Marco Andretti is set to attempt to make his 20th Indianapolis 500 start this year with Andretti Global and backing from Mapei, the team announced Tuesday.
After its debut with Andretti last season, Mapei, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry, will return for its second season of NTT IndyCar Series competition as the primary sponsor for Andretti’s No. 98 Honda.
“Our partnership with Mapei over the 2024 season was such an excellent addition to our Andretti IndyCar program,” said Doug Bresnahan, Chief Commercial Officer at Andretti Global.
“The constant of the Mapei brand on Kyle Kirkwood’s No. 27 throughout the full season paired with Mapei’s increased presence as the primary partner for Marco Andretti’s No. 98 at the 2024 Indianapolis 500 was the perfect way for our team to expose a new partner to all the great opportunities the NTT IndyCar Series has to offer, and we are honored to have Mapei back on board in 2025 for what is sure be another exciting season.”
Mapei will continue to serve as an official partner on the No. 27 Honda piloted by Kyle Kirkwood for the entirety of the IndyCar Series season.
Throughout his career in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Andretti has a pole position in 2020, four top-three finishes and eight top-10 results.
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli has named sportscar racing legend Andy Lally as the new Trans Am President. A motorsports veteran with more than 30 years of experience on the racetrack, his appointment comes as the 49-year-old announces his retirement from on-track competition. Lally will report to Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) Chief Operating Officer Michael Printup, who has been at the helm of the Trans Am Series since April of this year.
“This is both my retirement from professional driving and a simultaneous transition to President of the Trans Am Series,” said Lally. “It’s a lot of emotion, both looking back and realizing how fortunate I’ve been, while at the same time looking forward to this next journey. I’ll be using 32 years of auto racing experience in a huge variety of cars and sharing what I’ve learned along the way to contribute to the growth of Trans Am and the continued development of future stars.”
A three-time IMSA champion, Lally has captured victories in some of the most prestigious endurance races in the United States, including five Rolex 24 at Daytona wins, four victories in the Six Hours of The Glen, and wins in the Petit Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring. He also has more than 80 starts in NASCAR’s top-three series, earning NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2011. The Northport, N.Y. native made his debut in the Trans Am Series in 2017, and drove to victory alongside Brent Crews in the inaugural SpeedTour All-Star Race at Lime Rock Park in July.
“The timing seems right and the opportunity is fantastic,” continued Lally. “Anyone that knows me knows I’ve been very vocal for years about not only how incredible Trans Am cars are to race, but also how the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series is the best platform on this planet for driver development. To know that going forward I will be able to play a part in helping our leadership push this series forward while helping both our teams and drivers grow under the Trans Am banner is a dream come true. I know this is going to be a whole new challenge and I will have a steep learning curve ahead, but I’m very much looking forward to it. I have a well-seasoned and talented group of Trans Am officials that I will be leaning on heavily for help along the way. I will also have [PMH owner] Tony Parella and my longtime friend Michael Printup available for advice in what will inevitably be many new situations and choices.”
“Andy and I go back to my inaugural year working at Watkins Glen International, and we’ve become great friends; he is always the proverbial gentleman and a great racer on top of that,” said Printup. “He was always such a great ambassador to the track, helping to promote our races, and I have no doubt he will do the same for Trans Am. His accomplishments, in my eyes, are just stupendous. He is a true racing champion, and I look forward to teaming up with him.”
The longest-running professional road racing series in North America, the Trans Am Series will begin its 59th year of competition at Sebring International Raceway, February 20-23, 2025.
Popular motorsports journalist Kelly Crandall shares this with us.
NASCAR Cup Series teams are on the clock.
The season will see cars on the racetrack for the first time in 25 days when activity begins for the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. A lot of work will be done before teams arrive, and a lot has happened since the 2024 season ran its final lap.
There is always movement from one season to the next. Change is constant: drivers change teams or leave the garage, and it trickles down to personnel changes throughout race shops.
