Corey Heim dominates Charlotte, takes fourth Truck Series win of 2025

Posted on May 23, 2025May 24, 2025 by Reid Spencer

CONCORD, N.C. — This time, Corey Heim didn’t just slam the door on his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition — he nailed it shut.

Heim’s three previous 2025 wins notwithstanding, the driver of the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota has had difficulty closing out races with a dominant truck this season.

That was emphatically not the case on Friday night, when Heim led 98 of 134 laps and beat runner-up Ross Chastain to the finish line by 6.229 seconds in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Heim’s first victory at Charlotte and his fourth of the season was the 15th of his Truck Series career, tying him with Matt Crafton for 10th on the all-time career wins list. At age 22, he is the youngest to reach the 15-win milestone.

It was a perfect night. Heim swept the first two stages of the race and set the fastest lap, scoring a maximum 61 points to widen his series lead to a massive 100 points over second-place Chandler Smith. His margin of victory was the largest ever in the series at Charlotte.

“I felt like we’ve had the speed the last couple years here, but circumstances haven’t let us get it done,” said Heim, who has won five of the last nine Truck Series races on intermediate speedways.

“Obviously, it was such a good truck. I had to execute on my part. The pit crew did a great job. Just a really nice clean day. … It feels great. It feels like we’ve had a lot of opportunities to do that this year, really. Just can’t say enough about these guys. My team gave me a great Tundra, and we just really checked all of the boxes tonight. It feels great.”

Chastain was the best of the three Niece Motorsports Chevrolet drivers in the top seven. Kaden Honeycutt ran third, and Matt Mills was seventh. But none of the Niece trucks could mount a challenge to the race winner, particularly on longer runs.

“Best in class,” Chastain said of his own effort. “The 11 (Heim) is the best in the field right now, and none of us had anything for him. The 7 (Kyle Busch), the 38 (Smith), the 34 (Layne Riggs) — it was a heck of a race (for second) back there between us, but we’ve got to make it last longer.”

Riggs and Busch came home fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Grant Enfinger, Mills, Daniel Hemric, Rajah Caruth and Brandon Jones.

Smith fell victim to a Lap 71 wreck involving polesitter Gio Ruggiero, reigning series champion Ty Majeski and Connor Mosack. The winner last week at North Wilkesboro, Smith, was the first driver eliminated from the race and finished 34th.

WATCH: Smith, Majeski go spinning to start final stage

There were three cautions for 20 laps, two of the yellows for stage breaks.

The only negative for Heim is that no more 1.5-mile intermediate speedways are remaining on this season’s Truck Series schedule.

Next up for the Truck Series is the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway at 8 p.m. ET on May 30 (FS1, NRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NOTE: Post-race inspection in the Craftsman Truck Series garage was complete with no issues, confirming Heim as the winner.

Posted on May 23, 2025May 23, 2025 by Zach Sturniolo

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR Cup Series regulars Austin Dillon and Chase Briscoe are making a 900-mile weekend out of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The duo will compete in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the BetMGM 300, ahead of Sunday’s premier Coca-Cola 600. Dillon, the 2013 Xfinity champion returning to the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, hasn’t driven in the series since 2023. Briscoe, driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, hasn’t raced in Xfinity competition since 2022.

MORE: Charlotte schedule | Best photos from the track

Both have had plenty of experience — and success — at the Xfinity level. The difference, though, stems from their mindsets entering Saturday’s 200-lap contest.

“I’m excited to get a Xfinity car — an RCR Xfinity car, especially,” Dillon said. “You know, they’ve been very fast this season and they’ve always been known for ECR engines, so I’m pumped to get in the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevy and have some fun at a place that I’ve had some success at in the Xfinity Series. So hopefully I can bring something to Jesse (Love) and Austin (Hill) this weekend on Saturday. It also gives me some momentum for Sunday.”

Briscoe, on the other hand, was a bit more trepidatious.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I’m extremely nervous for the Xfinity race,” Briscoe said. “Just not being in one for a long time — even when I ran in ’22, it was on a road course. I haven’t really ran one since 2020, and that was obviously a good year for me, so I feel like there is all of these high expectations coming in running the Xfinity car. I don’t know what to expect. I feel like the feel is so different than what a Cup car is. Even sitting in the car in the shop, it feels so foreign, how the pedals are — there is no virtual mirror in there, camera mirror, so that part of it, I would say I’m definitely nervous. I’m excited, but I am nervous.”

