Posted on by Zack Albert

NASCAR awarded Hall of Famer Bobby Allison with his 85th Cup Series victory Wednesday, amending the record books on a disputed 1971 race at Bowman Gray Stadium and moving the 86-year-old driver into sole possession of fourth place in the circuit’s all-time win list.

NASCAR CEO and chairman Jim France and vice chairman Mike Helton visited Allison on Wednesday to inform him of the recognition. The decision breaks a tie and moves Allison ahead of 84-time winner Darrell Waltrip in NASCAR’s history books, where the Alabama native now ranks behind Richard Petty, David Pearson and Jeff Gordon.

Allison received the trophy and first-place prize money in the Myers Brothers Memorial 250 race on Aug. 6, 1971, held at the quarter-mile oval in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Allison beat Petty to the checkered flag by a three-second margin.

RELATED: Bobby Allison through the years

But the format for the event and the circumstances of the victory were called into question before the race began. In an effort to boost the field sizes for both the Cup Series — then called Grand National — and its short-lived Grand American Series for “pony cars” such as Camaros, Cougars, Firebirds, Javelins and Mustangs. NASCAR officials announced that six races in the 1971 campaign would be combination events for both divisions.

The summertime meet at Bowman Gray was the first of those events, and Grand American owners and drivers — perceived to have an advantage with more nimble cars at the small venue — received threats and warning from Grand National teams not to show up. Newspaper accounts characterized the race as shrouded with tension, noting that the short track’s typical bumping and shoving escalated to an excessive level.

Petty led the first 112 laps from the pole position, but was forced to pit his larger, less fuel-efficient No. 43 Plymouth for gas. That gave the lead to Allison, who led the remaining 138 laps in a red No. 49 Mustang owned by Melvin Joseph and prepped by Holman-Moody. Allison’s Ford carved its way through the stadium’s tight turns, and he ran the full 250-lap, 62.5-mile distance without stopping as Grand American cars occupied eight of the top 10 finishing positions.

Bobby Allison won the 'Bama 200 NASCAR Grand American race with a '69 Mustang.
Bobby Allison won the ‘Bama 200 NASCAR Grand American race with a ’69 Mustang. NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

A host of rival drivers cried foul after the race, with runner-up Petty leading the criticisms and contention that a victory by a Grand American car should not count toward the Grand National records. “They ought to send them home and leave them,” Petty told reporters as he quickly left the track. “If we’re running Grand National races, let’s run Grand National cars. If we’re running Grand American races, let’s run Grand American cars.”

Officials placated those howls by ruling that the race would not have an official winner in the record books; Allison was not credited with what would have been his 25th career win, and Petty was not elevated from second place to first, meaning Wednesday’s decision does not affect Petty’s 200-win tally.

Gene Moser photo

Only two more combination Grand American events were held that year, with Tiny Lund winning at both Hickory and North Wilkesboro — triumphs that were not labeled with asterisks. The series ceased operations just one year later.

Allison contended for years that his premier-series win total should stand at 85. “I did win 85 times. Scout’s honor, 85 times,” Allison said to applause during his speech as he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.

The conversation about restoring that victory gained momentum with this past summer’s release of the 2025 Cup Series schedule, which moved the annual Clash exhibition to Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 2. The venue hosted Cup Series events from 1958-71 and continues to operate as NASCAR’s longest-running weekly track.

“For 53 years, the Myers Brothers Memorial was the only race run by NASCAR that did not have an official winner,” Jim France said in a statement. “As we began preparations for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, the topic of the race returned to the forefront. We felt it was the right thing to officially recognize Bobby’s win and honor him as an 85-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. We are grateful for Bobby’s lifetime contributions to NASCAR.”

Among Allison’s 85 career wins are three victories in the Daytona 500. His 1988 triumph in “The Great American Race” – an emotional 1-2 finish with his son, Davey – marked the final win of his driving career. He was crowned Cup Series champion in 1983.

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Christopher Bell has seen these roads before: Disappointment, frustration and the sting of a runner-up finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to open the Round of 8 with victory in his sights.

The last time he traversed that road, of course, was in 2023, when he followed it all the way to Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway the next week to lock himself into the Championship 4.

