Posted on by Brandon White

THOMPSON, Conn. — Patrick Emerling delivered team owner Rich Gautreau his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in perfect fashion Wednesday night.

Emerling was not only fastest in both practice and qualifying aboard Gautreau’s No. 1 Fleetworks Inc. Modified at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, he also led every lap of the Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com to earn his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in nearly three years.

The win by Emerling makes him the seventh consecutive different winner in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition in as many events.

RELATED: Complete results from Thompson 150 pres. by FloSports.com

Emerling believed a victory was inevitable based on the consistency they’d displayed leading into Wednesday’s race, but he admitted he was pleasantly surprised with the team’s performance Wednesday evening.

“We’ve had a dominant car the last three races and we’ve been building momentum,” Emerling said. “This is our first year racing as a team and we executed pretty well at [Thompson]. That was probably the fastest car I’ve ever driven in my life and it’s awesome to finally get a win at Thompson.”

A lot has changed for Emerling since he earned his last NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at Riverhead Raceway in 2021.

Along with shifting his efforts from his family-owned operation to Gautreau’s team, Emerling has also invested copious time and energy into the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He briefly co-owned a team with Joey Gase and has competed in 14 Xfinity Series so far this season.

The accumulated track time across different disciplines provided Emerling an advantage as he prepared to tackle his first full-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season since 2021. Despite the unknowns with Gautreau’s new team, Emerling was confident they could quickly establish a rhythm.

Emerling’s first race with Gautreau resulted in a fourth-place showing at New Smyrna Speedway in February. Aside from being collected in a crash during the following race at Richmond Raceway, Emerling has finished inside the top-five in every race this year.

Three consecutive top fives entering Thompson, each an improvement over the last, only gave Emerling more confidence. With clean air and a stellar car on his side, no one in the field could match Emerling’s pace as he cruised to the most dominant victory of his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career.

Justin Bonsignore, who trailed Ron Silk by one point in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings prior to Wednesday, made a charge on Emerling during the closing laps but had to settle for second. He commended the efforts of Gautreau and Emerling for having such a dominant car, adding he needed more from his own Modified to challenge for the lead.

“[Emerling’s] car was just really good,” Bonsignore said. “Track position would have been nice if I could have gotten the lead on the start. We were starting to run him down a little bit with 15 to go, but I got stuck in lap traffic a little worse than he did and then the car gave up on the rear tires. All in all, a really good night.”

Bonsignore’s runner-up finish, combined with Silk’s seventh-place finish Wednesday, has allowed Bonsignore to lay claim to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship lead for the first time this season. He leads Silk by four points with six races remaining in the 2024 season.

Emerling’s own consistent streak now has him on the cusp of being a title contender. While he would love to have a say over who hoists the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship trophy at Martinsville Speedway, Emerling is focused on sustainability so he, Gautreau and the rest of the team can enjoy many similar days going forward.

“We have a ton of potential,” Emerling said. “An amazing program has been put together here and I can’t be any more thankful to drive for this team. I wish Rich was here [to celebrate], but he’s back in California. We did it and [this win] is absolutely incredible.”

Craig Lutz finished third at Thompson on Wednesday evening, with Jon McKennedy and Tommy Catalano completing the top five. Matt Swanson, Silk, Austin Beers, Trevor Catalano and Eric Goodale rounded out the top-10 finishers.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competitors now have two weeks to regroup ahead of the next race on the schedule, the Toyota Mod Classic 150 at New York’s Oswego Speedway. The green flag waves at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, with FloRacing providing coverage of all the on-track action.

Posted on by Staff Report

Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

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  • Race results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Laps Diff
1 1 Patrick Emerling Fleetworks Inc 150 —
2 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications, Inc. 150 1.766
3 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply 150 4.323
4 79 Jonathan McKennedy Christopher’s Towing 150 7.37
5 54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports 150 8.387
6 89 Matt Swanson Cervaolos Auto/Casella Snowplows/Mully’s Auto Repair 150 10.034
7 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine/Future Homes 150 11.199
8 64 Austin Beers AP Marquadt & Sons/G&G Electrical Supply 150 18.769
9 56 Trevor Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 149 1 Lap
10 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 149 1 Lap
11 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing 149 1 Lap
12 32 Tyler Rypkema Musco Lighting/Northeast Drilling 149 1 Lap
13 19 Anthony Sesely Franzosa Trucking Co/Karchner Warehousing 149 1 Lap
14 4 Tim Connolly Connolly Companies, LLC 149 1 Lap
15 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials/Gunsmoke Stables Racing 148 2 Laps
16 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 148 2 Laps
17 00 Andy Jankowiak Spafco Race Chassis/BNP Machine 148 2 Laps
18 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 148 2 Laps
19 84 Tyler Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 147 3 Laps
20 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood & Restaurant 146 4 Laps
21 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Racing/Eastport Feed 145 5 Laps
22 60 Matt Hirschman Elite 145 5 Laps
23 21 Stephen Kopcik* Newtown Pools/Karchner Warehousing 129 21 Laps
24 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munns Auto 90 60 Laps
25 44 Chase Dowling Harshaw Paving/Olivas Market 87 63 Laps
26 3 Jake Johnson Propane Plus/Lin’s Propane Trucks 76 74 Laps