Part of their difference in emotional nerves may stem from their past Charlotte results in Xfinity competition. Dillon is a two-time winner at Charlotte, his home track, with six top fives and seven top 10s in 12 starts. In four starts for Briscoe, his best finish is sixth, his only top-10 finish at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, which came while driving the No. 99 Ford for BJ McLeod Motorsports.

Both RCR and JGR are regular contenders at the front of the Xfinity Series field, though, evidenced this year by RCR’s four wins (three for Hill, one for Love) and JGR’s two (Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola).

“I feel like RCR has done a very good job of dominating in the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series,” Dillon said. “I think it comes back to the employees that we’ve had for a very long time — the faces that I had when I was in the Xfinity Series, and the faces I had when I was in the Truck Series are still there. Some have even left and then come back. Those guys are just known for speed, so I think that core group is what’s important and why those cars are extremely fast.

“And I know looking back, if I knew what I knew now, I would love to be in my trucks again. I’d love to be in my Xfinity cars again. I feel like I could go out there and win 10-race seasons with the experience I have in the Cup level. But that’s the reason why you keep moving and gaining experience in the Cup Series is just a whole other level. So I’m excited to get back in the Xfinity car.”

Briscoe sits 12th in Cup Series points in his day job and graded his 2025 efforts — Year No. 1 with JGR — at a “B- (or) C+” as he adjusts to Gibbs’ and Toyota’s equipment. The chance to compete for a victory Saturday, he said, could indeed help his Sunday approach.

“If you are winning, it helps your confidence,” Briscoe said. “It would definitely not be a confidence booster if I went to Xfinity car and ran 20th (Saturday). I definitely think going there and running up front will definitely build confidence. It is a little bit different now because SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) — I didn’t have four or five top-fives at this point of the season, so any time you can go run up front, it’s like I can still do this, where now, it is different because I feel like I’m doing it more often on Sunday, but certainly, if I can go tomorrow and win, it just builds all of those things, so yeah, I want to go and win tomorrow. It will certainly help the confidence.”

Dillon, 21st in Cup points, has three top 10s in his last four Sunday starts. But with only four total Xfinity starts since the start of 2022, Dillon expects some cobwebs to shake off Saturday.

“It has been two years, so I just want to make sure I get to the gears clean the first time because it’s not just back and forth like we have every Sunday,” Dillon said. “Got that H-pattern again. So we’ll have fun with that and try to go win a race in our No. 3 Boot Barn Chevy.”

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Staff Report

Before the green flag waves and the NASCAR industry recognizes fallen service members with 600 Miles of Remembrance on Sunday, George Lutz will be on the infield grass at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Along with dozens of other volunteers, he will lead the unfurling of a giant Honor and Remember flag. The flag, Lutz hopes, will soon become the federally recognized symbol of respect and appreciation for fallen service members – and a reminder for all Americans that those who gave everything for their country should never be forgotten.

Through his non-profit Honor and Remember, an official partner of NASCAR IMPACT, Lutz will host many Gold Star families at the race track this weekend, their fallen loved ones’ names adorning the windshields of NASCAR Cup Series cars.

Lutz’s new book, Tragedy to Tribute, recounts the story of his own family’s tragic loss when his son George Anthony “Tony” Lutz II was killed while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq in 2005.

—

It’s been almost 20 years since Tony tragically lost his life in Iraq. You’ve since made it your life’s mission to ensure that his memory, and the memories of other fallen service members are never forgotten. Why was it important to tell Tony’s story in this way?

After Tony’s death, I went down a spiritual path, if you will, and in my conversations with God, I came to realize that I knew that I would see him again. But what I didn’t know was what direction I should take next.

I started to lean in the direction of … how were other families [of fallen service members] feeling? How did they gain comfort? What came to them that they could embrace and give them any kind of hope?

I started to go and meet families and talk to them and share with them. And I realized that they didn’t have that structure, that support group people need when they experience tragedies. And so over time I started gathering families for meals and other things, and these were opportunities to embrace, to cry together and to share stories of their loved ones.

What I realized during that time and through these experiences was that the one thing that these families wanted more than anything was for their loved ones to be remembered. That was the one thing that these families really clung to. So the burning question in my mind was … how can every family make sure that their loved one is not forgotten?

