By Ernie Saxton / / Column, Ernie Saxton

Hi Ernie!

Good to see that Neil Bonnett was selected to be in the Fans Hall of Stock Car Legends.  And your comments about him and inaugural member Smokey Yunick hit the mark.

I will always remember what Bonnett said one time on a TV broadcast that he was doing: “If you drink a diet soda when eating chocolate cake the soda counteracts the calories in the cake.”

Also, with the recent passing of Rex White, 94-year-old Jim Whitman is now NASCAR’s oldest living champion.

Born on Jan. 19, 1931, Whitman was a two-time NASCAR Midget Division Champion with his first title coming in the No. 24 Ken Brenn Kurtis-Kraft/Offy in 1957 and then in 1959 he drove Harry Grabow’s No. 8 Kurtis-Kraft/Offy and Ralph Smiley’s No. 6 “Golden Arrow” Kurtis-Kraft/Offy to win his second NASCAR Midget honors.

Whitman also did some NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Racing and in the 1960 Daytona 500 he was the only driver to compete in a Dodge; the No. 60 owned by Dick Stanley of Midland Park, New Jersey.

In this race, Whitman qualified 41st in the 68-car field and was credited with finishing 47th after engine problems forced him to drop out after 116 laps.  And his Stock Car was seen as being quite-unique as it was “… equipped with a 2-way radio system that permits steady communication between driver and pit crew for pre-pit stop alerting.”

When not racing, Whitman – a former Teaneck (NJ) High School 148-pound State Wrestling Champion (1945) – was a very accomplished commercial artist in the New York City area whose Whitman Studios (1962-1992) worked on many of the top national accounts of that time period. 

Then Whitman became a top designer and creator of custom-made wooden furniture and in 2012 he authored a well-received volume on that craft entitled, THE WOODWORKER’S STUDIO HANDBOOK: Traditional and Contemporary Techniques for the Home Woodworking Shop (Fox Chapel Publishing).

Whitman first got interested in Midget Racing when he attended the races at the Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, with his dentist father, Dr. Clifford Whitman.  And he credits his great friend the late Chris Economaki with helping him get some top Sprint Car rides; a situation aided by the fact that Whitman was selling advertising space for the Ridgewood (NJ) News and Economaki’s National Speed Sports News office was in the same building and that was how the two men met.    

Whitman currently resides in Lafayette, New Jersey.

My thanks to longtime friend Herb Anastor for sharing this information.

J & S Classics of Grantville will present the 63rd annual World of Outlaws National Open at Williams Grove Speedway coming up on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4.

The announcement that J & S Classics would join forces with Williams Grove for the prestigious event was made Friday night at the track.

For Sandy Kline, owner of J & S Classics and current car owner for Doug Hammaker, sponsoring the National Open at Williams Grove just comes naturally.

“I have always loved the National Open and after you win the National Open, when you go to it, it’s a whole different ball game once you’ve earned that win,” Kline says.

Kline and her late husband Jim got their win in the National Open with Greg Hodnett at the wheel of their famed golden No. 22 back in 2009.

“You’re going with a whole different attitude because you’ve sat in that victory lane. Any time you’ve won an outlaws race as a Pennsylvania Posse member you’re doin’ your job,” Kline matter-of-factly states.

As a car owner, Kline’s stables did their job a total of eight times over the outlaws, all at Williams Grove, with pilots Jason Johnson, Hodnett and Fred Rahmer as wheel men.

The 63rd annual running of the J & S Classics World of Outlaws National Open at Williams Grove Speedway will offer the Saturday, October 4 winner $75,000 for his 40 laps of work.

And Kline is excited to see it all unfold.

“It’s my whole thing. Most people don’t get this - I’m a woman who absolutely loves sprint car racing! I grew up with racing. I’ve lived it most of my life,” she says.

The two-day J & S Classics National Open will pit the outlaws pilots against the venerable Pennsylvania Posse sprint car stars for an all star match-up.

“I guess you gotta’ give back somewhere along the line. If you have it and you can do it, then you know, help this sport along,” Kline says of her reasoning behind coming aboard the National Open.

“You gotta’ keep sprint car interest alive and well. The Pennsylvania Posse against the outlaws is one of the best competitions.”

“So for me there’s nothing better than going to a race,” she adds.

“It’s a sweet rivalry between the outlaws and the posse. It’s exciting!”

All the excitement of the Williams Grove Speedway J & S Classics World of Outlaws National Open weekend gets underway Friday night, October 3 when round one takes to the track at 7:30 pm. 

Keep up to date on all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval’s official website at www.williamsgrove.com or by visiting the oval on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

RacingJunk.com is the Official Classifieds for Williams Grove Speedway

The past month marked a pivotal moment in NASCAR’s push towards innovation as NASCAR and nVenue worked to deliver a new way to watch the race. Using nVenue’s in-race betting product to focus on head-to-head matchups, nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities for each matchup were integrated into the race broadcast.