MORE: Homestead-Miami schedule | Playoff standings

Bell and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team hope history repeats itself at the 1.5-mile oval in Florida on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

Bell’s disappointment from last week’s Las Vegas finish was evident in the immediate aftermath, failing to lock his way into the Championship 4 by a mere 0.662 seconds as Joey Logano advanced with a win instead. Bell won the pole and led a race-high 155 laps before taking the checkered flag second.

“It’s funny because immediately after the race, I was just completely dejected,” Bell told NASCAR.com in a phone interview Tuesday. “And Adam (Stevens), my crew chief, he was feeling pretty optimistic about it. And then fast forward to yesterday. Monday is always our debrief day, and I was feeling pretty upbeat and ready to move on — and then he was feeling pretty dejected. So we were definitely on different timelines.

“But certainly, I think Monday is kind of the day where you just move past it. … So yeah, I feel pretty refreshed and ready to go get after it at Homestead now.”

Bell enters Homestead 42 points above the provisional elimination line, the top driver not yet locked in with a margin that appears comfortable with two races left in the round. But that buffer doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as it should, said Bell. Instead, he has eyes on the gaps to Kyle Larson and William Byron. Bell sits seven points ahead of Larson and 15 ahead of Byron.

“If Joey hadn’t have won the race, the plus-42 would be amazing,” Bell said. “But the fact that Joey won the race and the contenders for Homestead and Martinsville are the guys that are underneath the (elimination) line or underneath me in points, it makes it where it’s not safe because as soon as someone wins, that (elimination) line moves up, and then all of a sudden you’re racing, like you mentioned, the 24 (Byron) and the 5 (Larson) for points. So regardless of who wins at Homestead, I feel pretty confident that we’re at least going to have one more winner, and that makes the points battle really tight again.”

Bell, the 29-year-old Oklahoma native, returns to the South Florida track in far better shape than he did a year ago. Despite similar circumstances — those frustrating Las Vegas runner-up runs — Bell left Nevada two points below the dividing line in 2023.

“But with that being said, we’re still treating Homestead and Martinsville the same as what we did last year,” Bell said. “And if anything, [what] we can take from last year is the fact that we can win, and we can win any of these races. Homestead hasn’t notoriously been a great race track for me, and then last year we were able to win, so we’ve kind of checked that box, and we know that we’re going to be capable at these next two races.”

Indeed, Homestead had previously been “a thorn in [Bell’s] side” prior to last year’s triumph. In three starts from 2020-22, he led a total of four laps with finishes of eighth, 20th and 11th. But in the late stages of the 2023 contest, he surged to the front of the field to lead 26 laps and earn the win, fighting back to the top spot after losing spots late on pit road before passing William Byron for the winning move with 15 laps to go.

“Having success there definitely breeds confidence,” Bell said. “So yeah, it was very rewarding to be able to drive to the lead. And then, you know, we had that mishap that lost track position, and we were still able to come back and pass for the lead again. So yeah, just it makes me feel comfortable in my own skin, so to speak, and know that I am capable of running well at that race track.”

Christopher Bell drives in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

There’s something to be said for feeling comfortable in one’s own skin, especially for the perennially slept-on Bell. While the narrative remains that he is lurking in the shadows, he and his team are doing everything possible to put themselves front and center statistically. Bell is tied with Kyle Larson for a series-best 13 top fives this season and leads the Cup Series with 21 top-10 finishes. His 13.0 average finish is second-best to Chase Elliott’s 12.3, and no one has scored more points in the playoffs (265) than Bell, who’s accumulated six top 10s in seven postseason races.

Add that he is on the precipice of his third straight Championship 4 appearance in just his fifth year at the Cup level and it’s almost harder to fathom his lightning-fast rise.

“I think that I am definitely getting more confident in my abilities as I get more experience in the Cup Series, which obviously helps,” Bell said. “But honestly, the timing of my jump to Cup was what really hindered me my first couple years in the series.”

When Bell leaped from Xfinity to Cup for the 2020 campaign, rookie struggles were anticipated — but no one anticipated a global pandemic would cause interference with that learning process. Erased were the majority of practice and qualifying sessions for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, most weekends resulting in a show-up-and-race schedule out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, there were bright spots for Bell, who collected one win, nine top fives and 23 top 10s in his first 72 starts.

Then came the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022. While most of Bell’s newfound experience was wiped from the board, so too was the experience of the grizzled veterans around him, evening the proverbial playing field while also reintroducing practice and qualifying.

“That introduction of practice and qualifying was a huge step in my Cup Series career,” he said.

