DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A series of overnight cautions broke up the rhythm of the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. But Porsche Penske Motorsport was unaffected, and the team continued to hold down the top two overall positions as the classic endurance race reached the three-quarter mark.
Nick Tandy in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class No. 7 Porsche 963 took the lead from the team’s sister No. 6 driven by Matt Campbell car in the second half of the 18th hour after Mathieu Jaminet paced most of the night in the No. 6. Tandy held a 5.608-second lead over Campbell at the 18-hour mark, with Philipp Eng holding third place in the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8, albeit almost half a lap behind.
Seven of the 12 GTP entries were still running after 18 hours, with five on the lead lap. The No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 ran in fourth place, followed by the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R.
In Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Dane Cameron in the No. 99 AO Racing “Spike” ORECA LMP2 07 led by 5.243 seconds over fellow ex-GTP driver Sebastien Bourdais, in the No. 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA, as Cameron drove into the lead during the night.
AO Racing was also in great shape in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class, where its No. 77 “Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) ran second to the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO, with a deficit of 2.284 seconds.
The race in the GTD class was even closer, with Matt Bell (No. 13 AWA Corvette Z06 GT3.R) ahead of Ralf Aron (No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3) by just 1.637 seconds.
The yellow flag flew just four minutes past the halfway point of the race when a fire broke out in the rear of the GTD class No. 36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R that was quickly extinguished by a track safety crew. Just four minutes after racing resumed, another caution waved when the No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07 competing in the LMP2 class left debris on the circuit.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR
Another stoppage occurred early in the 14th hour when defending LMP2 series class champion Tom Dillmann’s No. 43 ORECA LMP2 07 fielded by Inter Europol Competition stopped on track.
One of the major stories of the race is the comeback of the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, the defending WeatherTech Championship GTD champion. The entry fell seven laps behind in the third hour due to a sticking throttle and was three laps in arrears at the halfway point, but drivers Philip Ellis, Indy Dontje, Lucas Auer, and Russell Ward rallied to lead 68 laps. A pit penalty for an unrestrained wheel dropped the car to ninth in class, but still on the lead lap.
“Luckily, it was early in the race, and we have time to make up for it,” said Ellis. “I am super proud of the guys. We earned so many laps back with half the race to go, so I would say we are back in the race, to be honest. It all proves to me we are one of the best in the IMSA paddock. The crew put us back in the game again.”
Through the first 18 hours and three Michelin Endurance Cup segments, unofficial leaders with the most points so far are the No. 7 Porsche in GTP, No. 99 AO ORECA in LMP2, No. 1 PMR BMW in GTD PRO and No. 70 Inception Ferrari in GTD.
Live coverage of the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 continues on Peacock, with NBC rejoining at noon ET to broadcast the conclusion of the race. International coverage continues on the Official IMSA YouTube channel.
Richard Childress Racing announced Friday morning that Kasey Kahne will return to NASCAR national-series competition, driving for the team in the Xfinity Series’ return to Rockingham Speedway on April 19.
Kahne will drive RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet in the 250-lap race (4 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), with primary sponsorship provided by HendrickCars.com. The event will mark the 44-year-old Kahne’s first NASCAR start since 2018.
Kahne, who was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, is scheduled to participate in an organizational test Tuesday for the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series at the 1.017-mile Rockingham track. The trucks and the ARCA Menards Series East will share the bill with the Xfinity tour in April as Rockingham hosts its first NASCAR event since 2013.
Kahne was a Truck Series winner at Rockingham in 2012 during the track’s brief revival nearly a decade ago. The venue, which hosted NASCAR’s Cup Series from 1965-2004, has undergone renovations to prepare for its national-series return.
Kahne stepped away from Cup Series racing in 2018, citing health concerns amid the demands of the NASCAR schedule. He returned to sprint-car competition soon after his stock-car retirement and is racing full-time this year on the High Limit Racing circuit.