NASCAR and nVenue have worked together since 2023 and recently reached a multi-year agreement to extend their partnership. As a data partner, nVenue has built a live betting product that allows fans to bet on hundreds of markets during races. nVenue worked with NASCAR to build out live head-to-head markets for each matchup of the In-Season Challenge.

nVenue integrated its proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning platform for live sports with the In-Season Challenge broadcasts. The integration kicked off during the opening race of the In-Season Challenge and continued throughout the Challenge, delivering a new level of real-time insight directly into the broadcast experience.

At the same time, fans across the world were able to place bets in real-time on head-to-head driver matchups, stage winners, and dozens of new in-race markets, marking a historic first for the sport.

Behind the scenes, nVenue’s commitment to execution was on full display. Co-Founder and Chief Sports Officer, Bruce Sears, was in the production control room for the opening race, working hand-in-hand with multiple teams and resources required to bring the integration to the air.

“nVenue has been a fantastic data partner. One of the great things about nVenue’s partnership is in addition to the live betting product it has built, nVenue has the ability to turn odds into probabilities that can be shown on live broadcasts to further promote fan engagement,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR, Managing Director, Sports Betting. “This lined up well with the format of the In-Season Challenge, allowing us to provide fans with a way to follow the live probabilities of each matchup throughout every lap of the race.”

“nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities came to life during live NASCAR racing to provide a richer experience of the sport, for fans watching, betting, or both,” said Sears. “The nVenue platform meets the incredibly demanding speed and precision required for motorsports, but also sets a new standard for fan engagement and in-race betting. It’s a testament to our team’s unparalleled expertise in bringing such complex, data-driven innovation to market at scale. Innovation has only just begun, and we are excited to continue this work with leagues, media, and sports betting to bring these worlds together for the best experiences in live sports.”

With broadcast, betting, and data now converging on race day, this collaboration between NASCAR and nVenue is signaling the future of how fans engage with the sport, one lap at a time.

Following a controversial 2024 Cup Series playoffs, in which Joey Logano won the Cup Series title with the worst average finish for a champion in NASCAR’s Modern Era, the league formed a committee to assist in coming up with a format that would crown the most “deserving” champion and deliver enough entertainment to increase television ratings while running head-to-head with the NFL on fall Sundays.

The group — meant to serve as a feedback forum for various proposals, not to determine the final format — consists of current drivers, former drivers, team owners, track officials, manufacturer representatives, NASCAR representatives and media members (both broadcast and print).

After two meetings — one before the Daytona 500 in February and another before the Coca-Cola 600 in May — and two email surveys, it seemed like a near certainty the playoff format would be revamped for next season.

 

But earlier this month, the discussions stalled out. It’s now far less likely that anything drastic will change in time for 2026.

The committee meetings have trended toward a compromise: A modified playoff system with a longer championship round of some kind.

Given all of that converation, it felt like the current one-race format was on life support by the end of the May meeting.

On July 8, though, the committee was informed that discussions would be tabled for at least six weeks. Although NASCAR still planned to seek feedback on some potential formats, executives first wanted to have a private meeting with NBC Sports — one of four Cup Series television partners, and the one that happens to broadcast the playoffs.

And because NASCAR said it could not meet with NBC until August, any changes for 2026 would now be in jeopardy because the Cup Series schedule had to be finalized — or very close to it — sooner rather than later. 

NASCAR’s premier Cup Series will not return to Mexico City next year, leaving a spot on its 2026 schedule that is expected to be filled by the addition of a race at Chicagoland Speedway, multiple sources briefed on the league’s plans told The Athletic.

Not going back to Mexico City leaves NASCAR without an international Cup race in 2026, as the logistics of getting the series to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico’s capital, along with finding a date that works for NASCAR, the teams and the track, proved challenging.

In June, Mexico City became the site of the first Cup international points since 1958. But that date is unavailable next year as Mexico City hosts the FIFA Men’s World Cup soccer tournament, with five matches scheduled from June 11 to July 5. Both sides looked at a spring date — likely around the traditional Easter off weekend to give teams additional time to manage the travel — and even explored a possible NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader before NASCAR decided to turn its attention to finding a date for Mexico City on the 2027 schedule.

Needing a replacement for Mexico City on its 38-race schedule (36 points races plus two exhibitions), NASCAR is now solidifying plans to return to Chicagoland. The 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Ill., about 50 miles from downtown Chicago, is owned by NASCAR.

New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) releases new information on its 10-year master plan for the racetrack’s future in a one-on-one interview with the company President and COO, Brad Scott.

NJMP in Millville, NJ, has come a long way since its inception in 2008. Today the park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceway, two motorsports country club membership programs for cars and motorcycles, and one of the top outdoor karting complexes in the U.S. – Tempest Raceway.  NJMP continues to develop commercial and private real estate opportunities including its Exotic Car Garage private garage condominiums and more.

What is next for New Jersey Motorsports in the near future?

 

Scott: Currently we are working on Phase XIII and IX of our Exotic Car Garage project. Each building will consist of seven units each and when complete it will total 64 completed Exotic Car Garages and eight Villas around our iconic Thunderbolt Raceway. This project is expected to finish in spring 2026.

Speaking of Thunderbolt Raceway, when the track was completely repaved in 2023 there was talk of a new course configuration. Are there any updates on when riders and drivers can expect to see this addition?