I came to the realization that something had to be created that got everybody’s attention. The families will never forget, of course. I wear Tony’s dog tag around my neck. It was on my son’s body before he was buried. But how do we ensure that every single fallen service member is not forgotten by the general population?

So I thought, well, I’m going to create a flag. And I’m going to get that flag on every flagpole in America, and I’m going to make sure that families, wherever they live, will see this flag flying. And once we educate the families and the population about what it means and why it’s important, then every fallen hero family in America will then know that the flag is flying for them and flying for their loved ones.

Tony’s death became a means for me to have this wake-up call and realize this was necessary — to put something together so that America would never forget. And then it took, you know, God’s hand on my life to give me the energy and the passion and the relentless pursuit to make sure that I never gave up until it was achieved.

Tragedy to Tribute chronicles the journey of the organization you founded, Honor and Remember, and its growth over the years. What are you most proud of when you consider the impact and influence that Honor and Remember has had since 2008?

Since its inception on Memorial Day of 2008, I never imagined that the Honor and Remember flag would become as prominent as it has become. But here we are and it’s taken a long time.

The POW/MIA flag came along in 1971. It was 18 years later that it was finally recognized by the U.S. government. So I knew this was going to take time and that it would be a journey that required a wise approach. And that approach was founded on building relationships. With NASCAR, we have a 14-year relationship and now we’re an IMPACT partner … that’s all part of this step-by-step journey.

I’ve driven to all 48 contiguous states and I’ve been to Alaska and Hawaii to bring this message to every legislator in America, and that allowed us to get 28 state adoptions of the Honor and Remember flag as their state symbol of remembrance. I’ve visited Capitol Hill and I’ve told my story and there have been seven bills in Congress to make this flag a national symbol. Currently H.R. 1363 awaits a vote.

All that didn’t come without effort and a focus of helping people understand that the flag was meant to be a gift to the families. If we could get the flag flying on all these flagpoles, we’d giving an amazing gift to families by letting them know that we haven’t forgotten. Freedom comes at a price, and so many Americans don’t know how to express thanks to those who’ve paid the cost.

The role of NASCAR and the industry’s embrace of Honor and Remember is featured prominently in your book. What does the support of the NASCAR community mean to you, personally? How is it advancing the mission of Honor and Remember?

The NASCAR relationship began by getting to know people on the ground floor and passionately saying, “Hey, I’ve got something I think is important and you should think it’s important, and maybe together we can make some small difference.” And that’s how it started.

NASCAR for years has done a wonderful job celebrating our military and honoring veterans, but you can’t honor the military without remembering the fallen. These men and women didn’t get to be veterans. They didn’t get to come home and have a family and a career and continue to live under the freedoms that they died to protect, right?

And I think that that message resonated with NASCAR and I was allowed to be that navigator for them, that advocate that would help the industry come together to remember the fallen. Together the message from the sport has been that we proudly remember those that gave their lives so that we could enjoy what we do on a weekend basis. And so, personally, it means the world to me. NASCAR has helped me tell this story on a much broader scale, and to a massive audience of race fans.

The 600 Miles of Remembrance has become such an integral part of the Coca-Cola 600 and, more broadly, the sport’s efforts to honor and remember the fallen on Memorial Day Weekend. What impact does this program have on Gold Star Families?

You know, we’ve been working on and evolving this for a long time and the collaboration with NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway and the race teams has been tremendous. It allows us to bring families that have been grieving to a place where they can not only lose themselves in the pomp and circumstance of an amazing race weekend, but they can also realize and recognize that their loved one has been embraced by a community that really gets it.

So the families come in and receive this behind-the-scenes experience that they’ve never had before, and with the addition of the names on the cars, you know, they’re just walking around on Cloud Nine. It’s a beautiful experience for them.

So, we’re actually bringing more healing to these families by bringing them together with each other, early on in the weekend and then giving them track tours and then letting them meet the race teams that they’re associated with.

It’s mind blowing for the families and to see how deeply NASCAR engages with this important message. It means the world to them.

What do you hope readers take from Tragedy to Tribute? And in what ways can NASCAR fans who are inspired to support assist in the cause of Honor and Remember?

One of the most important things fans can do is fly the Honor and Remember flag. It could be on their homes. It could be on their businesses. It could be on their churches, schoolyards or on the buildings of government legislators. And we’d like to see the flag 365 days of the year, not just on Memorial Day Weekend, because every single day is Memorial Day for a family somewhere in this country.