It was no different over the last few months. If anything, this has been one of the busiest winters in recent memory, with changes all around. So, before teams get back into competition, it’s worth reviewing everything that has happened.
Faces in new places
* Noah Gragson has a new home with Front Row Motorsports as the driver of the No. 4 Ford. But he remains paired with Drew Blickensderfer, who also came to the company from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing.
* Chase Briscoe is the new guy at Joe Gibbs Racing as he takes over the No. 19 Toyota. He is paired with crew chief James Small.
* Josh Berry becomes the newest driver at Wood Brothers Racing and adds his name to the list of those who have driven the beloved No. 21 Ford. Miles Stanley is the new crew chief of the team.
* 23XI Racing has expanded to three cars and Riley Herbst is the new addition. Herbst remains paired with Davin Restivo, with whom he worked at Stewart-Haas Racing. Monster Energy is also continuing its sponsorship of Herbst.
* Ryan Preece is the third driver at RFK Racing, who has expanded to three cars. Preece will drive the No. 60 Ford.
* Michael McDowell and crew chief Travis Peterson are now at Spire Motorsports. The duo will now be on the No. 71 Chevrolet team.
* Shane van Gisbergen is a Cup Series driver, promoted with Trackhouse Racing. He and crew chief Stephen Doran will put the No. 88 Chevrolet on track.
van Gisbergen has a full-time home in the Cup Series with Trackhouse this year. Motorsport Images
Team changes
* Richard Boswell is the new crew chief for Austin Dillon on the No. 3 Chevrolet at Richard Childress Racing. Boswell joined the company from Stewart-Haas Racing.
* Rodney Childers begins the next chapter of his career at Spire Motorsports. Childers will call the shots for Justin Haley, who returned to the organization in the No. 7 Chevrolet late last season.
* Ty Dillon has replaced Daniel Hemric at Kaulig Racing and the organization has chosen the No. 10 for Dillon (doing away with the No. 31). Andrew Dickeson (former Richard Childress Racing engineer) is the crew chief.
* Chris Gayle is the new crew chief for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Toyota team.
* Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s former crew chief, is now the competition director at Joe Gibbs Racing.
* Trent Owens has reunited with AJ Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing to lead the No. 16 Chevrolet team.
* Jeremy Bullins joins RFK Racing and reunites with Brad Keselowski to lead the No. 6 Ford team. The two previously worked together at Team Penske.
* Charles Denike is a Cup Series crew chief for the first time as he joins 23XI Racing to lead Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota group.
* Todd Gilliland, still a Front Row Motorsports driver, has taken over the No. 34 Ford with Love’s sponsorship. Chris Lawson has returned to the organization and is the crew chief for the team.
* Front Row Motorsports has also expanded to three cars and in addition to Gragson and Gilliland, Zane Smith has returned to the organization. Smith will be in the No. 38 Ford with crew chief Ryan Bergenty.
* Cole Custer is the cornerstone driver at Haas Factory Team in the No. 41 Ford and Aaron Kramer (former engineer for RFK Racing) is the crew chief. Gene Haas decided to remain in the sport with one of the charters from Stewart-Haas Racing and rebranded and scaled down the company.
* Travis Mack is the crew chief for John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 42 Toyota team at Legacy Motor Club.
* JTG Daugherty Racing has rebranded to Hyak Motorsports with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 Chevrolet team.
* Tyler Allen is the new crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 Toyota team. Gayle, the former crew chief of the team, was moved to Hamlin’s camp.
The No.47 team will race under the Hyak Motorsports name in 2025. Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images
Schedule shuffle
* The season starts at home in North Carolina with the Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. It will be a two-day show the first weekend of Feb. (1-2).
* A practice session has been added to the Daytona 500 schedule that will take place the morning before single-car qualifying (Wednesday, Feb. 12). It means a driver’s first lap on track that week will not be for qualifying.
* Among the early season changes are visits to Circuit of the Americas and Homestead-Miami Speedway in the spring.