Scott: We will begin the new track configuration project on the Thunderbolt Circuit called the Devil’s Pass at the conclusion of the 2025 season. This additional track option will add greater passing zones and alternatives to avoid the Esses. The project will begin on Monday, November 17, 2025, and will be ready for the 2026 season.

Technical Drawing of the Devil's Pass Addition coming to Thunderbolt Raceway in 2026

Thunderbolt will feel like a whole new track to most with this new update. Do you have plans to update your 1.9-mile racetrack, Lightning Raceway, to meet the standard you set with Thunderbolt?

Scott: Originally, we had the Lightning Raceway scheduled for repaving in five to six years. But after several months of review and studies, and consulting with ownership, we are looking at estimated costs for completion after the 2027 season. After spending over $3.0M on the Thunderbolt Circuit we are hoping to give us a little time to recover. But the time is coming. In addition to repaving the racetrack, we are reviewing options to add daily garages to the Lightning paddock. Lightning is a fast and flowing course that often is overlooked when compared to Thunderbolt, so we are eager to give it the attention it deserves.

Adding daily garages to Lightning will definitely be a game changer for car and bike owners. Have you ever considered more long-term storage options?

Scott: Yes, we are working on approvals to develop Exotic Car Garages for the next ten to fifteen years. This will include an additional 96 units, four locations and twelve buildings. This master plan will include locations by Thunderbolt Bridge, Thunderbolt Front Straight and around the Lightning Raceway.

Why Exotic Car Garages over other alternatives or additions?

Scott: Those who are truly devoted to this lifestyle will understand that the Exotic Car Garages not only bring convenience, but comfort and dependability as well. These are more than garages to store your vehicle in, they are havens for car and bike owners to relax and work in while enjoying the proximity to the racetrack’s services. That is why we do it. To foster this community that seeks out NJMP over other tracks.

In your artist rendering of the future for NJMP there is a large business complex, can you tell me more about that?

Scott: That is NJMP’s Commercial Corner. These are premium commercial building lots that can range in size from 1-acre to 20-acre lots. Currently, there is one business in our Commercial Corner, but we are always accepting inquiries from interested motorsports-related businesses.

Over the years, NJMP’s go-karting offerings have grown with arrive-and-drive sessions, leagues, and even team endurance races. Is there anything new coming to your go-karting track in the future?

 

Scott: Next up would be the Tempest Karting track repave. The 1.1-mile track will require work in approximately four to six years. This will be up next after the Lightning Racetrack is complete.

I’m sure this is a question you have heard a few times over, but are you going to connect the tracks, Thunderbolt and Lightning?

Scott: No, that is a long story and would have been deadly for the survival of NJMP if we did in 2008.

Currently you offer road-racing races, off-track festivals and the occasional drift event. Do you have plans to include drag racing?

Scott: I would say no, but you never know. This is not on our short-term list of new projects.

With your tracks evolving and improving, will your policies evolve with them to allow electric vehicles on track?

Scott: We are looking at hybrid vehicles right now. We are waiting for new vehicle technology and want to make sure we are properly and safely prepared before we allow on our racetracks.

I’m sure you have heard the news in the motorsport’s community by now, and what do you think of the proposed racetrack at Badger field in Atlantic City which is located only an hour away from NJMP?

Scott: There are 100 other investments I would make with $4.3B. I will believe it when I see it.

Stay up to speed with NJMP by calling (856) 327-8000, visiting www.njmp.com or following on X: @NJMP, Instagram: @njmotorsportspark, and Facebook: @newjerseymotorsportspark . Or join their e-newsletter here.

  The 2025 edition of the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s popular Racing Memories program (formerly Lost Speedways) is set for Saturday, November 29th with an all-star slate of topics.

“We’ll have six segments that I’ll kick off with a bit titled “The Good Old Days Weren’t All That Good,” said organizer Ron Hedger.  “We received a thumb drive from the family of George Lester, a former track photographer at the Fonda Speedway alongside Russ Bergh, that has some terrific but scary shots from the 1950’s and early 60’s.  The photos should trigger a lot of memories for old-timers and we thank Don Lester for sending them along.”

 Paul Malecki will follow with a program focusing on Altamont Speedway and “Grandpa” Henry Gritzbach, long known as the area’s second-best sprint car driver during Altamont’s storied history.

  Round three will find veteran Area Auto Racing News columnist John Snyder recalling highlights of his favorite event, the Eastern States 200 at the Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway in Middletown.

Hedger will then return with an interview session with Paul Montenaro, longtime operator of the Dodge City Go-Kart track.  Montenaro will outline the track’s over 50-year history and recall the many modified racers who started their careers on the Dodge City oval.

 The interview theme will then continue with a look back at the SCCA career of recently retired racer and car owner Tom Campbell, whose race cars ranged from big bore Corvettes to Spec Miatta’s.  Tom was also a national leader of the SCCA and can offer an insider’s perspective on the nation’s leading road racing organization.

The final segment of Racing Memories 2025 will pick up where last year’s program left off, looking at the early dirt era at Albany-Saratoga Speedway once the asphalt oval was covered with dirt.