Next is helping us sponsor flags for families. We present personalized, handsewn flags. It is our mission to provide a flag as a free gift for every family that requests one. Honor and Remember has presented over 5,000 flags and we’re getting close to 5,500. Fans can visit Honorandremember.org to sponsor a flag or simply make a donation to our organization and support the cause.

We also have a federal bill in Congress, H.R. 1363. I would implore all fans to reach out to their local congressional offices and ask their members to sponsor the bill and help us get it passed by the end of this session, which is the end of 2026 and the year of America’s 250th anniversary.

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Holly Cain

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Under sunny skies and temperatures in the high-60s — the warmest it’s been this week — the 33-car Indianapolis 500 field made its final practice laps Friday in preparation for Sunday’s 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

Friday’s annual “Carb Day” two-hour practice session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway culminated a busy, news-making week at the track where two of the fastest cars were penalized for illegal modifications, a rookie making his first career oval start won pole position and NASCAR champion Kyle Larson is set to make his second attempt at Memorial Day’s famed “Double” — competing in both the Indianapolis 500 Sunday morning (noon ET, FOX) and then NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 that evening (6 p.m. ET, Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The two Team Penske cars penalized during Fast 12 pole qualifying made a huge statement Friday with two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden turning the fastest lap in practice and his teammate, Will Power — who will join Newgarden on the last row of the starting grid as a result of the penalties — fifth fastest.

They also went on to face one another later in the day’s best-of-three championship round of the traditional Pit Stop Challenge, with Newgarden winning his third crown in the event, which pits 16 cars in eight rounds of head-to-head timed competition.

As for practice, Indy 500 pole-winner, Israeli driver Robert Shwartzman, 25, was 29th on the speed charts. And NASCAR Cup Series championship leader Kyle Larson was 26th on single lap speed but among the top six in both 10-lap and 20-lap runs.

The 2021 NASCAR champ Larson, who hosted his Cup Series Hendrick Motorsports team trackside Friday, remained confident in his No. 17 McLaren Arrow Chevrolet, all business as he climbed out for a practice debrief.

“I think it’s a little different than NASCAR with the drafting and not knowing what people’s objectives really were, but it doesn’t hurt [to be fast in multi-lap runs],” Larson said of his work Friday afternoon. “I feel good about my balance, so yeah, I feel like we’re pretty decent. There are a couple guys that are really good also, but I feel like things feel good.”

Larson acknowledged that coming through the field from the seventh row to start the race Sunday definitely presents a different experience than he had last year, starting fifth overall on the second row.

“I would prefer to start further forward, but I think you’ve just got to be smartly aggressive and patient all at the same time back when you start beyond the first few rows,” Larson said. “I think our car handles good in the pack, so just got to be smart about it. You can’t be too aggressive because if you try to push too much and get tightness and have to lift, then you’re going to give up a spot potentially. Just got to watch out when you make moves.”

It was an unusually dramatic day for several of his competitors. Alexander Rossi, who won the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, had problems with his Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet early, running only five laps before the team took it to the garage for repairs. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan team had to change engines in Graham Rahal’s No. 15 Honda after only 21 laps of practice.

Indianapolis-native Conor Daly, a perennial crowd-favorite, also had a challenging day in his Junco Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, the team retiring to the garage early for a full once-over. Daly, who starts 11th, called the afternoon “nerve-wracking.” He still got in 59 laps of practice and posted the 10th-best speed Friday.

Another former Indy winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay, had the most dramatic exit from the practice when his No. 23 Dryer-Reinbold Chevy had to pull off the track with the rear of his car on fire. He was concerned the issue may be with the new hybrid system the cars are running at Indy, since his teammate also experienced a problem.

After practice, Carb Day activities finished up with the always-exciting Pit Stop Challenge, and Saturday features the traditional Public Drivers Meeting and parade through downtown Indianapolis — the month finally culminating with Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 green flag at noon ET.

Posted on May 23, 2025May 24, 2025 by Staff Report

Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday that the organization and No. 24 Chevrolet driver and two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron have agreed to a four-year contract extension that runs until 2029.