Kahne won 18 times in a Cup Series career that began in 2004. His most recent victory came in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, driving Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet.
Team outlook: In 2024, Rick Ware Racing had its most successful season yet in the NASCAR Cup Series. With Justin Haley behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford for 29 of 36 races before swapping seats with Corey LaJoie late in the year, Haley picked up two top 10s, led 25 laps and had an average finish of 23.1. However, Haley’s two top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway did not tell the full story of the team’s potential.
In other races, RWR’s No. 51 Ford showed a significant step up in performance compared to previous seasons but did not have the results to show for it after not putting together a complete race on a few occasions. Heading into 2025, the team brings back crew chief Billy Plourde, who will be paired up with Cody Ware for the full season. In addition, they will roll out the No. 15 Ford for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium for “Madhouse” great Tim Brown. Corey LaJoie will also run a part-time schedule in the renumbered No. 01 Ford to align with the Stacking Pennies Performance Brand. LaJoie will attempt the Daytona 500 with sponsorship from DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change.
Experience: 106 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 stats: 36th in final standings; 9 starts, 1 top five, 1 top 10 2025 championship odds (DraftKings): N/A
Outlook: With 106 Cup Series starts under his belt entering 2025, Ware called his return to the premier series the “best opportunity I’ve had in NASCAR.” There is good reason for him to feel optimism after a career-best average finish of 21.0 in nine starts last year. His best result was a fourth-place finish in the Daytona summer race, and he finished in the top 25 six times. If Ware and his No. 51 team can continue RWR’s upward trajectory, we could see the 29-year-old Greensboro, North Carolina driver line up for a career year in the Cup Series.
BOLD PREDICTION: For the first time in his Cup Series career, Ware will finish inside the top 30 in the final standings. Also, he will earn at least 15 top-25 finishes and get at least two top 10s. Rick Ware Racing has plenty to build on after overachieving on numerous occasions with Haley in the No. 51 Ford last season. Now, with Ware as the team’s full-time driver for 2025, expect them to continue working hard to keep the momentum rolling. In a team release, Ware said, “I’ve improved as a driver and RWR has improved as a team.”
LOS ANGELES — FOX Sports Films and NASCAR Studios announce the premieres of two compelling new original documentaries marking the start of the 2025 NASCAR season.
“The Madhouse: NASCAR’s Return to Bowman Gray Stadium,”narrated by FOX Sports’ Emmy Award-winning storyteller Tom Rinaldi,debuts Monday, Jan. 27 (7 p.m. ET, FS1). The film explores the rich and rollicking history of the venue while weaving a narrative that focuses on preparations for The Clash at Bowman Gray. Featuring exclusive interviews with NASCAR’s Jim France and Ben Kennedy, plus other notable racing figures such as Leonard Wood and Chocolate Myers, along with Bowman Gray stalwarts Burt Myers, Jason Myers and Tim Brown, the documentary tells a story that intersects two unique worlds: the biggest motorsports series in North America, and the grassroots charm of small-town America at Bowman Gray Stadium.
“So Damn Close: Atlanta ’24” premieres Thursday, Feb.13 (10 p.m. ET, FS1), immediately following the Duel at Daytona. Focusing on the closest three-way finish in NASCAR history between Daniel Suárez, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in last year’s Ambetter Health 400, the documentary will feature all three drivers getting together to revisit the dramatic race, plus separate shoots with their crew chiefs and spotters. The film provides candid exchanges and a forensic breakdown of the most pivotal moments of the race, revealing the untold stories on and off the track leading up to the split-second decisions that shaped the historic outcome.
“FOX Sports is excited to partner with NASCAR Studios to bring fans closer to the fast-paced racing action than ever before,” said Barry Nugent, vice president of development and original programming at FOX Sports. “From the historic return to Bowman Gray to the unforgettable moments of last year’s race in Atlanta, these films not only showcase the electrifying action behind the world of motorsports but provide unprecedented access into the stories that bring this sport to life.”