“Kenny Tremont Jr. will lead our panel on the transition to dirt at Malta, with former drivers Dave Leckonby and Don Scarborough also set to participate,” said Hedger.  “We expect to add another driver or two to the panel before the show goes green, so the discussion focusing on Gremlins, drag tires and heroes of the day should be a great wrap-up to another fine program.”

Prior to the presentations, set for 11:45 am, memorabilia including a pair of karts from Dodge City will be on display from the museum’s 10 am opening.  A new feature this year will be “Hot Laps,” a slide show on multiple drivers and topics put together by racing historian Ken Parrotte that will run prior to the formal presentations.

As always, the “Saturday after Thanksgiving” event is free to museum members with others paying the normal museum admission charge.  More information on the program and other events and exhibits can be found online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

One-Race Suspension Is Only Part of Austin Hill's NASCAR Xfinity Penalty

According to noted motorsports journalist Deb Williams NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer says when Austin Hill wrecked Aric Almirola at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Xfinity Series race on July 25, the incident immediately jumped out as retaliation.

“That’s why we reacted at the track the way we did in holding Austin for five laps (for reckless driving),”Sawyer said Wednesday on The Morning Drive on SiriusXM.

“Once we got back to the R and D Center, started gathering more information, talked to Austin, talked to Aric … continued to look at available resources through camera angles and data … we felt it was very similar to what we had dealt with a year or so ago at Las Vegas with Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson as well as what we dealt with at Charlotte with Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.”

Elliott right-hooked Hamlin into the outside wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2023. Wallace did the same to Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022.

Under NASCAR’s rule revision this year, team owner Richard Childress must apply for a waiver for Hill to be admitted to the playoffs since he is missing the Iowa Xfinity Series race. Austin Dillon is driving Hill’s Xfinity car at Iowa.

Due to Hill missing the Iowa race:

The 21-playoff points he had accumulated via his three Xfinity victories this year are erased.

He also is now prevented from acquiring playoff points during the regular season.

Hill will be seeded last in the 12-driver Xfinity Series playoff field since NASCAR is expected to grant the waiver.

He is allowed to acquire playoff points once the postseason begins.

Hill’s five-lap penalty during Saturday’s race relegated him to a 34th-place finish. While being held on pit road, Hill unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade against NASCAR over his two-way radio.

“We totally understand the emotion around our sport,” says Sawyer, a former NASCAR driver. “In a conversation we had yesterday (Tuesday) with him (we told him) he’s a role model for our sport, a future champion, and he’s got to take all of that into consideration and control those situations in a different way going forward.”

After Almirola walked from IMS’ infield care center Saturday, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said the incident with Hill was “definitely intentional.” He described it as “one of the biggest hits in his NASCAR career” and compared it to the one he took at Kansas in 2017 when he broke his back.

Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation ("FOX" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX), the parent company of FOX Sports, today announced an investment in the future of North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, with FOX’s acquisition of a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment, inclusive of INDYCAR and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The investment is expected to supercharge a new era of growth for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the most competitive and dynamic motorsport on the planet. This includes:

Innovative and industry-leading racing and entertainment events 

A hyper-engaged digital strategy and immersive content focus 

Enhanced promotion and star-building opportunities for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers 

Today’s announcement also includes a multi-year extension of INDYCAR’s media rights with FOX Sports.

“This partnership is built on long-standing trust and a shared vision for the future,” Roger Penske said. “FOX sees the incredible potential across our sport and wants to play an active role in building our growth trajectory. Lachlan Murdoch and his team, starting with Eric Shanks, are committed to our success and will bring incredible energy and innovation to INDYCAR.”  

FOX Sports acquired INDYCAR’s media rights in 2025, bringing fresh promotional resources and significantly larger reach to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This year’s Indianapolis 500 on FOX averaged 7.01 million viewers, a 41 percent increase over the previous edition and a 17-year high. So far, the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is averaging a 31 percent increase in viewership year-over-year.

“We’re thrilled to join the INDYCAR ownership group at such a pivotal time for the sport,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports. “INDYCAR represents everything we value in live sports — passionate fans, iconic venues, elite competition, and year-round storytelling potential. This investment underscores our commitment to motorsports and our belief in INDYCAR’s continued growth on and off the track. We’re excited to help elevate the sport to new heights across all platforms.”

This news builds on wider momentum across the sport, marked by rising attendance and record crowds at several events this year, including a sell-out of the Indy 500. INDYCAR has invested heavily in digital growth recently, launching a new mobile APP, web site and fantasy platform while also generating 1 million new social followers. The SERIES will also add a new showcase to its calendar in 2026, racing through Arlington’s entertainment district through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. 

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport in North America with every race on U.S. network television. It features an international field of the world's most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The 2025 season continues with the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

Also, part of the Penske Entertainment family, the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is annually home to the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the planet, the Indianapolis 500. This year’s “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” featured a crowd of more than 300,000 people. The famed venue is steeped on more than a century of racing heritage and has the largest seating capacity of any sporting venue across the globe.