Since his rise to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2018, the 27-year-old wheelman has emerged as one of the sport’s superstars, winning 14 races since the start of 2020. Thirteen of those have come with crew chief Rudy Fugle, and since the two paired in 2021, it is the second-highest victory tally at the Cup level over that span.

MORE: Byron through the years | Hendrick all-time winners

“We’ve built something special with the No. 24 team,” said Byron in a team press release. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue working with amazing people at Hendrick Motorsports who believe in me, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick. We’ve accomplished some great things that we’re really proud of, but we have even bigger goals ahead. I’m excited to go after them with this team and this organization.”

In February, Byron scored his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory, becoming just the 13th driver to win the “Great American Race” multiple times and the first to win the season-opening event back-to-back times since Denny Hamlin (2019-2020).

Byron has made the Cup Series Playoffs in every season since 2019, reaching the Championship 4 the last two seasons.

With his second Daytona 500 in February, he provisionally locked himself into the 2025 postseason and currently sits second in the Cup Series standings behind Hendrick teammate Kyle Larson.

Prior to his call-up in 2018, Byron won 11 races combined in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series, snagging the Xfinity championship in 2017 to cap a four-win campaign.

The contract extension comes on the same weekend as the annual Coca-Cola 600 crown jewel event in Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET, Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), which sits just across the street from the Hendrick Motorsports shop.

“William is the real deal,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, in the release. “What makes him so special is that he combines natural ability with an unrivaled work ethic. You see it in the great ones — the drivers who could get by on talent alone but choose to outwork everyone anyway. That’s William. On top of it all, he’s a person of high character and embraces his role as a leader. We’re proud to have him in our lineup and look forward to many more wins together.”

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Reid Spencer

After hard contact with the inside wall during a late wreck at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, Connor Zilisch missed the following NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, citing lower back issues.

The good news? A healthy Zilisch will return to action in Saturday’s BetMGM 300 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Moreover, Zilisch will also make his oval-track debut in the Cup Series in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Charlotte is my first race in my hometown, and a lot of my family will be there this weekend so that’s exciting, for sure,” said Zilisch, who will drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet on Saturday and the No. 87 Trackhouse Racing Chevy on Sunday. “It’s going to be special for me to go there and race for the first time in the Xfinity car and to also double up and race the Cup car.

“I think the Xfinity race at Charlotte is going to be really good for us, considering how well we’ve done on the intermediate tracks this year. We’ve just got to continue to build on what we’ve learned throughout the season and hopefully have a good run in the Jarrett Chevrolet at my home track.”

Zilisch will have plenty of competition. Full-time Cup driver William Byron is driving the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, hoping to duplicate teammate Chase Elliott’s victory in last year’s edition of this race.

Series leader Justin Allgaier, Zilisch’s teammate at JRM, is another strong entry. Allgaier dominated the race in 2023, winning from the pole and leading 83 of 200 laps. The reigning series champion already has two victories this season on 1.5-mile tracks, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Allgaier, however, will have to buck a trend to win on Saturday. There has not been a repeat winner in the last 12 Xfinity Series races at Charlotte.

Posted on May 22, 2025May 25, 2025 by Neil Paine

The “Double Duty” challenge — racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — has humbled almost everyone who’s tried it. Larson’s ready to try again.

If at first you don’t succeed, try to pull off the most ambitious and grueling day in auto racing again — if you’re Kyle Larson, that is.

On Sunday, Larson will continue what has already been an incredibly hectic month by running the 109th Indianapolis 500, where he’ll try to build on last year’s 18th-place finish as an IndyCar rookie. Then, he’ll hop out of the open-wheel car, get in a helicopter to a private jet departing Indiana for North Carolina — where, upon touching down, he’ll take another chopper to Charlotte Motor Speedway, a place where he won just a few years ago.

At least, that’s the plan. A year ago, Larson proved the old saying true: “Man plans, and God laughs.” Arriving in Charlotte from Indy, he was ready to hop in the car and take over for Justin Allgaier (who’d started the No. 5 in Larson’s stead) … but the weather refused to cooperate with Larson’s arrangements, scuttling the rest of the race before he could even run a lap.

This time around could provide similar drama. Though the precipitation forecast for southwestern North Carolina is low to moderate during race hours, there is a higher chance of storms in central Indiana, which means Larson’s bid at the fabled “double” is still up in the air.