Now comes another opportunity to return to the Championship 4 for a third consecutive season. Since the Next Gen car debuted, parity has reigned supreme across the Cup Series, emphasized by the number of winners seen in each of the last three seasons: In 2022, 19 different racers won; 15 won in 2023; and 18 have won in 2024. Yet there stands Bell and his No. 20 team, who continue to rise above their competition when the sport’s stakes are highest.

“It’s more of a credit to my team members and the group of people that I’m driving for,” Bell said. “[…] They just step up to the plate, and they bring really, really fast race cars when it matters. And I think they do a great job of learning throughout the regular season of what the car needs (and) I need as a driver. And there’s been a lot of changes since the introduction of Next Gen through ’22, ’23 and now this year. So it’s not just copy-and-paste and fine-tuning the setup, because the Toyota bodies (changed). The way that the cars are creating downforce is changing. The setups are ever-changing.

“The first bit of ’22 was Adam getting acclimated to myself driving the car, what I needed in the car to be successful. And then on top of that, you go back to these tracks again next year with a car change, and the setups have to be a little bit different. So just learning throughout the regular season has been a big part of our success in the playoffs.”

It doesn’t hurt, either, that Bell is the most recent winner at Phoenix Raceway, where the title will be decided on Nov. 10. But Bell isn’t looking quite that far ahead yet — not with the work that remains in the Round of 8.

“With the way last year went at Homestead, I feel confident that we’ll be able to repeat and be competitive,” he said. “We all know how hard winning is, and everything has to go right. But I do feel comfortable and confident telling you that we will be competitive and we will be in the hunt.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

It was only a matter of time before reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer — who has earned the nickname “Stone Cole” by way of his beer-soaked Victory Lane celebrations reminiscent of the “Texas Rattlesnake” and WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin — appeared on WWE programming in some capacity, and it finally happened Tuesday night in Orlando, Florida.

With the Xfinity Series taking part in a NASCAR Playoffs tripleheader over at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and NXT on The CW on the hood of his No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, it was the perfect time for Custer to get into the squared ring.

MORE: See Custer’s paint scheme | Full Homestead-Miami schedule

The 15-time NXS winner and current title contender in the Round of 8 walked out with NXT superstars Hank Walker and Tank Ledger for their tag team match — in full fire suit and all — and later played a pivotal role in the post-match celebration.

 

After a close match ultimately won by the Walker/Ledger duo, Custer was able to celebrate with them in the ring after the pinfall while showing us some slick moves of his own, later breaking down his experience in a backstage interview.

“Man, it’s been awesome, Custer told NXT. “Getting to know Hank and Tank and everything involved here, I mean, those guys are so incredible, how they’re flying around the ring. Learning everything today was just absolutely insane. So it was awesome to have this collaboration and get to see them on the hood this weekend.”

Posted on by Brandon White

The final weeks of the 2024 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series season were extremely stressful for veteran racer A.J. Sanders.

Winning the Division IV national championship required Sanders to maximize every point possible in a three-way battle with Nathan McNabb of Berlin Raceway and Adam Hensel of Adams County Speedway. When the dust settled, Sanders had earned the national title over McNabb and Hensel, who both missed out by two points.

Sanders’ stellar season also included championships in the DIV Southeast Regional division of the Weekly Series and the Stadium Stock division at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Nothing about the process was easy, but Sanders was not ready to let adversity stand in the way of more accomplishments on his resume.

“It took everything I had to get that title,” Sanders said. “We ran good all year, but once I got disqualified from Florence, that put me two points behind, but we were able to overcome all the obstacles that were put in front of me. At my age, and after everything we had to fight for to get it, this probably means the most of any championships I got.

“You might knock us down, but you can’t hold us down.”

A.J. Sanders
(Photo: Bowman Gray Stadium/NASCAR)

Now 56, Sanders has developed a reputation as one of the most stalwart short-track competitors on the East Coast.

The copious number of track championships Sanders has accumulated in the region features three straight in Bowman Gray’s Stadium Stock class, bringing him to five overall at the track. With the consistency he displayed in 2024, Sanders now possesses a second regional and national title to his name.

Sanders’ high standard of success starts with his late father Archie, a dedicated competitor himself who got his son started racing on dirt tracks. After finishing third in his debut event at what is now Ace Speedway, Sanders gradually devoted more of his time to motorsports with Archie supporting him in every regard.