* NASCAR takes the Cup Series to Mexico City in June.
* Atlanta, Chicago, Sonoma, Dover, and Indianapolis will be the tracks in the five-race, in-season tournament.
* Daytona returns to the regular season finale, while Darlington is back as the postseason opener. WWTR and New Hampshire move into the postseason.
* A reminder that FOX Sports will broadcast practice and qualifying the Clash, Daytona 500, All-Star Race and all Craftsman Truck Series races. Prime will broadcast Cup Series practice and qualifying for the first half of the season, excluding those Fox Sports broadcasts. TNT Sports will broadcast practice and qualifying on Max and truTV for the second half of the Cup Series season.
Unanswered questions
* The crew chief and additional partners for Preece at RFK Racing.
* A new sponsor – or additional races for existing sponsors – for Hamlin after the departure of FedEx, which was a primary in 13 races during the 2024 season.
* The driver of the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing. It’s expected to be Cody Ware, but no confirmation has been made. Ware has one charter for the 2025 season after leasing its second charter to alliance partner RFK Racing.
* Additional partners at Front Row Motorsports for Gragson and Smith.
* The partners for McDowell at Spire Motorsports.
* Who the Rookie of the Year candidates will be. NASCAR views them on a case-by-case basis and will consider them when submitted by the teams, which could be before the season starts and even during the season. Van Gisbergen and Herbst are likely to be on the list.
The first on track activity of the season is the practice and qualifying session for the Clash on Saturday, Feb. 1. It will be followed by the heat races. Then on Sunday, Feb. 2, the day begins with the last chance race and then the main event.
A Celebration.
The 38th Pioneer Pole Buildings Motorsports Show is gearing up to highlight the groundbreaking achievements of women in racing, with a special focus on one of the sport's trailblazers: Erin Crocker-Evernham. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Crocker-Evernham’s historic win in a World of Outlaws Sprint Car race, a milestone that remains unmatched by any other female driver.
As part of the celebration, Crocker-Evernham will be a key feature of the show, taking part in several events throughout the weekend, including a special seminar and on-stage interviews.
The 2025 Motorsports Show, set for Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA, will offer a dynamic lineup of activities, focusing on the influence of women in motorsports and provide a platform for future stars.
Crocker-Evernham made history two decades ago by becoming the first and only woman to win a World of Outlaws Sprint Car race. Her achievement also includes another groundbreaking accomplishment: she remains the only female driver to qualify for the prestigious Knoxville Nationals in the 410 Sprint Car division, one of the most coveted feats in the sport.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of her World of Outlaws victory, the Motorsports 2025 Show will feature several special events centered around Crocker-Evernham's legacy:
- Women in Racing Seminar: Erin Crocker-Evernham will headline a free seminar on Saturday, January 25, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, offering insight into her career, the challenges and triumphs she’s experienced, and the important role women play in the motorsports industry. The session will be open to all attendees and will provide a unique opportunity to hear from one of the sport's most accomplished figures.
- On-Stage Interview with Steve Post: On Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 PM, Crocker-Evernham will take part in a live, on-stage interview with MRN NASCAR pit road announcer Steve Post. The conversation will explore her journey in motorsports, from her historic race wins to her leadership roles within the sport, and will offer fans an inside look into the life and career of this trailblazing driver.
- Autograph Session: Following the interview, she will be joined by other female drivers for an autograph session on Saturday, January 25 at 3:00 PM. Fans will have the chance to meet and interact with these inspiring women who have made significant contributions to racing, as well as get autographs.
Additional Highlights of the Motorsports 2025 Show:
Ray Evernham’s 50 years in racing will also be celebated both days of the Motorsports show. Evernham will take the stage both days and be available for autographs and signings of his newly released book, “Trophies and Scars” that will be available for purchase.
