Joe Gibbs Racing has announced that the organization has signed a multi-year agreement with King’s Hawaiian. As part of the partnership, Denny Hamlin will drive the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE in four NASCAR Cup Series races this season.

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of King’s Hawaiian. While the company has grown since Robert Taira founded his first bakery in Hilo, HI in 1950, King’s Hawaiian has remained a family-owned business dedicated to making irresistible food that brings people together, sparking good times and inspiring joy in every bite. Today, they are best known for their best-selling Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Slider Buns, and Hamburger Buns, as well as the newest addition to the snacking game, irresistibly sweet and salty Pretzel Bites!

“We are thrilled to have King’s Hawaiian join our family at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Their dinner rolls and other products have really become a part of the daily lives of so many families over the past 75 years and we look forward to helping them celebrate such a significant anniversary this season both on and off the track.”

King’s Hawaiian is scheduled to be the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota for races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (June 28), Daytona International Speedway (August 23), Bristol Motor Speedway (September 13), and Martinsville Speedway (October 26). In addition to its four-race primary sponsorship, King’s Hawaiian will also be featured as a full-season associate partner with Hamlin and the No. 11 team.

“As two family-owned businesses with a shared commitment to excellence and a long-standing tradition of continuous innovation and entrepreneurship, we are thrilled to announce this partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin,” said Raouf Moussa, chief marketing officer for King’s Hawaiian. “This collaboration represents a perfect alignment of values and a unique opportunity to engage with the passionate NASCAR community to showcase our irresistible products and aloha spirit to millions of fans across the country.”

Hamlin will be competing in his 20th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Entering 2025, Hamlin is tied for 12th on the all-time wins list with 54 victories, including three wins last year. 2025 is a year of change for the 44-year-old Virginia native as he will be working with crew chief Chris Gayle after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Hamlin’s previous crew chief Chris Gabehart has been promoted to the team’s competition director role.

The King’s Hawaiian slate of races lines up well with Hamlin’s on-track success. He owns victories at all four tracks, including five at Martinsville, four at Bristol, three at Daytona, and one at Atlanta.

“We’re very excited to welcome King’s Hawaiian to our team,” said Hamlin. “It’s certainly a product we are very familiar with in our household and a great brand that has made a strong commitment to our sport. I’m looking forward to all the exciting things that we can do on and off the track to elevate their program to the next level.”

NASCAR is officially moving forward with an appeal to the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia over a district judge’s decision to grant 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports charter status this season concurrent to suing the sanctioning body on antitrust grounds.

NASCAR has indicated that it will not seek to overturn the guaranteed starting spot recognition but will appeal being forced to pay the two teams the money associated with a charter the teams did not agree to terms to. That is why it is asking for oral arguments on May 15, well after the season ended.

It hopes to reach a decision in its favor before having to pay the two teams at the end of the season. NASCAR says the May 15 date has been agreed upon by the teams as well.

TRICON Garage (TRICON) announced today that it will attempt to make its NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) debut in the 67th running of the Daytona 500 with 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. The Mayetta, New Jersey native will pilot the No. 56 Toyota Camry XSE.

TRICON will be receiving technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Cole Pearn will reunite with Truex Jr., returning to the NCS as a crew chief for the first time since 2019. The duo amassed 24 Cup victories and a championship in their five seasons together and will look to secure a starting position in their sixth Daytona 500.

Bass Pro Shops will continue their longstanding relationship with Truex Jr. and will serve as the primary partner for the No. 56 in the “Great American Race.” The premier outdoor and conservation company founded by Johnny Morris has been a partner of the 44-year-old driver dating back to 2004.

“It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the number 56 again,” said Truex Jr. “I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun, and I can’t think of a better time to go win the thing for Johnny Morris.”

TRICON Garage and Toyota partnered beginning with the 2023 Truck Series season. Since the relationship debuted, success has been evident and immediate with nine victories, 50 top-five finishes and consecutive Championship 4 appearances. The consistent on-track performance and run of success make this partnership the logical next step for TRICON as the organization continues to grow and plan for the future.

“This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota. Having raced against Martin for many years, I can confidently say there’s no stronger competitor I’d want behind the wheel for our first Cup Series entry at the sport’s most prestigious race,” said David Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage.