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

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  • Qualifying results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed
1 1 Patrick Emerling Fleetworks Inc 18.867 119.256
2 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply 19.002 118.409
3 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications, Inc. 19.02 118.297
4 64 Austin Beers AP Marquadt & Sons/G&G Electrical Supply 19.045 118.141
5 89 Matt Swanson Cervaolos Auto/Casella Snowplows/Mully’s Auto Repair 19.051 118.104
6 19 Anthony Sesely Franzosa Trucking Co/Karchner Warehousing 19.079 117.931
7 79 Jonathan McKennedy Christopher’s Towing 19.123 117.659
8 32 Tyler Rypkema Musco Lighting/Northeast Drilling 19.136 117.579
9 60 Matt Hirschmann Elite 19.146 117.518
10 44 Chase Dowling Harshaw Paving/Olivas Market 19.15 117.493
11 54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports 19.151 117.487
12 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine/Future Homes 19.165 117.402
13 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 19.193 117.23
14 3 Jake Johnson Propane Plus/Lin’s Propane Trucks 19.204 117.163
15 21 Stephen Kopcik* Newtown Pools/Karchner Warehousing 19.289 116.647
16 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munns Auto 19.309 116.526
17 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 19.354 116.255
18 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing 19.376 116.123
19 00 Andy Jankowiak Spafco Race Chassis/BNP Machine 19.392 116.027
20 56 Trevor Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 19.461 115.616
21 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Racing/Eastport Feed 19.572 114.96
22 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials/Gunsmoke Stables Racing 19.597 114.813
23 84 Tyler Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 19.627 114.638
24 4 Tim Connolly Connolly Companies, LLC 19.727 114.057
25 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 19.787 113.711
26 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood & Restaurant 19.973 112.652

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Richard Childress Racing indicated Wednesday that it plans to appeal penalties against Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Chevrolet team after last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

Dillon won Sunday’s Cook Out 400 by bumping fellow drivers Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin out of contention on the last lap of an overtime finish. NASCAR officials ruled that Dillon’s actions were significant enough to warrant a penalty; the win stood, but the eligibility for the Cup Series Playoffs that went with it was withdrawn.

RELATED: Dillon, No. 3 penalized post-Richmond | Playoff bubble shakes up

Dillon and the No. 3 RCR team were also docked 25 points in the drivers’ and owners’ standings. No. 3 team spotter Brandon Benesch was also suspended for the final three races of the regular season for his directive of “wreck him” on the team’s radio communications as Dillon battled Hamlin for the win.

“Richard Childress Racing is very disappointed in NASCAR’s penalty against the No. 3 team,” the team said in a statement on X. “We do not agree with the decision that was made and plan to appeal.”

The appeal will be heard by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel at a date to be determined.

The penalties dropped Dillon back to 31st in the Cup Series standings and removed him from the 16-driver grid for the Cup Series Playoffs. The win marked Dillon’s first in 68 races, ending a Cup Series drought of nearly two years.

Four playoff spots remain up for grabs in the final three regular-season events, starting with this Monday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 (11 a.m., USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM) at Michigan International Speedway.