The weather is only one obstacle that may make Larson’s feat difficult. Since the World 600 — the precursor to the Coke 600 at Charlotte — came into being in 1960, only 22 attempts (by 14 drivers) have been made to either run in or qualify for both the Indy 500 and the Coke 600 in the same season, including Larson’s in 2025. (This excludes cases where a regular driver deliberately skipped one of the races.) Of those, only 15 saw the driver actually run in both races — and of those, only nine happened at least partially on the same day, in true double-duty fashion.

As we can see from the chart above, few of the double-duty attempts actually involved completing all or most of the 1,100 total miles. Donnie Allison did it in 1970, but that was when the two races were six days apart — not on the same day. A year later, when they were only a day apart, he completed 1,097.5 of the 1,110 miles. (He ran 199 of 200 laps at Indy.)

In part due to a long period of impossible logistics — the 500 and 600 began overlapping, at the same time on the same day, from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s — it wasn’t until Tony Stewart in 1999 that a driver came close to running all 1,100 miles in both races again, and he did it on the same day. Then, two years later, he became the first (and to date, only) driver to successfully pull off that feat, while Robby Gordon nearly did it the following year. (He finished 1.5 miles shy after completing 399 of 400 laps in Charlotte.)

The closest anyone has come since was Kurt Busch, who ran 906.5 miles in 2014, including the entire Indy 500, before being forced to retire early from the Coke 600 due to an engine problem. Larson got his own 500 miles in at Indy before the rain spoiled his night in North Carolina.

And all of this is focused on simply finishing the double without incident. Actually doing well in both races is an even tougher component of the challenge. Allison is the only driver to ever score a top five in both the Indy 500 and Coke 600 during the same season, though they weren’t on the same day. No driver has ever matched that feat while pulling true double-duty, and Stewart is the only one to finish top 10 in both races under those conditions. (Amazingly, he did it twice, in 1999 and 2001.)

Larson will try to change that this weekend — and according to DraftKings, he may have at least some shot. He’s a +550 favorite to win the nightcap in Charlotte, which works out to about a 10-15% win probability after adjusting for the take, and his +1800 Indy 500 odds are around 4 or 4.5%. Roughly assuming independence for those two probabilities, that works out to about a 1-in-150 chance (at best) that Larson would win both races. Those odds are long, to be sure … but if we think about it a different way, Larson has a better shot at sweeping both races than some drivers in either field have of winning just one.

And regardless of how it pans out, maybe the most fascinating thing about Larson’s bid is what it represents. Early in the period after it became possible again in the 1990s, trying the double was the domain of drivers with an open-wheel, IndyCar-style background. John Andretti and Gordon had 75 or more previous career starts in either IndyCar, ChampCar or CART at the time of their first attempt, while Davy Jones and Stewart both at least had more open-wheel races than Cup Series starts. The logic behind this was simple — the steep learning curve at Indy was best handled by drivers with open-wheel experience who had only recently moved to Cup.

Busch blew that up in 2014, when he ran double-duty after 482 previous starts in Cup — and zero in IndyCar. And Larson is continuing that trend these past two years: Despite his reputation as possibly the world’s most versatile driver, he had never actually run an IndyCar race before the 2024 Indianapolis 500. Instead of shying away from that inexperience, though, he’s leaning into his talent and trusting his ability to drive anything, anytime, any place.

What was once the domain of open-wheel experts is now being redefined by elite all-around drivers who see no reason to just stay in their lane — especially if they’re as adaptable as Larson. Maybe the fates will let him have his shot this year, for the sake of racing fans everywhere, or maybe they’ll conspire to ruin his double-duty plans again anyway. But when you’re as good as Larson is, there will always be another chance to try again in the future, too, as long as he wants it.

Posted on May 22, 2025May 22, 2025 by Nate Ryan

With help from seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will be doing his own version Sunday of “The Double” from Charlotte to Indianapolis.

But the NASCAR Hall of Famer once was close to doing what Kyle Larson will in attempting to become the fifth driver to race the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.

RELATED: Weekend schedule | Charlotte entry list

During the latest episode of “Hauler Talk,” Johnson revealed he was close to competing in the Indy 500 during his run of five consecutive championships in the No. 48 Chevrolet.

“I pushed hard for The Double back at the peak of my NASCAR days, and I had a situation develop or scenario develop to drive a Penske car,” Johnson said. “And at the time, Honda was the only engine supplier in the sport. And as we got closer to making a decision, I could sense (car owner) Rick (Hendrick) wasn’t really a fan of it. I still had the home hurdle to clear and then from a manufacturer standpoint, it just didn’t seem possible. So I kind of unwound it, but that has been a childhood dream for me.”