“As an open entry, we know the road ahead will be challenging, but I have no doubt that Martin will put us in the best position to succeed. I’ve had the privilege of sitting on the pole at Daytona, but my next goal is to celebrate in victory lane.”

NASCAR has announced it will launch a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) Channel called the NASCAR Channel.

The NASCAR Channel goes live with exclusive launch partner Tubi on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Fans can watch NASCAR content 24/7 without a subscription fee or registration.

Programming and content on the NASCAR Channel will include classic races, re-airs of this season’s events, documentaries, NASCAR Studios original content and video podcasts.

Highlights for the launch of the NASCAR Channel include exclusive live coverage of the upcoming NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Feb. 7 and the Cook Out Madhouse Classic from Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Feb. 1. NASCAR will dive into the archive to deliver the best historical races from the Daytona 500 and The Cook Out Clash, while re-airing those 2025 races on a delayed schedule. Fans can also expect timely original content like NASCAR Daily with Shannon Spake and race highlights, as well as fan favorites like Radioactive, Refuse to Lose, and Hall of Fame Biographies.

“I’m excited for the fans,” said John Dahl, NASCAR SVP, Content. “They now have a free, easily-accessed, 24/7NASCAR destination that not only digs deep into our archives but provides the latest news and original storytelling. As the channel grows, we’ll be adding more and more racing content that we’re confident fans will appreciate. Many NASCAR fans already use Tubi, but we're looking forward to exposing more of them to that great platform too.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome NASCAR fans to Tubi where they’ll soon find the ultimate immersive experience with the first official NASCAR FAST Channel exclusively on our service,” said Samuel Harowitz, SVP of Content Acquisitions and Partnerships at Tubi. “As Tubi’s momentum continues to grow, we are doubling down on providing premium entertainment guided by viewer engagement and fandoms. NASCAR is the perfect addition to our vast content offering and we believe this channel's programming will complement NASCAR's live events which kick off the 2025 season with The Clash and Daytona 500 on FOX."

JR Motorsports announced that NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time DAYTONA 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., along with 10-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Chris Stapleton, have come together to field the inaugural entry for JRM in the NASCAR Cup Series in the 2025 running of the DAYTONA 500. In partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery, JRM will field a No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet, inspired by the Blend No. 40 utilized in every bottle of Traveller, for their maiden voyage in “The Great American Race” with the reigning and defending NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Justin Allgaier behind the wheel.

“We’ve been waiting for the right moment for JR Motorsports,” said Earnhardt Jr. “With Justin winning the Xfinity Series championship and Chris Stapleton’s undeniable star power, the planets aligned for this perfect opportunity to enter this year’s DAYTONA 500.”

Proudly blended and bottled at Buffalo Trace Distillery under Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley’s expert supervision, Traveller is the result of countless hours of testing, tasting and dedication to craftsmanship that have produced powerful songs and world-class whiskeys. Since launching in January 2024, it has been honored as the Most Awarded Super Premium Whiskey, garnering 15 awards including the “Master” medal from The Luxury Masters and the “Best in Class Gold” award at the 2024 Whiskies of the World competition.

“Traveller Whiskey joining JR Motorsports for their inaugural entry into the Cup Series at the DAYTONA 500 feels like a very natural partnership,” said Stapleton. “I’m honored to be apart of this historic moment with Dale and Kelley, and excited to see Justin race the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet in Daytona.”

Bottled at 90 proof, Traveller Whiskey is characterized by notes of oak, sweet maple, tart currant and leather. Complex aromas of vanilla, aged fruit and buttery shortbread are rounded off by caramel and a touch of oak. The flavor profile also showcases a touch of sweetness, followed by spice, toasted nut and oak flavors, closing with a robust finish. Traveller is a completely unique combination of whiskeys hand-selected from The Sazerac Company’s award-winning distilleries.

Piloting the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet for JRM is the organization’s most decorated driver in Allgaier. Allgaier, from Riverton, Ill., is the defending NXS Champion, a five-time NXS Most Popular Driver as voted on by the fans, the all-time NXS series leader in top-10 finishes, and JRM’s all-time leader in wins. Additionally, Allgaier is a previous competitor in the Cup Series, having raced full-time at the highest form of North American motorsports during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The veteran driver most recently competed at the Cup level during the 2024 season in substitution for 2021 Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking the checkered flag in the 13th position.