The guidance Archie initially imparted onto Sanders has stayed with him throughout a career that has encompassed four decades. Maintaining a blue-collar style of approach — just like that of Archie — enabled Sanders to find his comfort zone and ascertain all the information needed to enjoy sustainable success.

“[My dad] told me to do it the basic way, like the old ways,” Sanders said. “Don’t change what you’re doing, and that’s the way I’ve done this all my life. We do this all ourselves, and that’s another thing he burrowed into my head. There’s not a piece on that car I don’t touch.

“If you work on it, you’re going to know your car.”

A.J. Sanders
The blue-collar approach employed by A.J. Sanders has been a key component of his efficiency in Stadium Stocks/Mini Stocks (Photo: Bowman Gray Stadium/NASCAR Regional)

Being hands-on is not the only component of Sanders’ winning formula; he has also leaned on many of his contemporaries for advice.

When Sanders competed in Super Late Models earlier in his career, the drivers he faced included Freddie Query, five-time Snowball Derby winner Rich Bickle and three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague. Their guidance was invaluable for Sanders when it came to understanding his limits and how to make improvements.

Sanders has attempted to apply his collective knowledge to other disciplines over the years, but he finds himself content with running Stadium Stocks, which are known as Mini Stocks at other tracks. The competition routinely tests Sanders, who excels despite operating on a limited budget.

“This is something I can do by myself,” Sanders said. “It’s affordable, and you can go to other places and race them, which is fine. This is a car you have to drive. I can get in a Late Model, and that’s like driving a Cadillac down the interstate compared to these things. You actually have to wheel these cars.”

Despite this viewpoint, Sanders said many aspects of conventional race craft do not apply when it comes to navigating Bowman Gray’s compact layout. The primary factor in races at Bowman Gray is patience, but Sanders admitted there is balance between being conservative and aggressive that needs to be perfected in the short Stadium Stock events.

Bowman Gray can be stressful when it comes to the chaotic nature of the races, but Sanders still enjoys every opportunity to add to his legacy inside The Madhouse. For as long as he can, Sanders plans to keep racing at Bowman Gray while simultaneously passing down his knowledge to the next generation.

All three of Sanders’ children have followed in their father’s footsteps by turning competitive laps. His oldest son Andrew no longer competes, but Sanders’ two youngest children, Stephen and Blaze, remain present in the industry, with the latter having made his debut in Bowman Gray’s Stadium Stock division this year.

A.J. Sanders
With racing now extending into his family’s next generation, A.J. Sanders believes his legacy will continue to endure long after he retires. (Photo: Bowman Gray Stadium/NASCAR Regional)

Sanders is also keeping a close eye on his 10-year-old grandson Clayton, who he recently got to race against for the first time. The cohesion Clayton displayed impressed Sanders, who believes his family has a bright future in racing long after he decides to finally retire.

“[Clayton] had never set foot in a race car, but I was blown away by the raw talent,” Sanders said. “We all race, so the Sanders name is going to go on. With everybody racing, I don’t see the Sanders [family] leaving the sport no time soon. [But Clayton,] he’s going to be the one to watch.”

Aside from wanting to compete with and against his family members in more races, Sanders knows there is not much left for him to accomplish in Mini Stocks. He hopes to venture into other disciplines and tracks to see how he measures up to the competition.

Sanders has never been one to back down from a challenge, as he has climbed back into the seat after surviving heart attacks and getting run over by a truck. Staying competitive through the adversity is something Sanders cherishes, which is why he wants to continue racing as long as his car is out front.

“I’m going to hang it up if I can’t win at least one race a year,” Sanders said. “I race probably 50 times or more a year, so if I can’t win one, then I’ll know it’s time to hand the steering wheel over to one of my kids and step back to work on the cars.

“We’re not going to get rich in racing, so you just have to enjoy what you do and make it fun.”

The obstacles Sanders faced to win a track, regional and national title this year were just part of the process for the seasoned competitor. When 2025 begins, Sanders will be ready to face whatever is in front of him so he can put himself in contention for more wins and championships.

Posted on by Staff Report

Two crew members of the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club team have been suspended for two NASCAR Cup Series races following the Oct. 20 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR officials announced Tuesday.