After making his debut in the 2022 Indy 500 during his only full-time IndyCar season, Johnson said he still was mulling a “Double” attempt but then decided to shift into part-time driving and NASCAR team ownership with the rebranded Legacy Motor Club.

“When I left the 500, I felt like there was unfinished business and that I wanted to go back,” he said. “But as that year wore on and really looking myself in the mirror about what’s required of a driver and as I knew I was moving into this ownership stage at Legacy, I knew that I just had to start spending less time in the race car if I really wanted to take this next step. The phone’s rang a few times to go back and drive at the 500 with some decent opportunities. But I just think that door is shut for me and my time needs to be spent elsewhere.”

Johnson is pulling hard for Larson to win one or both races this Sunday.

“It does so much for motorsports, especially racing here in the U.S., to have a headline like that in a historic moment, the recognition it would garner,” Johnson said. “We should all be rooting for that, even if you’re not a Larson fan. I would love to see him win at Indy and then finish second in one of our cars in the 600, and that would be like the perfect day for me, selfishly. But the better he runs, the better it is for racing in the U.S., period.”

Johnson’s path might cross with Larson’s this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After Coke 600 qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway (where he will make his 700th career start in Cup), Johnson will head to Indianapolis to hang out with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon (who attended the Daytona 500 weekend in February as Johnson’s guest).

Before returning to Charlotte, Johnson will give Brady a ride in a two-seater IndyCar during the parade laps of the 109th Indianapolis 500. Johnson has gotten to know Brady through Knighthead Capital Management, the investment firm that has joined with Legacy Motor Club.

“I’m a sucker for interesting opportunities,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I’ve been able to get closer to Tom Brady over the last year. I think he’s a little nervous about the opportunity. He’s worried about getting carsick, and so I have been leaning into that and trying to make him more nervous and look forward to scaring him out there.”

Johnson wrecked in a 28th-place finish at the 2022 Indy 500, which has sparked some playful jousting with Brady.

“There’s a text thread we’re on, and people started sending him, ‘The last time that he was at the 500, this happened,’ ” Johnson laughed. “And then I followed up with Tom, one of the best things to do is to crash a car. Like, you can’t believe how exhilarating it is to crash a car. He was like, ‘Wait a second, what did I get myself into?’ ”

During the interview, Johnson also discussed his new podcast (“Never Settle” with co-host Marty Smith), the challenges of becoming the owner of Legacy Motor Club, making his 700th start in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his appearance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame vote and his relationship to late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.

Other topics covered during the 15th episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:

— Ryan Preece’s penalty in the All-Star Open for running over the “Choose V” commitment box and how it was addressed.

— The future of the “Promoter’s Caution.”

— The prospects of North Wilkesboro Speedway playing host to a Cup points race and the timing of the 2026 schedule.

Click on the embed above to listen or search for “Hauler Talk” wherever you download podcasts to hear it on your phone, tablet or mobile device.

Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the new “Hauler Talk” show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He also has covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.

Posted on May 22, 2025May 22, 2025 by Staff Report

Thursday, May 22 will provide a special night of racing at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway, appropriately nicknamed “The Birthplace of NASCAR Stars.”

Two rising figures in stock-car racing, Keelan Harvick and Brexton Busch, will race in the evening’s Legend Car feature, which is the support division for the ASA STARS National Tour Ross & Witmer 255. Busch, the son of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, will make his Legend Car debut.

Harvick, the son of 2014 Cup champ Kevin Harvick, will look to defend last year’s victory in this event.

The Harvick family celebrates Keelan’s win in the Legend Car feature at Hickory Motor Speedway on May 23, 2024. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

The ASA STARS race, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET, is also loaded with talent, including 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott. The Legend Car feature will roll off earlier in the evening at 5 p.m. ET.

Below are storylines for Thursday, plus the complete Super Late Model entry list.

ASA STARS at Hickory Motor Speedway: Storylines

Cole Butcher riding momentum after Nashville win

Cole Butcher enters Hickory fresh off a dominant win at Nashville and sits atop the ASA STARS National Tour standings. The Canadian standout looks to stay hot on one of short track racing’s most challenging surfaces.