“This is an incredible honor to be driving JR Motorsports’ inaugural entry into the Cup Series, and to do it with not only Dale and Kelley, but Chris Stapleton and Traveller Whiskey makes this even more special,” said Allgaier. “Entering into the DAYTONA 500 has been a goal of this company for a long time and I know that we are going to have everything we need to go out and contend for the win. This is going to be special for sure.”

JRM’s quest for the DAYTONA 500 marks the first time that Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt-Miller have entered a race in the Cup Series as team-owners. Under their leadership in the NXS, JRM has been a pillar of success, earning 88 wins and four championships with drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Tyler Reddick and most recently with Allgaier.

Be sure to catch Allgaier and the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet all week long at Daytona International Speedway as JRM attempts to qualify for the 2025 running of the DAYTONA 500, beginning on Wednesday, Feb.12, at 8:00 p.m. ET for DAYTONA 500 Qualifying, followed by the Duels on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET and culminating with the 67th running of “The Great American Race” on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Traveller Whiskey is widely available to retailers, bars and restaurants through Sazerac’s United States and global distributor networks at a suggested retail price of $39.99 (local taxes and fees will vary). To learn more, visit www.travellerwhiskey.com.

GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE SEASON. Following a highly competitive and exciting racing season last year, which saw a dozen or more different feature winners in both weekly divisions, Grandview Speedway is ready to get back to racing with an action-packed schedule for the 2025 season.

The 2025 racing season will be the 63rd consecutive year of professional stock car racing at Grandview Speedway, and once again will be under the direction of the founding Rogers Family.

The Saturday night racing programs will once again feature the 358 Modifieds and the 602 Crate Sportsman running in two-division programs. As has been tradition since the 1992 race season, the weekly racing programs will be part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Grandview Speedway competitors have been sanctioned under the NASCAR umbrella for over three decades now and have been enjoying the benefits of being members, including racing for the NASCAR point fund money which is available for the National, Regional, State and Track championships, as well as the great insurance coverage provided by NASCAR.

On track action for the new season will begin on Saturday, March 22 with the first of eight scheduled Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Car double-headers joined by the Pro 4 Racing Series starting at 12 Noon.

The following Saturday, March 29 will be the annual Free-to-the-public open practice session, open to all divisions starting at 12 Noon. Grandstand admission is free to all spectators while the driver’s test their equipment for the new season.

The official 63rd season opener will follow on Saturday, April 5 with the 8th annual Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker 50 for Big Block/Small Block Modifieds. The race carries a rain date of April 12, and the Sportsman will also join the program starting at 6 pm.

Traditional fan favorite events are once again a big part of the schedule with the 55th annual running of the following races, the Firecracker 40 for the Sportsman on July 12, Forrest Rogers Memorial 50 lap Championship for the Modifieds on August 9, and the end of the season Freedom 76 Modified Championship on September 20.Each of these races carries a rain date of the following week.

For the upcoming year, Sprint car racing will be a part of two Saturday night events, with the return of the URC Sprints joining the stock car program on June 3, and the wingless USAC East Coast Sprints making their annual visit joining the Modifieds and Sportsman on Saturday, September 6.

On selected Saturdays the Outlaw Racing Series Vintage Cars will be joining the show on May 24, June 28, July 26, August 16, and September 13.

The Pro 4 Racing Series made a very successful debut at Grandview last season and will return for the 2025 season with two Saturday night appearances on May 3and August 30. The Pro 4 Series will also join the Outlaw Enduro/Vintage shows on March 22, July 11, and September 27.

The 36th season of the Rogers Family/Bob Miller promoted Thunder on the Hill Racing Series returns with three events in 2025, including two long-time favorites in the Jesse Hockett Classic Eastern Storm featuring the USAC National Sprint Tour non-wing Sprints on June 17, and the always popular Hodnett Cup Pennsylvania 410 Sprint car Speed Week series race that pays $10,000 to win on July 1. Both programs will see the 358 Modifieds join the show.

The Thunder on the Hill Series schedule will begin with the High Limit 410 Sprint Car Series. This series is organized and promoted by 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson and Multi-Time World of Outlaws Sprint Series Champion Brad Sweet. This 410 Sprint-only program returns to Grandview for the third time in 2025 on Tuesday, May 20 and sees the drivers racing for a huge $20,000 to win! (This event carries a rain date of Wednesday May 21).