“We’re thrilled to team up with FOX Sports to explore the rich stories of these two events,” said John Dahl, NASCAR senior vice president of content. “It’s the first time the NASCAR Cup Series has been at Bowman Gray in over half a century, and last year’s race in Atlanta was historic in its own right. Our team at NASCAR Studios has enjoyed diving into these projects to help give them the attention they deserve.”
FOX NASCAR’s 25th season kicks off with The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2, on FOX, with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Not even one day into the Roar Before the 24 testing sessions last weekend at Daytona International Speedway, young NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch realized what he was dealing with in teaming with a pair of New Zealand champion drivers and a veteran sports car ace.
While Zilisch was turning his first laps, his teammates — NASCAR star Shane van Gisbergen, IndyCar standout Scott McLaughlin and American sports car ace Ben Keating — were having some fun with the 18-year old Zilisch’s cell phone, left innocently inside the scoring stand while he was in the car on track.
The result was a series of funny, candid selfies published on Zilisch’s own social media accounts.
It’s easy to have fun, when you know you are fast. And they are.
“They definitely mess with me, but I enjoy it and we have fun with each other,” Zilisch said, breaking into a grin. “It’s been so cool to get to know Shane and Scott and Ben — he’s got a lot of expertise and experience and a good sense of humor, too.
“It’s a great group of guys and we’re already having a lot of fun together and hopefully that translates to on-track success.”
That’s certainly the plan. This Daytona dream team is made up of former Australian Supercars champions McLaughlin and 2025 NASCAR Cup Series rookie Shane van Gisbergen — who stunned the stock-car world winning in his first NASCAR start in 2023 at the Chicago Street Race. Joining them are the 53-year-old Keating and NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie-to-be Zilisch, who both have already won Rolex watches in this prestigious IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship series opener.
They will all share the GTD Pro class No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R — a car fielded in part by NASCAR Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks, himself a former Rolex 24 competitor. Zilisch announced Thursday that he will make his Cup debut driving for Trackhouse in March at Circuit of The Americas.
As they have all discovered, fun is an essential part of the chemistry that makes this foursome a favorite to earn new Rolex watches by Sunday afternoon’s checkered flag.
This will be the 35-year-old van Gisbergen’s sixth entry in the Rolex 24 and he’s been on the podium before with a runner-up finish in the GTD class in 2015. The last time he competed was in 2020, teaming with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch on the AIM Vasser Sullivan team.
“This is my favorite endurance race of all the ones I’ve done. Spa, LeMans, Bathurst, this is the best by far,” said van Gisbergen, who will make his full-time driving debut in the Cup Series in the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet this season.
“This is just enjoyable. It’s so much fun. Like [endurance races] Spa [Belgium] and Le Mans [France] you’re just flat-out the whole time and the safety car comes and everyone stays spread out. Whereas, here, you get your laps back and everyone’s always battling.
“It really feels like a 24-hour race and you’re always battling someone. I feel the atmosphere here is always good. All the other stuff [other endurance races] I’ve done is far too serious. Here it’s always just fun to be at. First race of the year and everyone’s fresh.”
Interestingly, despite their shared background and crossed paths during the years, this will be the first time van Gisbergen and McLaughlin — a seven-time IndyCar Series winning driver for Roger Penske — have shared the same car in a race.
And they have fully embraced the driving partnerships with the young Zilisch and the veteran Keating. Zilisch signed a Trackhouse Racing contract last January to compete in the Rolex and will drive JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet as a rookie in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Zilisch brings an incredible resume with him, and in some ways shares a storybook stock car beginning with van Gisbergen. As the New Zealander did in the Chicago Cup Series race a year earlier, Zilisch won his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start — claiming the trophy last summer at Watkins Glen International from pole position — then adding a pair of fourth-place finishes at Kansas and Phoenix in three more starts last year.