The right-front wheel of the No. 43 Toyota driven by Erik Jones detached from the vehicle after a pit stop at Lap 70 during the first caution period of the South Point 400.  A lost wheel violates Sections 8.8.10.4.A & C in the NASCAR Rule Book, which concerns the “loss or separation of an improperly installed tire(s)/wheel(s) from the vehicle.” Jones ultimately finished 25th in the 267-lap event.

MORE: Vegas results | Cup standings

Because the tire came loose on the racing surface, suspensions were dealt to front tire changer John Rosselli and jackman Kellen Mills, both of whom will be eligible to return for the final race of the season on Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.

Following Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race, three teams were found each with one loose lug nut, a violation of Section 8.8.10.4.A in the Xfinity Series Rule Book, which states “all five lug nuts must be installed in a safe and secure manner during the event.” As a result, three crew chiefs were fined $5,000 each for their respective team’s infractions:

  • No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Jonathan Toney
  • No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing crew chief Shane Whitbeck
  • No. 38 RSS Racing crew chief Kevin Johnson
Posted on by NASCAR Foundation Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 22, 2024) — Four inspiring NASCAR fans who are making a difference in children’s lives through local children’s organizations were announced today by The NASCAR Foundation as finalists for the 14th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The announcement, which was made live on Speedway with Dave Moody on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, highlighted the volunteers’ commitment to improving the lives of children across the country.

Finalists Tammy Raulerson, Judy Simmons, Carlos Washington and Julie Wooldridge were surprised on-air with an appearance by defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney, who congratulated them for their volunteer accomplishments along with showing appreciation for their impacts on children in local communities.

“This year’s award finalists exemplify the generosity of our NASCAR community. Their volunteer efforts have significantly impacted the lives of children in our local racing communities, a passion for helping others which was championed by Betty Jane France,” said Mike Helton, The NASCAR Foundation Chairman. “Tammy, Judy, Carlos and Julie are inspirations to us all. We hope NASCAR fans everywhere will take time learn more about these incredible finalists’ stories and vote for this year’s award winner.”

RELATED: Learn more about finalists, vote

The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman Betty Jane France, recognizes NASCAR fans who volunteer for children’s causes in their local communities. Each finalist receives a minimum $25,000 donation for their organization with the overall winner receiving a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to further their efforts.

The 14th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalists include:

Tammy Raulerson of College Station, Texas, a volunteer who has spent more than ten years organizing and overseeing family camp weekends and providing families facing pediatric cancer with support, community, and joy through the Periwinkle Foundation.

Judy Simmons of Axton, Virginia, a volunteer who has been a member of the God’s Pit Crew disaster response team of more than 1,500 volunteers for six years. In her role, Judy leads volunteer teams to provide essential needs to families and children in their time of crisis.

Carlos Washington of Florence, South Carolina, a volunteer who has dedicated 20 years of service to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area, which offers programs that promote the childhood development by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.

Julie Wooldridge of Mooresville, North Carolina, who co-founded Hope of Mooresville six years ago to arrange temporary safe shelter and support services for local homeless women and children and to provide long-term solutions to homelessness while breaking the cycle for the next generation of families.

The overall winner will be determined by an online vote, which is open now. To view videos of the finalists, visit NASCARfoundaton.org/Award to watch clips about each finalist’s impact on children while voting once a day, every day through Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. ET for their favorite finalist.

The overall winner will be announced during the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 22.

To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and the 2024 finalists, visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

The battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship will come to a close Saturday night when the series returns to historic Martinsville Speedway for the running of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 (8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

Justin Bonsignore enters the finale with a 10-point advantage on defending champion Ron Silk as both look to secure another championship while also chasing a Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock.

Charlie Jarzombek won the first two Modified Tour events held at Martinsville in 1985. Other notable names to earn Martinsville victories on the Tour include Brett Bodine, Reggie Ruggiero, Mike McLaughlin, Tom Baldwin, Mike Ewanitsko, Tony Hirschman, Jeff Fuller, Mike Stefanik, Ted Christopher, Donny Lia, Bobby Santos III, Corey LaJoie and last year’s winner Ryan Preece.

Tickets to the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know about the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

Martinsville Speedway
Cars in action during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26, 2023. (Photo: Veasey Conway/NASCAR)

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway

Dis 17 743631 Coca Cola 250 V6gb 4presWhat started in February at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway comes to a close Saturday night at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wraps up the 2024 season with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200.