Remaining dates for the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Outlaw Racing Series Vintage drivers are April 25, May 9, June 6, July 11, August 1, August 29, and September 27. The Pro 4 Racing Series, Xcel 600 Modifieds and Slingshots will be rotated on the Enduro/Vintage dates throughout the season.

Some off-track extras this season include Back to the 90’s Night on July 19 with $10 grandstand admission, and a Kid’s Money Scramble on August 2. In addition, once a month, there will be the ever popular fan participation Trivia Nights on April 26, May 31, June 21, July 26, August 9, and September 13.

Speedway management is again offering the always popular season passes. The grandstand passes cover all Saturday night events, from the Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker through to the Freedom 38 Sportsman and Freedom 76 Modified championship races in September. The season pass does not include the Rogers Family/Bob Miller promoted Thunder on the Hill special events, or the Outlaw Racing Series Enduro/Vintage shows.

Season passes, priced at $400 per pass, can be ordered by sending a check or money order to Grandview Speedway, 87 Wilt Road, Bechtelsville, Pa. 19505. When ordering please be sure to indicate the name of the pass holder. To speed up the delivery process, please send along a self-addressed stamped envelope.

With the NAPA Auto Parts kicking off the thirty-sixth season on Thunder on the Hill at Grandview Speedway we are pleased to welcome Alpine Building Supply as a key sponsor of each of the 2025 Thunder Series events.   Alpine Building Supply is part of the Pioneer group of companies led by President and Owner Bob Greene.

Alpine Building Supply offers all your building needs from roofing and siding to lumber, tools, and everything in between.   Alpine Building Supply accommodates builders, homeowners and the Do It Yourself enthusiasts!  Visit Alpine Building Supply at 696 South Route 183 in Schuylkill Haven, PA and say hello to Manager Bob Hess.  Also, feel free to shop online at alpinebuildingsupply.com

In the coming season of Thunder on the Hill, Alpine Building Supply will have a role in each of the three events.    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.   Alpine Building Supply will spice up the $20,000 to win first prize with a $2,000 bonus if a Pennsylvania 410 Sprint driver should take the win.    In last year’s event, Brent Marks did exactly that and collected the bonus and a hefty $22,000 payday for win.

The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder Series will continue with the USAC Non-Wing Sprints Eastern Storm National Tour on Tuesday night, June 17 with a 7:30 PM starting time.    Alpine Building Supply  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. 

Alpine Building Supply will 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 and Eric Kormann who pulled off the accomplishment in 2024 of cashing in on the Alpine Building Supply Bonus.

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, Alpine Building Supply will post a $2,000 bonus to any first time Thunder Modified feature winner.

  The Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Spring Auto Show has long marked the opening of the Capital Region’s busy car show season and has grown to be among the largest in the Northeast.  But this year’s event, set for Saturday, May 10, will be even more special.

            “Last year’s show brought out over 950 enthusiasts with cars, trucks and motorcycles of every type and vintage,” offered museum executive director Megan Hennessy.  “For 2025, our dedicated volunteers and museum staff have set a goal of 1000 cars on our huge field adjacent to the museum in the Saratoga Spa State Park.  And we would, of course, be thrilled to host even more!”

            The show will run from 9 am to 2 pm, with spectators admitted free.  Participants can pre-register online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org before May 9thfor $20, with “day of” registrations set at $25.  All registrations will include admission to the auto museum.

            The show will conclude with the traditional awards ceremony with MC Ron Hedger interviewing the winning owners in the nine judging categories, highlighted by the prestigious Best in Show award, on center stage.

            “We continue to upgrade the event, with even more food and automotive related vendors as well as a new sound system that will deliver uniform sound around the huge display area,” offered Hedger.  “I can remember a show years ago where it rained and we had 24 cars on the field, so I’m thrilled at the how is an opportunity for people in the ‘car community’ to renew friendships after a long, cold winter and is always a highlight of our busy car and lawn show season.”

            More information on the auto museum’s exhibits, car shows, special events and themed summer lawn shows is available at www.saratogaautomuseum.org. prospect of seeing 1000 or more cars here for everyone’s enjoyment.

“Besides the cars, the show is an opportunity for people in the ‘car community’ to renew friendships after a long, cold winter and is always a highlight of our busy car and lawn show season.”

            More information on the auto museum’s exhibits, car shows, special events and themed summer lawn shows is available at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.