BY ERNIE SAXTON

Hi Ernie!

Good to see that Neil Bonnett was selected to be in the Fans Hall of Stock Car Legends.  And your comments about him and inaugural member Smokey Yunick hit the mark.

I will always remember what Bonnett said one time on a TV broadcast that he was doing: “If you drink a diet soda when eating chocolate cake the soda counteracts the calories in the cake.”

Also, with the recent passing of Rex White, 94-year-old Jim Whitman is now NASCAR’s oldest living champion.

Born on Jan. 19, 1931, Whitman was a two-time NASCAR Midget Division Champion with his first title coming in the No. 24 Ken Brenn Kurtis-Kraft/Offy in 1957 and then in 1959 he drove Harry Grabow’s No. 8 Kurtis-Kraft/Offy and Ralph Smiley’s No. 6 “Golden Arrow” Kurtis-Kraft/Offy to win his second NASCAR Midget honors.

Whitman also did some NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Racing and in the 1960 Daytona 500 he was the only driver to compete in a Dodge; the No. 60 owned by Dick Stanley of Midland Park, New Jersey.

In this race, Whitman qualified 41st in the 68-car field and was credited with finishing 47th after engine problems forced him to drop out after 116 laps.  And his Stock Car was seen as being quite-unique as it was “… equipped with a 2-way radio system that permits steady communication between driver and pit crew for pre-pit stop alerting.”

When not racing, Whitman – a former Teaneck (NJ) High School 148-pound State Wrestling Champion (1945) – was a very accomplished commercial artist in the New York City area whose Whitman Studios (1962-1992) worked on many of the top national accounts of that time period. 

Then Whitman became a top designer and creator of custom-made wooden furniture and in 2012 he authored a well-received volume on that craft entitled, THE WOODWORKER’S STUDIO HANDBOOK: Traditional and Contemporary Techniques for the Home Woodworking Shop (Fox Chapel Publishing).

Whitman first got interested in Midget Racing when he attended the races at the Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, with his dentist father, Dr. Clifford Whitman.  And he credits his great friend the late Chris Economaki with helping him get some top Sprint Car rides; a situation aided by the fact that Whitman was selling advertising space for the Ridgewood (NJ) News and Economaki’s National Speed Sports News office was in the same building and that was how the two men met.    

Whitman currently resides in Lafayette, New Jersey.

My thanks to longtime friend Herb Anastor for sharing this information.

J & S Classics of Grantville will present the 63rd annual World of Outlaws National Open at Williams Grove Speedway coming up on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4.

The announcement that J & S Classics would join forces with Williams Grove for the prestigious event was made Friday night at the track.

For Sandy Kline, owner of J & S Classics and current car owner for Doug Hammaker, sponsoring the National Open at Williams Grove just comes naturally.

“I have always loved the National Open and after you win the National Open, when you go to it, it’s a whole different ball game once you’ve earned that win,” Kline says.

Kline and her late husband Jim got their win in the National Open with Greg Hodnett at the wheel of their famed golden No. 22 back in 2009.

“You’re going with a whole different attitude because you’ve sat in that victory lane. Any time you’ve won an outlaws race as a Pennsylvania Posse member you’re doin’ your job,” Kline matter-of-factly states.

As a car owner, Kline’s stables did their job a total of eight times over the outlaws, all at Williams Grove, with pilots Jason Johnson, Hodnett and Fred Rahmer as wheel men.

The 63rd annual running of the J & S Classics World of Outlaws National Open at Williams Grove Speedway will offer the Saturday, October 4 winner $75,000 for his 40 laps of work.

And Kline is excited to see it all unfold.

“It’s my whole thing. Most people don’t get this - I’m a woman who absolutely loves sprint car racing! I grew up with racing. I’ve lived it most of my life,” she says.

The two-day J & S Classics National Open will pit the outlaws pilots against the venerable Pennsylvania Posse sprint car stars for an all star match-up.

“I guess you gotta’ give back somewhere along the line. If you have it and you can do it, then you know, help this sport along,” Kline says of her reasoning behind coming aboard the National Open.

“You gotta’ keep sprint car interest alive and well. The Pennsylvania Posse against the outlaws is one of the best competitions.”

“So for me there’s nothing better than going to a race,” she adds.

“It’s a sweet rivalry between the outlaws and the posse. It’s exciting!”

All the excitement of the Williams Grove Speedway J & S Classics World of Outlaws National Open weekend gets underway Friday night, October 3 when round one takes to the track at 7:30 pm. 

Keep up to date on all the latest speedway news and information by visiting the oval’s official website at www.williamsgrove.com or by visiting the oval on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

RacingJunk.com is the Official Classifieds for Williams Grove Speedway

The past month marked a pivotal moment in NASCAR’s push towards innovation as NASCAR and nVenue worked to deliver a new way to watch the race. Using nVenue’s in-race betting product to focus on head-to-head matchups, nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities for each matchup were integrated into the race broadcast.