Zilisch won pole position in his first NASCAR national series start — a Craftsman Truck Series race last spring at the Circuit of The Americas, where he finished fourth. He then won pole position again in the series at one of the most famous stock car tracks in the world, the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway — all before he turned 18.
And that stock car success came after Zilisch won the LMP2 class of the Rolex 24 last January at Daytona and answered immediately with the LMP2 class win in the 12 Hours of Sebring six weeks later.
“I’ve been with Connor pretty much every day the last couple weeks doing photo shoots,’’ van Gisbergen said, offering high praise for the young driver.
“He’s an awesome young kid and the experience he’s had already and what he’s done is amazing. He’s committing now to NASCAR away from this [sports car] world and it will be really fun to see how he goes. He’s got a massive future ahead.
“He’s just an awesome young kid and so fast, but a lot to learn still at that age,’’ van Gisbergen continued. “He’s asking Scott and I and Ben a lot of questions, and we’re having a lot of fun, bouncing ideas off each other about the car.’’
James Gilbert | Getty Images
That support means so much more coming from someone Zilisch admires.
“It’s really cool,’’ he allowed, flashing a smile. “The last 12 months for me have been really crazy and definitely changed the trajectory of my career path, so it’s cool to team up with them here, guys who have so much experience not only in sports car racing but motorsports as a whole, whether it’s V8 Supercars, IndyCars, and Ben, with everything he’s done in sports cars.
“I have a lot to learn from these guys. Definitely going to try to soak it in as much as I can. Be a sponge. Just try to have fun.
“Obviously these big moments can be stressful, but at the end of the day, what we’re doing and what Justin has put together, I just want to make sure I enjoy it as well.’’
Both McLaughlin and the sports car champ Keating say they have also enjoyed working as a team with the two NASCAR competitors.
“Really exciting for me,’’ said Keating, 53, noting that his children are all older than Zilisch. “I’ve never been in the same car with any of those guys. I’ve raced against them all and have a ton of respect. I really like them all. Same with Justin [Marks].”
His experience — including a 2015 Rolex 24 class win — has included a driver’s seat view of watching his co-drivers compete in the past, however. And that’s provided both perspective and praise. He recalled watching van Gisbergen driving in the pouring rain in the 2017 Rolex 24.
“I was driving around the track in amazement of Shane when he was driving the car because of all the classes and all the cars, he was the fastest car on track — he was faster than all the prototypes. SVG is special,’’ Keating said, emphasizing that van Gisbergen’s and McLaughlin’s trio of Australian Supercar championships automatically elevates their stature in his mind.
“And I have grown to have a lot of respect for Connor in the LMP2 class last year,’’ Keating continued. “He won this race at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in class and was a rock star in the car. … I’m not surprised at all he wins in Trans Am, IMSA or NASCAR. The kid is just really, really talented.’’
That seems to be the prevailing theme for this foursome. They were among the top-five GTD Pro class cars in four of the six practices at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course during the three-day Roar Before the 24 test — and that included a best showing of second fastest in the Saturday morning session — with Zilisch posting that fastest lap.
“It’s really cool having so much diversity between the four of us and I definitely see it in the way we talk about the car, we all have our own ways to explain things, but we’ve all come to an agreement at the end of every session with how we feel and that’s really positive in that sense,’’ Zilisch said.
“It’s tough in endurance racing that everyone has the same sense of the car, but I feel like we’re really aligned with how we feel. I’m excited to hopefully continue to make the car better.”
It’s a sentiment shared by this talented lineup that has already proven they are up for the task. And having a great time doing it.
“The biggest thing for me is we’re racing for fun and when you’re having fun you’re going to do well, as well,’’ van Gisbergen said. “We’re all happy with the car and the balance of the car, who knows what could happen.”
Connor Zilisch will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut driving the No. 87 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing at Circuit of The Americas, the team announced Thursday.
