, totaled $3138. THANK YOU to all sponsors who contributed to the 76-lap race!
The bonus money for the Freedom 76 totaled $4847 and combined with the lap prize money, the total extras for the race came out to $7985!!! THANK YOU once again to everyone who helped make the 2024 Freedom 76 weekend a successful one!
Grandview Speedway management has announced that the 2025 63rd anniversary season of professional auto racing will open with the traditional Free-to-the-Public Open Practice on Saturday, March 29, followed by the season opening Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker for Modifieds plus 602 Sportsman on Saturday, April 5. Mark your calendars now and don’t miss it!!!