Just like one season ago, the battle for the Modified Tour championship (likely) comes down to Justin Bonsignore vs. Ron Silk.

Unlike last year, when Silk entered the finale as the championship leader, it’s Bonsignore who enters Martinsville as the driver in command of the standings.

Thanks to consecutive wins at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and North Wilkesboro Speedway, Bonsignore holds a 10-point edge on Silk entering Martinsville. If Bonsignore finishes fourth or better Saturday, he will win his fourth Modified Tour championship no matter what Silk does.

Neither driver has visited Victory Lane at Martinsville in the past, and both would love to add a grandfather clock to their personal trophy collections.

RELATED: Modified Tour championship scenarios

Patrick Emerling is also mathematically eligible to win the Modified Tour championship, but at 24 points behind Bonsignore, he’ll need a ton of help if he hopes to leave Martinsville as series champion.

Several other competitors will be looking to play spoiler in Saturday’s race. Among them is Matt Hirschman, who will be attempting to join his father Tony Hirschman as a Martinsville winner. Veteran NASCAR Cup Series stars Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte are both entered to compete, as well. Newman will drive for John-Michael Shenette, while Labonte will again drive the No. 38 for Sadler-Stanley Racing.

Rising stars Luke Baldwin and Carson Loftin are both entered after competing last weekend at North Wilkesboro. Andy Seuss, a two-time champion of the former NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, is also entered.

Other notable entrants include Austin Beers, Craig Lutz, Tommy, Tyler and Trevor Catalano, Tyler Rypkema and Jake Lutz.

The complete entry list for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is available here.

Martinsville Speedway
Drivers battle for position during the 2023 running of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

RACING REFERENCE

RACE FACTS

Race Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200
Date Saturday, October 26, 2024
Track Martinsville Speedway
Layout 0.526-mile asphalt oval
Location Martinsville, Virginia
Start time 8 p.m. ET
Laps 200
Posted Awards $120,734
Tickets Here
How To Watch FloRacing

SCHEDULE: Saturday, October 26… Final practice from 12:50 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET … Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at 8 p.m. ET (FloRacing).

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is limited to 32 starters including Provisional Positions.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twelve (12) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires, per caution period.

Posted on by Staff Report

Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200

Martinsville Speedway

Dis 17 743631 Coca Cola 250 V6gb 4pres

  • Entry list
Car No. Driver Organization Crew Chief Chassis Mfg Sponsor
1 Patrick Emerling RGM AZ, LLC Dale Hedquist LFR Fleetworks, Inc
2 Joey Coulter Coulter Motorsports Will Spaugh FURY Race Cars SRI Performance; Bilstein Shocks; PFC Brakes, Molecule; Simpson Race Products
3 Tyler Rypkema Boehler’s Racing Equipment Greg Fournier Boehler Racing USNE; Northeast Drilling
4 Tim Connolly Connolly Racing Cale Gale FURY Race Cars Connolly Racing, LLC
7 Luke Baldwin Tommy Baldwin Racing LLC Tommy Baldwin PSR Products Baldwin Automotive
8 Ryan Newman Eighty-Two Autosport Scott Morin LFR Bass Pro Shops; USNE Power; Anglers Choice; Cabela’s; Eighty-Two Services
16 Ron Silk Haydt Yannone Racing Phil Moran FURY Race Cars Blue Mountain Machine; Future Homes
18 Ken Heagy Robert Pollifrone Greg Gorman FURY Race Cars Buoy One Seafood Market & Restaurant
22 Kyle Bonsignore Kyle Bonsignore Cam McDermott FURY Race Cars MTT; Munns Auto; Chalew Performance
23 Carson Loftin Brian Loftin TBA PSR Products L&R Transmissions; LeBleu Water; QMF Solutions; Glen Homes
24 Andrew Krause Supreme Racing Robert Hyer LFR Supreme Manufacturing Co.
38 Bobby Labonte PSR Products Neal Cantor PSR Products Pace-O-Matic; CookOut
46 Craig Lutz Goodie Racing Douglas Ogiejko FURY Race Cars Riverhead Building Supply
51 Justin Bonsignore Kenneth Massa Motorsports, LLC Ryan Stone FURY Race Cars Phoenix Communications, Inc.
54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports Rick Kluth Troyer FX Caprara
55 Jake Crum GMR Enterprises Jeremy Gerstner Troyer Cherokee Underground
56 Trevor Catalano Catalano Motorsports David Catalano Troyer Catalano Motorsports
60 Matt Hirschman Pee Dee Motorsports LLC Mike Stein Troyer PeeDee Motorsports; Colyer Trucking
64 Austin Beers KLM Motorsports Ron Yuhas Troyer G&G Electrical Supply, Dell Electric, Lumiere Electrical, Andrew James Interiors, AP Marquadt & Sons, Hughes Motors
70 Andy Seuss Steve Seuss Steve Seuss LFR Rockingham Boat
84 Tyler Catalano Catalano Motorsports JJ Vece Troyer Catalano Motorsports
97 Bryan Dauzat Bryan Dauzat Todd Cooper Troyer Brother N Law Motorsports; OB Builders
114 Jake Lutz Advantage Motorsports, LLC Bill Putney Troyer Advantage Trucks; Anastasi Trucking; Washtronics