Several special race cars from Evernham’s person collection will be on display during the show along with over 200 race cars of all kinds on display, speedway and series exhibits and a large Hard Core Racer section and collectible displays, along with a full schedule of free racer seminars.
The Aqua Duck Water Transport-sponsored Ms. Motorsports competition will cap off Friday’s activities at 8 PM. Additionally, the Little Miss competition is planned for Saturday afternoon, along with the annual RAACE Foundation-sponsored Big Wheel races.
The 2024 New Egypt Speedway ‘Night of Champions’ will take place on Saturday, February 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hamilton, N.J.
The ’24 season will come to a close, while launching the much-anticipated 2025 racing season.
The 2024 Champions will all be lauded for their efforts during the past season, with honorees spanning throughout all of the weekly divisions over the course of the night.
Ryan Godown (Modifieds) celebrates his sixth career New Egypt Speedway Modified Championship, tying him for the most of all-time at the Central Jersey D-shaped oval. The title is also Godown’s second consecutive championship.
Ryan Simmons (Crate Sportsman) and Kyle Hurley (Four Cylinders) both celebrate their first respective championships in 2024.
Brian Ludwig (Street Stocks) claims his third career championship with the Street Stocks, tying him with the late, great Billy Liedtka for the most all-time in the division.
Mick D’Agostino (NEWS Sprints) will celebrate his second career NEWS Sprints Championship with the previous one coming in 2022.
Stephen Puglisi Jr. (Rookies) will be lauded as the 2024 Rookie division champion.
The top 10 in the Modifieds, Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Four Cylinders will all be honored along with the top five in the NEWS Sprints and top three in the Rookie division.
To attend the 2024 New Egypt Speedway ‘Night of Champions,’ please fill out the following form on the New Egypt Speedway website: https://newegyptspeedway.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-NEW-EGYPT-SPEEDWAY-BANQUET.pdf
After filling out the form, please mail to the speedway office.
The deadline to RSVP for the banquet is Friday, January 31.
Space is limited to 180 people with tickets going out on a first come, first serve basis. The Hilton Garden Inn in Hamilton will have a room block for the New Egypt Speedway Banquet.
On Friday evening, April 4, the gates will swing open for another thrilling and exciting season of dirt track racing that begins a very aggressive 24 race calendar of events at Big Diamond Speedway.
And much like racers have come to expect from track owners Jake and Jasmine Smulley, all classes competing this year, from the regular weekly divisions to the touring groups, will see a variety of lucrative shows spread out from April to August.
Heading up the weekly card will be the Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds along with the outstanding support divisions including the USS Achey 602 Crate Sportsman Modifieds, Red White and Blue Autos Inc., Roadrunners and the Big Creek Concrete 602 Crate Sportsman.
Right off the bat the big money shows will begin as the Thaw Brawl will pay the 358 Modified winner $4053 while the 602 Crate Sportsman first place finisher will net $1053 and the Roadrunner victor collecting $453.
The late Fritz Roehrig founded Big Diamond Speedway in 1972. The track will follow the season opener in his honor with the Fritz Roehrig Memorial-Money in the Mountains event which will be a $10,000-to win/50-lapper for the 358 Modifieds.
More hefty disbursements will continue during the month of May for the 358 Modifieds as each of their features will pay $6000-to-win. Likewise, the 602 Crate Modifieds can look forward to a $3000-to-win night on May 9 with the 602 Crate Classic
Last year the track hosted the very first Full Fender Frenzy for the Roadrunners which was an overwhelming success that saw cars from BAPS Motors Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway go head-to-head with the stars of Big Diamond. That race is set for May 2 and $1000 awaits the winner.
June will start off in a big way with the return of the Anthracite Assault for the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds racing in a special Tuesday show that pays $7500-to-win.
Another must-see midweek race will take place on June 19 when the stars of the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Cars invade Big Diamond as part of the Eastern Storm swing.
June also has the “Double B” Bob Bowers Memorial for the Roadrunners with a pair of 12-lap/$500-to-win each feature.