Zilisch, a highly touted prospect and the team’s development driver, will have primary sponsorship from Red Bull, which joins Trackhouse as a primary sponsor in 2025 after a long absence from the sport. Red Bull will also sponsor Shane van Gisbergen in five NASCAR Cup Series races, rejoining the series after sponsoring Red Bull Racing from 2007-11.
The 18-year-old Zilisch made his NASCAR national series debut at COTA in March 2024 in the Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports, storming to the pole position and ultimately finishing fourth. Zilisch later won his Xfinity Series debut with JR Motorsports in September at Watkins Glen International, solidifying his reputation early. At age 18, he is set to become the youngest driver to make a Cup start since Joey Logano’s debut in 2008.
“I was surprised when they presented me my Red Bull helmet and hat last summer and doubly surprised when they told me I would make my Cup debut in the No. 87 with a Red Bull paint scheme,” Zilisch said in a release.
Zilisch will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet for the full 2025 Xfinity season with JRM, his first season-long campaign in one of NASCAR’s national series. In four starts in 2024, Zilisch earned three top-five finishes, placing fourth at both Kansas Speedway and Phoenix Raceway in addition to his Watkins Glen win. He additionally finished 12th at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Van Gisbergen is making the leap from Xfinity to Cup in 2025 for his own rookie campaign, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse. SVG, who won his Cup debut at the Chicago Street Race in 2023, is no stranger to the Red Bull family.
“I have enjoyed a lot of new experiences and met a lot of new people since coming to NASCAR, but it is nice to be joined by Red Bull, who has been a big supporter of mine for many years back home,” van Gisbergen said in a release. “I’d love nothing more than to give Red Bull a victory as a way to thank them for joining myself, Connor and Trackhouse Racing.”
Red Bull will be featured on SVG’s car at the March 16 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, July 13 at Sonoma Raceway, Aug. 3 at Iowa Speedway, Aug. 23 at Daytona International Speedway and Sept. 28 at Kansas.
“It’s an incredible chapter in the history of Trackhouse Racing to welcome Red Bull back to NASCAR,” Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks said in a release. “Red Bull is one of the most powerful brands in the world, and it’s an honor for us to embark on a partnership with such an iconic company.”
Spire Motorsports announced on Thursday that 2024 ARCA Menards Series champion Andrés Pérez de Lara will drive full-time for Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series during the 2025 season.
The Mexico City native will pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet in pursuit of 2025 Rookie of the Year honors. Previously, Pérez de Lara made two starts at the Truck Series level for Spire Motorsports in 2024, garnering one top-10 finish at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
“As Spire Motorsports continues to look toward the future, it’s important that we identify who we expect to be long–term contributors to the growth of not only our organization but to the sport as a whole,” Spire Motorsports co–owner Jeff Dickerson said in a press release. “Andrés Pérez de Larahas a very bright future. He has a huge upside and isalready integrated into our processes and methods of preparation. We’re thrilled to officially add him to the Spire family.”
The team also announced that veteran crew chief Chad Walter will move over from the No. 71 truck and lead the No. 77 team’s efforts in the new year. Walter has over two decades of experience, spending the last two seasons with Rajah Caruth and leading Caruth to his first Craftsman Truck Series win and the 2024 playoffs.
“After two successful seasons with Rajah Caruth, I’m excited to work with Andrés Pérez de Lara,” Walter said in a press release.“I’ve always enjoyed the opportunityto help mold drivers into the future stars of NASCAR.Andréshas proven that he can be that next ‘one.’We’ve taken the time to assemble a great race team to surround him.Our goal is always to be competitive, maximize our weekends, and race the right way with our competitors.I’m grateful to our leadership team for having the confidence in me to lead Andrés and the No. 77 team in 2025.”
The 19–year–old drove theNo. 2Chevrolet for Rev Racing to his first ARCA championship in 2024, racking up 10 top–five and 17 top–10 finishes.He is the first Mexican–born driver to win the ARCA national title in its 72–year history.