NASCAR and nVenue have worked together since 2023 and recently reached a multi-year agreement to extend their partnership. As a data partner, nVenue has built a live betting product that allows fans to bet on hundreds of markets during races. nVenue worked with NASCAR to build out live head-to-head markets for each matchup of the In-Season Challenge.

nVenue integrated its proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning platform for live sports with the In-Season Challenge broadcasts. The integration kicked off during the opening race of the In-Season Challenge and continued throughout the Challenge, delivering a new level of real-time insight directly into the broadcast experience.

At the same time, fans across the world were able to place bets in real-time on head-to-head driver matchups, stage winners, and dozens of new in-race markets, marking a historic first for the sport.

Behind the scenes, nVenue’s commitment to execution was on full display. Co-Founder and Chief Sports Officer, Bruce Sears, was in the production control room for the opening race, working hand-in-hand with multiple teams and resources required to bring the integration to the air.

“nVenue has been a fantastic data partner. One of the great things about nVenue’s partnership is in addition to the live betting product it has built, nVenue has the ability to turn odds into probabilities that can be shown on live broadcasts to further promote fan engagement,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR, Managing Director, Sports Betting. “This lined up well with the format of the In-Season Challenge, allowing us to provide fans with a way to follow the live probabilities of each matchup throughout every lap of the race.”

“nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities came to life during live NASCAR racing to provide a richer experience of the sport, for fans watching, betting, or both,” said Sears. “The nVenue platform meets the incredibly demanding speed and precision required for motorsports, but also sets a new standard for fan engagement and in-race betting. It’s a testament to our team’s unparalleled expertise in bringing such complex, data-driven innovation to market at scale. Innovation has only just begun, and we are excited to continue this work with leagues, media, and sports betting to bring these worlds together for the best experiences in live sports.”

With broadcast, betting, and data now converging on race day, this collaboration between NASCAR and nVenue is signaling the future of how fans engage with the sport, one lap at a time.

Following a controversial 2024 Cup Series playoffs, in which Joey Logano won the Cup Series title with the worst average finish for a champion in NASCAR’s Modern Era, the league formed a committee to assist in coming up with a format that would crown the most “deserving” champion and deliver enough entertainment to increase television ratings while running head-to-head with the NFL on fall Sundays.

The group — meant to serve as a feedback forum for various proposals, not to determine the final format — consists of current drivers, former drivers, team owners, track officials, manufacturer representatives, NASCAR representatives and media members (both broadcast and print).

After two meetings — one before the Daytona 500 in February and another before the Coca-Cola 600 in May — and two email surveys, it seemed like a near certainty the playoff format would be revamped for next season.

 

But earlier this month, the discussions stalled out. It’s now far less likely that anything drastic will change in time for 2026.

The committee meetings have trended toward a compromise: A modified playoff system with a longer championship round of some kind.

Given all of that converation, it felt like the current one-race format was on life support by the end of the May meeting.

On July 8, though, the committee was informed that discussions would be tabled for at least six weeks. Although NASCAR still planned to seek feedback on some potential formats, executives first wanted to have a private meeting with NBC Sports — one of four Cup Series television partners, and the one that happens to broadcast the playoffs.

And because NASCAR said it could not meet with NBC until August, any changes for 2026 would now be in jeopardy because the Cup Series schedule had to be finalized — or very close to it — sooner rather than later. 

NASCAR’s premier Cup Series will not return to Mexico City next year, leaving a spot on its 2026 schedule that is expected to be filled by the addition of a race at Chicagoland Speedway, multiple sources briefed on the league’s plans told The Athletic.

Not going back to Mexico City leaves NASCAR without an international Cup race in 2026, as the logistics of getting the series to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico’s capital, along with finding a date that works for NASCAR, the teams and the track, proved challenging.

In June, Mexico City became the site of the first Cup international points since 1958. But that date is unavailable next year as Mexico City hosts the FIFA Men’s World Cup soccer tournament, with five matches scheduled from June 11 to July 5. Both sides looked at a spring date — likely around the traditional Easter off weekend to give teams additional time to manage the travel — and even explored a possible NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader before NASCAR decided to turn its attention to finding a date for Mexico City on the 2027 schedule.

Needing a replacement for Mexico City on its 38-race schedule (36 points races plus two exhibitions), NASCAR is now solidifying plans to return to Chicagoland. The 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Ill., about 50 miles from downtown Chicago, is owned by NASCAR.

New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) releases new information on its 10-year master plan for the racetrack’s future in a one-on-one interview with the company President and COO, Brad Scott.

NJMP in Millville, NJ, has come a long way since its inception in 2008. Today the park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceway, two motorsports country club membership programs for cars and motorcycles, and one of the top outdoor karting complexes in the U.S. – Tempest Raceway.  NJMP continues to develop commercial and private real estate opportunities including its Exotic Car Garage private garage condominiums and more.

What is next for New Jersey Motorsports in the near future?

 

Scott: Currently we are working on Phase XIII and IX of our Exotic Car Garage project. Each building will consist of seven units each and when complete it will total 64 completed Exotic Car Garages and eight Villas around our iconic Thunderbolt Raceway. This project is expected to finish in spring 2026.

Speaking of Thunderbolt Raceway, when the track was completely repaved in 2023 there was talk of a new course configuration. Are there any updates on when riders and drivers can expect to see this addition?