 

Posted on by Team Release

LANDIS, N.C. — Reaume Brothers Racing announced Tuesday that Frankie Muniz will be the full-time driver of the No. 33 Ford for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Muniz has made two starts with Reaume Brothers Racing this season (Nashville, Kansas), and with two races remaining, he aims to continue building chemistry with the team and developing his notebook for the upcoming year.

RELATED: Truck schedule | Standings

“I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025,” Muniz said. “My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started.”

Muniz’s last full-time effort took place in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he collected one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, culminating in a fourth-place points finish in the standings. Muniz joined Ford Performance in 2023 and has since competed in limited races in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Mustang Challenge Series.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Frankie to our team full-time and to expand our relationship with Ford Performance,” team owner Josh Reaume said. “Their support has been invaluable, and we believe that with Frankie’s passion and our collective momentum from this year, we can make significant strides in the upcoming season.”

Additionally, RBR announced that More Core Diamond Drilling Services & Nugget Trap will serve as a primary sponsor for Muniz for 10 races during the 2025 season.

Watch Muniz’s upcoming race as he returns behind the wheel of the No. 22 More Core Diamond Drilling Services Ford on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Baptist Health 200 (noon ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Tadd Haislop

Thanks in part to a rebuilt No. 51 Modified he’s parked in Victory Lane after the last two races, Justin Bonsignore is on a heater as the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season reaches its Oct. 26 finale at Martinsville Speedway.

And thanks in part to that heater, the championship scenario for Bonsignore at the half-mile paperclip in southern Virginia is simple: Finish fourth or better, and he’ll clinch his fourth Modified Tour title regardless of what his rivals do Saturday night.

If Bonsignore finishes fifth or worse Saturday, the scenarios will open for two-time champion Ron Silk to steal a third title. Even Patrick Emerling, who soared to third place in the standings with some late-season success, has a chance to swoop in for a championship.

RELATED: Updated Modified Tour points

Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk
(Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Bonsignore took the points lead from Silk with his dominant victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday. The former’s win combined with the latter’s 11th-place run flipped the standings in stunning fashion, as Silk entered the penultimate race of the year with a five-point lead over Bonsignore.

Both drivers have a series-high four wins this season, but Bonsignore’s recent success gives him the edge at Martinsville, a track where he’s experienced more success than Silk has over the years.

Bonsignore has finished third or better three times in four Martinsville starts; Silk in eight Martinsville starts has just one top-five finish. Neither has won at the paperclip.

Precious points will be available throughout the day Saturday, as the Modified Tour awards one bonus point to the driver who wins the Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award, one point to any driver who leads a lap in the race and one point to the driver who leads the most laps in the race.

Additionally, the race winner is automatically awarded three bonus points.

So with plenty left to be decided in the season finale at Martinsville, below are the championship points scenarios for all three drivers who are mathematically in the hunt for the title.

Championship points scenarios for Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk and Patrick Emerling at Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship points tiebreakers

(Via the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rule book)

17-8 Ties

17-8.1 Championship points

A. In the event two or more drivers or Car Owners have the same number of points (a tie), each driver or Car Owner will be ranked according to the greatest number of 1st place finishes in 2023 Events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as of that time.

B. If a tie still exists, the greatest number of 2nd place finishes, 3rd place finishes, etc., will be used in the same manner, until the tie is broken.

C. If a tie still remains, the driver and/or Car Owner having the highest finishing position first during the current season in which the driver and/or Car Owner competed for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the time will prevail.