“It’s such a great opportunity for me and one that I have been working extra hard to get,” Pérez de Lara said in a press release. “It’s awesome to workwith a team like Spire, and what that means for me as a driver having so many experienced and very accomplished people working with me to make the most of this opportunity.I think I’m looking forward to the competition more than anything, and I’m ready to step up my game and ready to work on getting the most out of every race.Daytona can’t come soon enough. All the new tracks I’ll be racing will be another big challenge.I am really looking forward toit.”
Partners for the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet include Telcel, Infintium and Claro, which will all be featured throughout the 2025 season. Primary sponsorship for Pérez de Lara’s rookie campaign will be announced at a later date.
Team outlook: FRM took a huge step forward with its speed, almost routinely putting its cars either on pole or on the front row, literally, at superspeedways. Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell both led more laps than ever in a career season. However, there is still more to be discovered regarding the team’s long-run pace, as both drivers ended 2024 with an average finish south of 20th.
As for its driver lineup, Front Row now looks to Gilliland to be its team leader this season and build off a promising 2024 season with McDowell departing for Spire Motorsports. The team also expanded to three charters, bringing in Noah Gragson and welcoming back Zane Smith, who made his name in FRM’s Truck program.
NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 4 FORD
Experience: Two full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 stats: 24th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 1 top five, 7 top 10s 2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 150-1
Outlook: Gragson transitions from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing as another young driver for the team build around going forward. Gragson saw a noticeable uptick in performance in his second full-time season, most notably the seven top-10 finishes he had over the regular season. The best thing for the Las Vegas native is finding a home where he can grow, Front Row will mark his third team in as many years, he is under a multi-year contract, though, so time will tell if there’s more untapped potential in him to develop into a solid driver at the Cup level.
Experience: Three full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 stats: 22nd in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 0 top fives, 4 top 10s 2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 250-1
Outlook: Gilliland, 24, takes over the No. 34 Ford in place of McDowell, who brought weekly consistency to help build up FRM’s Cup program. On paper, his 4 top 10s match his 2023 campaign. However, his 130 laps led, 24 lead-lap finishes and leap from 28th to 22nd in driver standings over a year all set new career benchmarks and are key indicators that FRM is slowly building consistency. Gilliland also had a nine-race stretch from Kansas to Chicago of top-20 finishes, another good indicator that he’s turning a corner in the positive direction. This season should see another jump from Gilliland with more resources and attention being poured into his development.
Experience: One full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 stats: 30th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 4 top 10s 2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 170-1
Outlook: It is a bit of a homecoming for Smith, who returns to FRM after his rookie campaign at Spire Motorsports as a Trackhouse Racing driver. The pedigree is there, as a six-time race winner and Truck Series Champion with the organization he can be competitive in Front Row’s equipment. The question is: Can he be competitive with Front Row at the Cup level? For starters, it should benefit him that he has great familiarity with the team. Secondly, during the later half of Smith’s rookie year, he started to truly catch on. From his runner-up finish at Nashville to the end of the year at Phoenix, he only recorded three finishes of 25th or worse, compared to the seven he had in the first 18 races. The move back to a growing organization could be exactly what Smith needs to continue his ascent as a professional.
BOLD PREDICTION: Both teams were right outside of finishing in the top 20 in last year’s final standings. In 2025, Front Row will cleanly have two top 20 teams, with a third just peeking out. There’s a lot to work with for this newly expanded organization, which has young talents and speed. With two superspeedway races to open the season, there may be a chance to see early investment returns.
A mega event showcasing the best of short-track racing on the West Coast will be in the national spotlight this Saturday, Jan. 25. The SoundGear 400, featuring the season openers for the ARCA Menards Series West and CARS Tour West at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, will be streamed live on FloRacing.
2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick will be in action, as will 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric.
Harvick will compete in the SPEARS CARS Tour West Super Late Model division. This marks Harvick’s first time competing at the rebranded track since it adopted his name in 2024.
Harvick, who is a managing partner at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway and owner of the CARS Tour West, will be piloting a No. 29 Super Late Model sponsored by HendrickCars.com.