Scott: We will begin the new track configuration project on the Thunderbolt Circuit called the Devil’s Pass at the conclusion of the 2025 season. This additional track option will add greater passing zones and alternatives to avoid the Esses. The project will begin on Monday, November 17, 2025, and will be ready for the 2026 season.

Technical Drawing of the Devil's Pass Addition coming to Thunderbolt Raceway in 2026

Thunderbolt will feel like a whole new track to most with this new update. Do you have plans to update your 1.9-mile racetrack, Lightning Raceway, to meet the standard you set with Thunderbolt?

Scott: Originally, we had the Lightning Raceway scheduled for repaving in five to six years. But after several months of review and studies, and consulting with ownership, we are looking at estimated costs for completion after the 2027 season. After spending over $3.0M on the Thunderbolt Circuit we are hoping to give us a little time to recover. But the time is coming. In addition to repaving the racetrack, we are reviewing options to add daily garages to the Lightning paddock. Lightning is a fast and flowing course that often is overlooked when compared to Thunderbolt, so we are eager to give it the attention it deserves.

Adding daily garages to Lightning will definitely be a game changer for car and bike owners. Have you ever considered more long-term storage options?

Scott: Yes, we are working on approvals to develop Exotic Car Garages for the next ten to fifteen years. This will include an additional 96 units, four locations and twelve buildings. This master plan will include locations by Thunderbolt Bridge, Thunderbolt Front Straight and around the Lightning Raceway.

Why Exotic Car Garages over other alternatives or additions?

Scott: Those who are truly devoted to this lifestyle will understand that the Exotic Car Garages not only bring convenience, but comfort and dependability as well. These are more than garages to store your vehicle in, they are havens for car and bike owners to relax and work in while enjoying the proximity to the racetrack’s services. That is why we do it. To foster this community that seeks out NJMP over other tracks.

In your artist rendering of the future for NJMP there is a large business complex, can you tell me more about that?

Scott: That is NJMP’s Commercial Corner. These are premium commercial building lots that can range in size from 1-acre to 20-acre lots. Currently, there is one business in our Commercial Corner, but we are always accepting inquiries from interested motorsports-related businesses.

Over the years, NJMP’s go-karting offerings have grown with arrive-and-drive sessions, leagues, and even team endurance races. Is there anything new coming to your go-karting track in the future?

 

Scott: Next up would be the Tempest Karting track repave. The 1.1-mile track will require work in approximately four to six years. This will be up next after the Lightning Racetrack is complete.

I’m sure this is a question you have heard a few times over, but are you going to connect the tracks, Thunderbolt and Lightning?

Scott: No, that is a long story and would have been deadly for the survival of NJMP if we did in 2008.

Currently you offer road-racing races, off-track festivals and the occasional drift event. Do you have plans to include drag racing?

Scott: I would say no, but you never know. This is not on our short-term list of new projects.

With your tracks evolving and improving, will your policies evolve with them to allow electric vehicles on track?

Scott: We are looking at hybrid vehicles right now. We are waiting for new vehicle technology and want to make sure we are properly and safely prepared before we allow on our racetracks.

I’m sure you have heard the news in the motorsport’s community by now, and what do you think of the proposed racetrack at Badger field in Atlantic City which is located only an hour away from NJMP?

Scott: There are 100 other investments I would make with $4.3B. I will believe it when I see it.

Stay up to speed with NJMP by calling (856) 327-8000, visiting www.njmp.com or following on X: @NJMP, Instagram: @njmotorsportspark, and Facebook: @newjerseymotorsportspark . Or join their e-newsletter here.

  The 2025 edition of the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s popular Racing Memories program (formerly Lost Speedways) is set for Saturday, November 29th with an all-star slate of topics.

“We’ll have six segments that I’ll kick off with a bit titled “The Good Old Days Weren’t All That Good,” said organizer Ron Hedger.  “We received a thumb drive from the family of George Lester, a former track photographer at the Fonda Speedway alongside Russ Bergh, that has some terrific but scary shots from the 1950’s and early 60’s.  The photos should trigger a lot of memories for old-timers and we thank Don Lester for sending them along.”

 Paul Malecki will follow with a program focusing on Altamont Speedway and “Grandpa” Henry Gritzbach, long known as the area’s second-best sprint car driver during Altamont’s storied history.

  Round three will find veteran Area Auto Racing News columnist John Snyder recalling highlights of his favorite event, the Eastern States 200 at the Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway in Middletown.

Hedger will then return with an interview session with Paul Montenaro, longtime operator of the Dodge City Go-Kart track.  Montenaro will outline the track’s over 50-year history and recall the many modified racers who started their careers on the Dodge City oval.

 The interview theme will then continue with a look back at the SCCA career of recently retired racer and car owner Tom Campbell, whose race cars ranged from big bore Corvettes to Spec Miatta’s.  Tom was also a national leader of the SCCA and can offer an insider’s perspective on the nation’s leading road racing organization.