Moving into the month of July things will start off with a longtime tradition as the annual Georgie Stevens Memorial takes place headlined by a 40-lap/$6000-to-win main event for the 358 Modifieds while the 602 Crate Modifieds will be battling for a $1000 top prize.
Lasting Legends Night returns July 11. On that night select Big Diamond Speedway greats are honored in a special meet and greet and autograph session.
The always popular Topless Night is inked during July and is another set of high paying features for the regulars. $7000 and $1000 to win respectively for the 358 Modifieds, 602 Crate Modifieds and Roadrunners. Plus, it will be Getz Motorsports Bike Night. July closes out with another $1000 payday for the Roadrunners on the 25th.
More money is earmarked in August when the Prelude to the Coalcracker takes place on the evening of the 15th with a 50-lapper for the 358 Modifieds and not to mention an impressive $10,000 winner’s share.
One lucky 358 Modified driver can add to his or her earnings when the season finale takes place on August 31 and the running of the prestigious Jack Rich Inc., Coalcracker 72. It will be 72 laps or racing and $15,000-to-win plus lap money making for a great way to close the year.
Along with those highlights the speedway will also play host to the URC Sprint Cars, East Coast Legend Series, Mid Atlantic Modifieds, Wingless Sportsman, and the PASS 305 Sprints.
The complete 2025 schedule can be found on the official Big Diamond Speedway website at https://bigdspeedway.net/
The thirty-sixth season of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will return to the Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA and the first of three high-powered events will open the Thunder Series on Tuesday night, May 20. The big night of sprint car racing will find Levan Machine & Truck Equipment presenting the RICH MAR Florist Kubota Hight Limit Racing 410 Sprints.
This will be the third visit by High Limits to Grandview Speedway. Thunder on the Hill and Grandview Speedway were proudly one of just twelve tracks in the country selected to host this organization in their first season in 2023.
Time trials and heat race qualifying will open the show leading up to the 35 lap $20,000 to win main event.
Prior winners of this event were Rico Abreu in 2023 as Pennsylvania driver Brent Marks took the win in 2024. Marks also pocketed a $2,000 bonus posted by Pioneer Pole Buildings for the first Pennsylvania driver to win a High Limit event at Grandview. PPB will again post a PA $2,000 bonus for the May 20 event.
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder Series will continue with the opening night of the 18th Annual Amsoil USAC Non-Wing Sprints Eastern Storm National Tour on Tuesday night, June 17 with a 7:30 PM starting time. Thunder on the Hill and Grandview Speedway were the nucleus of the creation of the USAC Eastern Storm and it is so fitting that they would again host the opening event of the Eastern Storm.
Pioneer Pole Buildings is the race night sponsor as the top non-wing sprint racers chase the Levan Machine & Turck Equipment $10,000 Series Point Fund. This event is the Jesse Hockett Classic, a 40 lap feature paying $6,000 to the winner in a tribute to Jesse Hockett. The Grandview 358 Modifieds will be on the racing program taking part in a series of qualifying events highlighted by a 30 lap feature paying $3,000 to win. PPB will again post a $2,000 bonus for a first time Thunder Modified feature winner. $5,000 to win 30 laps for your first Thunder win is a treat, previously earned by Alex Yancowski as Eric Kormann pulled off the accomplishment in 2024.
The 358 Modifieds will follow the weekly Grandview Speedway car specifications.
The Thunder finale is set for Tuesday night, July 1 when the Pennsylvania 410 Sprints Speed Week Series and the 358 Modifieds team up for a spectacular doubleheader. Start time is 7:30 PM with the 410 sprints opening with time trials followed by a series of qualifying events leading up to the Hodnett Cup, a 35 lap feature paying $10,000 to win. The 358 Modifieds will also compete in qualifying events and a 30 lap feature paying $3,000 to win. Once again, Pioneer Pole Buildings will post a $2,000 bonus to any first time Thunder Modified feature winner.