“We’re thrilled to partner with FloRacing to showcase Saturday’s action-packed event at Kern Raceway to a worldwide audience,” said Kevin Harvick. “This event will provide fans with an opportunity to witness the best of West Coast racing in one day. I hope fans all over the country will tune in to see what West Coast racing is all about and why I’m so passionate about it.”
Four different divisions will be in action throughout the jam-packed afternoon of racing. The ARCA Menards Series West, CARS Tour West Super Late Models, CARS Tour West Limited Pro Late Models and the Legends Tour West will all be part of this massive day of racing at the high-banked half-mile oval in Bakersfield, California.
Hemric will be piloting an ARCA Menards Series car prepared by Bill McAnally Racing, the same team that Hemric will race for in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2025. Other drivers expected to be in competition include Tanner Reif, Trevor Huddleston and Spencer Davis.
All of the action kicks off Saturday, January 25 at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET live on FloRacing. Fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.
CONCORD, N.C. — Arriving at the NASCAR Production Facility on Saturday for CARS Tour Media Day was surreal for the Harvick family in many regards.
Kevin Harvick fulfilled multiple roles across a busy afternoon as a series owner, driver and father. He took part in the familiar photo, video and social content associated with Media Day, all while he and his wife DeLana kept a caring, watchful eye on their 12-year-old son Keelan.
Media responsibilities are going to become more frequent for Keelan, who is set to embark on a busy first year piloting Pro Late Models. The third-generation driver will share the seat with his dad in cars prepared through an alliance between Kevin Harvick Inc. and Rackley W.A.R.
With so much going on in advance of the upcoming season, Keelan is doing everything he can to trust the copious resources around him. This includes adhering to his dad’s advice on what qualities are needed to transition into stock cars.
“[My dad] is really big on being smooth and trying to be consistent,” Keelan said. “That’s really helped me through my career. I would love to win a lot, but this is brand new competition, and it’s going to be really hard to adapt.
“If I can consistently get top-five or top-10 finishes, that would be a really good takeaway for me.”
Keelan Harvick enters his first season in full-bodied stock cars with plenty of accomplishments already to his name. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Kevin’s constant influence has been a crucial component in Keelan’s development separating himself from other drivers in his age group.
Before he became a familiar name in Legends competition, Keelan was busy developing his craft in go-karting events not only in the United States, but in Europe. The accolades quickly accumulated for Keelan; he had multiple victories and championships to his name by the end of 2022.
Having honed his skills in Europe’s rigid racing culture, Keelan’s competitive nature translated into success on the Legends platform. After putting together several strong races in 2023, he emerged as a perennial contender in the Young Lions division this past year against many other future NASCAR stars.
As a whole in 2024, Keelan accumulated 27 victories across 49 starts to go along with top-three finishes in the Cook Out Summer Shootout, INEX Nashville Spring Series and INEX Winter Nationals standings. That efficiency enabled him to secure the 2024 INEX Young Lions Asphalt National Championship.
Keelan Harvick’s first full-bodied stock car race was an eighth place finish in a Limited Late Model at Florence Motor Speedway in November. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
There are times when Kevin finds himself in disbelief over Keelan’s standing at this point in his career. Seeing Keelan stand in his car as a baby prior to Daytona 500 does not seem that long ago for Kevin, and now his son is only a few years away from being a full-time NASCAR driver.
To prepare Keelan for a stock car, Kevin entered him in his first Limited Late Model event at South Carolina’s Florence Motor Speedway in November. Keelan drove a clean, methodical race against many established veterans and finished a quiet-but-solid eighth.
Kevin was impressed with how Keelan conducted himself at Florence, a facility known for its abrasive nature on tires and equipment. In hindsight, Kevin wishes he had encouraged Keelan to be less conservative behind the wheel.