The final segment of Racing Memories 2025 will pick up where last year’s program left off, looking at the early dirt era at Albany-Saratoga Speedway once the asphalt oval was covered with dirt.

“Kenny Tremont Jr. will lead our panel on the transition to dirt at Malta, with former drivers Dave Leckonby and Don Scarborough also set to participate,” said Hedger.  “We expect to add another driver or two to the panel before the show goes green, so the discussion focusing on Gremlins, drag tires and heroes of the day should be a great wrap-up to another fine program.”

Prior to the presentations, set for 11:45 am, memorabilia including a pair of karts from Dodge City will be on display from the museum’s 10 am opening.  A new feature this year will be “Hot Laps,” a slide show on multiple drivers and topics put together by racing historian Ken Parrotte that will run prior to the formal presentations.

As always, the “Saturday after Thanksgiving” event is free to museum members with others paying the normal museum admission charge.  More information on the program and other events and exhibits can be found online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

One-Race Suspension Is Only Part of Austin Hill's NASCAR Xfinity Penalty

According to noted motorsports journalist Deb Williams NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer says when Austin Hill wrecked Aric Almirola at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Xfinity Series race on July 25, the incident immediately jumped out as retaliation.

“That’s why we reacted at the track the way we did in holding Austin for five laps (for reckless driving),”Sawyer said Wednesday on The Morning Drive on SiriusXM.

“Once we got back to the R and D Center, started gathering more information, talked to Austin, talked to Aric … continued to look at available resources through camera angles and data … we felt it was very similar to what we had dealt with a year or so ago at Las Vegas with Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson as well as what we dealt with at Charlotte with Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.”

Elliott right-hooked Hamlin into the outside wall at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2023. Wallace did the same to Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2022.

Under NASCAR’s rule revision this year, team owner Richard Childress must apply for a waiver for Hill to be admitted to the playoffs since he is missing the Iowa Xfinity Series race. Austin Dillon is driving Hill’s Xfinity car at Iowa.

Due to Hill missing the Iowa race:

The 21-playoff points he had accumulated via his three Xfinity victories this year are erased.

He also is now prevented from acquiring playoff points during the regular season.

Hill will be seeded last in the 12-driver Xfinity Series playoff field since NASCAR is expected to grant the waiver.

He is allowed to acquire playoff points once the postseason begins.

Hill’s five-lap penalty during Saturday’s race relegated him to a 34th-place finish. While being held on pit road, Hill unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade against NASCAR over his two-way radio.

“We totally understand the emotion around our sport,” says Sawyer, a former NASCAR driver. “In a conversation we had yesterday (Tuesday) with him (we told him) he’s a role model for our sport, a future champion, and he’s got to take all of that into consideration and control those situations in a different way going forward.”

After Almirola walked from IMS’ infield care center Saturday, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said the incident with Hill was “definitely intentional.” He described it as “one of the biggest hits in his NASCAR career” and compared it to the one he took at Kansas in 2017 when he broke his back.

Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation ("FOX" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX), the parent company of FOX Sports, today announced an investment in the future of North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, with FOX’s acquisition of a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment, inclusive of INDYCAR and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The investment is expected to supercharge a new era of growth for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the most competitive and dynamic motorsport on the planet. This includes:

Innovative and industry-leading racing and entertainment events 

A hyper-engaged digital strategy and immersive content focus 

Enhanced promotion and star-building opportunities for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers 

Today’s announcement also includes a multi-year extension of INDYCAR’s media rights with FOX Sports.

“This partnership is built on long-standing trust and a shared vision for the future,” Roger Penske said. “FOX sees the incredible potential across our sport and wants to play an active role in building our growth trajectory. Lachlan Murdoch and his team, starting with Eric Shanks, are committed to our success and will bring incredible energy and innovation to INDYCAR.”  

FOX Sports acquired INDYCAR’s media rights in 2025, bringing fresh promotional resources and significantly larger reach to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This year’s Indianapolis 500 on FOX averaged 7.01 million viewers, a 41 percent increase over the previous edition and a 17-year high. So far, the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is averaging a 31 percent increase in viewership year-over-year.

“We’re thrilled to join the INDYCAR ownership group at such a pivotal time for the sport,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports. “INDYCAR represents everything we value in live sports — passionate fans, iconic venues, elite competition, and year-round storytelling potential. This investment underscores our commitment to motorsports and our belief in INDYCAR’s continued growth on and off the track. We’re excited to help elevate the sport to new heights across all platforms.”

This news builds on wider momentum across the sport, marked by rising attendance and record crowds at several events this year, including a sell-out of the Indy 500. INDYCAR has invested heavily in digital growth recently, launching a new mobile APP, web site and fantasy platform while also generating 1 million new social followers. The SERIES will also add a new showcase to its calendar in 2026, racing through Arlington’s entertainment district through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. 

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport in North America with every race on U.S. network television. It features an international field of the world's most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The 2025 season continues with the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

Also, part of the Penske Entertainment family, the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is annually home to the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the planet, the Indianapolis 500. This year’s “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” featured a crowd of more than 300,000 people. The famed venue is steeped on more than a century of racing heritage and has the largest seating capacity of any sporting venue across the globe.