Return to Historic Hickory: A throwback battle awaits

The ASA STARS Tour returns to Hickory Motor Speedway, a venue steeped in racing history. With worn pavement and tight corners, the .363-mile bullring is sure to deliver old-school thrills and fierce competition.

Kevin Harvick named Grand Marshal of the Ross & Witmer 255

NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick has been announced as the Grand Marshal for the marquee midweek event. The 2014 Cup Series champion brings additional spotlight and prestige to a can’t-miss night of racing.

Chase Elliott joins the field for Hickory showdown

In a blockbuster move, Chase Elliott will compete in the Ross & Witmer 255. The 2020 NASCAR Cup champion returns to his short-track roots in front of what’s sure to be a strong Hickory crowd.

Keelan Harvick and Brexton Busch set for first head-to-head battle

In a special INEX National Qualifier, Keelan Harvick and Brexton Busch — sons of NASCAR champions Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch — will go head-to-head in Legend Car competition for the first time. All eyes will be on this next-generation showdown as two of racing’s youngest rising stars battle for bragging rights.

Kyle and Brexton Busch at Millbridge Speedway on March 26, 2025. (Photo: Yem Sanlaeid/NASCAR)

Entry list – ASA STARS at Hickory

Posted on May 22, 2025May 22, 2025 by Press Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — In celebration of Major League Baseball’s 2025 jewel event, the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com in Bristol, Tennessee, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Budweiser and MLB are teaming up to bring a NASCAR Hall of Famer, American beer and America’s favorite pastime to fans by recreating and paying homage to the iconic No. 8 Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game paint scheme.

The legendary scheme will be showcased at the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug. 2 and will be raced by Earnhardt Jr. in the zMAX CARS Tour event at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway on Aug. 16.

SHOP: Dale Jr. All-Star scheme merchandise

In July 2001, the original Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game paint scheme cemented its place in racing history when Earnhardt Jr. raced the red and white No. 8 design to an emotional victory in his first trip to Daytona International Speedway following the tragic loss of his father at the track earlier that year.

“It is an incredible opportunity to reunite with Budweiser and Major League Baseball,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I’ve watched that July 2001 race at Daytona so many times. It’s such a great memory for me. I am excited that we have this chance to collaborate with Bud and MLB to bring that scheme back again because of what it means to me and so many others.”

This partnership follows Budweiser and Earnhardt Jr.’s reunion last November, when they brought back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history, the red Bud No. 8 made famous by Earnhardt Jr. from 1999 to 2007.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates his win in the 2001 Pepsi 400 Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

Furthermore, as the longest-tenured sponsor of Major League Baseball, Budweiser has been a staple in the sport’s traditions and game-day experience for 21+ fans for decades. This August, Budweiser, MLB and Earnhardt Jr. are helping fans celebrate another historic milestone by promoting the MLB Speedway Classic that will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway. One of NASCAR’s most popular tracks will host a special regular season contest between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, marking the first Major League game to be played in the state of Tennessee. Attending fans can also view the No. 8 Budweiser / MLB Speedway Classic show car at the event.

“The incredible fan response to Budweiser’s reunion with Dale Jr. last November reminded us just how special this partnership is to racing fans,” said Todd Allen, SVP of Marketing at Budweiser and Bud Light. “This No. 8 Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game-inspired paint scheme pays tribute to one of the most iconic moments in the storied history of Dale Jr. and Budweiser’s partnership. The MLB Speedway Classic is the perfect stage to revive this fan-favorite design, uniting an American racing icon and American beer at a first-of-its-kind MLB event.”

In addition to enjoying the action at the MLB Speedway Classic and Anderson Motor Speedway, fans can commemorate the return of this iconic paint scheme with limited-edition merchandise available now on shopjrnation.com and coming soon to additional select retail locations.

Anheuser-Busch has proudly supported and elevated NASCAR through Budweiser, Busch and Busch Light for more than 40 years. Its long-standing commitment to the motorsports industry has included driver partnerships – notably as the primary sponsor of Earnhardt Jr. for nine seasons – key event sponsorships and media investments in motorsports.

Follow along on Budweiser’s social channels for more details about its partnership with Earnhardt Jr. and programming at MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol, and stay up to date on the racing events at the JRM X account or watch the Anderson Motor Speedway race on www.FloRacing.com.