“The biggest problem he had was us,” Kevin said. “We should have just let him go out there and not tell him what to do. I don’t think we all expected him to do as well as he did. He was very aware of his surroundings, communication and the things he did with the car.
“I couldn’t have been more pleased with the first outing.”
Knowing Florence would be his first real test before an expanded stock-car schedule, Keelan approached the event intending to ascertain as much as possible. While he hoped for a slightly better finish, Keelan believes he has a blueprint on how to put together more similar showings in 2025.
“There was definitely a lot of stuff I could take away [from Florence],” Keelan said. “I learned that I need to be better at tire-saving and more aggressive later as the race goes. This would not be possible without all the KHI guys, and I have to thank them again.”
During Keelan Harvick’s development, his father Kevin has provided him advice on what he needs to excel behind the wheel. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
Now that he has an idea of what to expect in a stock car, Keelan is eager to see what he can do at different tracks across the country. His slate of events includes a return to Florence in a Limited Late Model for the track’s Icebreaker in February, along with a plethora of Pro Late Model races on both the East and West Coast.
Participating in a national series like the CARS Tour required Keelan to handle media obligations before his first stock-car race of 2025. The afternoon gave Keelan time to familiarize himself with the production side of the sport and interact with other drivers, some of whom will be his direct competition.
For the most part, Keelan enjoyed his time at the NASCAR Production Facility, though there was one aspect of the festivities he singled out as his least favorite.
“Me and my dad did a game where you roll the Oreo down a table, and you could get mayonnaise, lemon, lime, milk, blue cheese or hot sauce,” Keelan said. “I got blue cheese. It was not good.”
Aside from tasting unorthodox Oreo flavors, Kevin believed everything went perfectly for Keelan during his first CARS Tour Media Day. The importance of having Keelan build a healthy, courteous relationship with media has been a point of emphasis for Kevin and DeLana, the latter of whom has a background in public relations.
“We’ve had a lot of photoshoots that [Keelan] has been a part of,” Kevin said. “You want [him] to be in a position where he understands this is part of the process and part of what being a professional race car driver is. This didn’t come naturally for me, but you need to learn and understand it.
“In order to be a pro and be good at [what you do], you need to have a good reputation and understand what this is for.”
Kevin is confident Keelan has everything needed both on and off the track to keep thriving as he takes the next step in his development, especially now that Rackley W.A.R. is aligned with KHI in Supers and Pro Late Models.
Despite this, Kevin knows there is only so much he can do as a mentor and father. While sharing a car with Keelan has plenty of benefits when it comes to setups and terminology, Kevin understands the best way for his son to learn is to experience the positives and negatives of the sport first-hand.
Kevin sees the Pro Late Model discipline as the perfect avenue for Keelan to further acclimate himself to stock cars. The competitive nature of Pro Late Models will make it difficult for Keelan to win in his first year, but Kevin looks forward to seeing his son gradually make progress with every passing week.
“I haven’t even thought about [Keelan winning races],” Kevin said. “We’re expecting some pretty steep learning curves, so we’ll see if we get to that point [this year]. Anytime you get to see your kids accomplish something is pretty gratifying as a parent. As we’ve gone through the ranks, it’s been pretty fun to watch him pick up things in chunks.
“[That first win] will be a lot of fun. I hope I’m there when it happens.”
For Keelan, the races he is particularly looking forward to are the ones where he will be in the same field as his dad. Although those occasions are likely not going to be frequent, Keelan knows he can benefit by following his dad on track and how he navigates through traffic, though Keelan also wants to have bragging rights over his father.
There will be challenges for him to endure this year, but Keelan looks forward to the day where his patience and determination pays off with that first stock-car victory.
“I’m going to be very excited [if I win],” Keelan said. “I’m probably going to hit the griddy. [If I beat my dad], the celebration is going to be a lot bigger than hitting the griddy.”
CARS Tour Media Day was the first chapter in what is expected to be a long season for Keelan, where he looks to further showcase how he is becoming a successful driver just like his father was for more than two decades.