Posted on by Staff Report

Thompson 150 presented by FloSports.com

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

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  • Practice results
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 1 Patrick Emerling Fleetworks Inc 19.012 118.346 36 37
2 79 Jonathan McKennedy Christopher’s Towing 19.052 118.098 4 11 0.04
3 44 Chase Dowling Harshaw Paving/Olivas Market 19.079 117.931 14 29 0.067
4 89 Matt Swanson Cervaolos Auto/Casella Snowplows/Mully’s Auto Repair 19.088 117.875 22 30 0.076
5 19 Anthony Sesely Franzosa Trucking Co/Karchner Warehousing 19.14 117.555 24 26 0.128
6 16 Ron Silk Blue Mountain Machine/Future Homes 19.153 117.475 26 28 0.141
7 32 Tyler Rypkema Musco Lighting/Northeast Drilling 19.163 117.414 20 29 0.151
8 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply 19.195 117.218 11 35 0.183
9 60 Matt Hirschmann Elite 19.199 117.194 21 23 0.187
10 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications, Inc. 19.212 117.114 28 38 0.2
11 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance/MTT/Munns Auto 19.253 116.865 18 21 0.241
12 54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports 19.262 116.81 29 30 0.25
13 7 Doug Coby Baldwin Automotive 19.263 116.804 5 28 0.251
14 4 Tim Connolly Connolly Companies, LLC 19.283 116.683 38 40 0.271
15 21 Steven  Kopcik* Newtown Pools/Karchner Warehousing 19.285 116.671 5 39 0.273
16 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing 19.294 116.617 19 26 0.282
17 56 Trevor Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 19.303 116.562 3 33 0.291
18 3 Jake Johnson Propane Plus/Lin’s Propane Trucks 19.314 116.496 21 33 0.302
19 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing 19.317 116.478 24 35 0.305
20 64 Austin Beers AP Marquadt & Sons/G&G Electrical Supply 19.387 116.057 33 36 0.375
21 00 Andy Jankowiak Spafco Race Chassis/BNP Machine 19.419 115.866 18 32 0.407
22 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials/Gunsmoke Stables Racing 19.569 114.978 7 24 0.557
23 88 Roger Turbush Rheem 19.584 114.89 23 42 0.572
24 84 Tyler Catalano* Catalano Motorsports 19.695 114.242 19 37 0.683
25 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Racing/Eastport Feed 19.72 114.097 8 13 0.708
26 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood & Restaurant 19.799 113.642 15 17 0.787
27 01 Melissa Fifield Farm Fueled Nutrition 21.038 106.949 23 24 2.026

 

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Austin Dillon’s dramatic, controversial win in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway was ruled to not count toward playoff eligibility, NASCAR officials announced in its penalty report on Wednesday.

Dillon — who keeps his victory but not the playoff benefits that typically come with it — indebted himself to Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin with a last-lap bulldoze and now simultaneously finds himself still searching for a postseason berth based on NASCAR’s ruling.

Here’s how Wednesday’s news impacts the standings and other drivers jostling for postseason positioning.

WHAT IT MEANS

With Dillon’s provisional spot from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs eradicated, 12 drivers remain locked into the postseason grid with three races remaining in the regular season.

Martin Truex Jr. (+78), Ty Gibbs (+18) and Bubba Wallace (+3) remain above the current elimination line, but Chris Buescher now slots into the coveted 16th and final spot in the bracket. Buescher sits deadlocked in points with Ross Chastain but currently owns an advantage on the tiebreaker — which is best finish in the season, with Buescher twice a runner-up and Chastain’s season-high of fourth place.

MORE: Updated playoff standings

WHAT’S NEXT?

Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team said Wednesday it plans to appeal NASCAR’s ruling and has three business days to do so, setting the deadline for 5 p.m. ET on Monday. Once the appeal is filed, both NASCAR and RCR representatives will present their cases to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel on a date to be determined, when the panel will rule to either uphold, modify or rescind the penalty.

Dillon — among the 20 other eligible drivers yet to lock into the postseason — will still have opportunities to win his way into the postseason with upcoming races at Michigan International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway to close the regular season. Dillon is a two-time winner at Daytona, including a victory in the 2018 Daytona 500, with two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes at both Michigan and Darlington.

The problem Dillon faces is that a win remains his only path to the playoffs. After Wednesday’s 25-point penalty, the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet sits 31st in points, far outside points contention. He also has to contend with 20 other desperate competitors just as eager to win their way forward.

RELATED: Full Cup standings

WHO IT HELPS

NASCAR’s decision to rescind the playoff-clinching benefits of Dillon’s victory provides some breathing room — though not much — to those currently surrounding the playoff bubble.

With a 78-point margin above the elimination line, Truex goes into Monday’s race at Michigan (11 a.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) in the most comfortable position of those without a victory yet this season.

Three races left in the regular season means three opportunities for drivers outside the 16-driver playoff grid to win their way in. That means at least one spot in the postseason will be awarded on points. Truex has earned the eighth-most points of anyone so far this year but has been ousted from title contention due to a plethora of winners before. Truex missed the final spot in the 2022 bracket by just three points to Ryan Blaney, who was the only non-winner to advance to that season’s playoffs.

MORE: Michigan schedule | Logano fined after Richmond

Gibbs isn’t quite comfortable yet, with an 18-point advantage worth fewer than can be earned in just two stages. But Wednesday’s decision ultimately thrusts him forward one spot closer toward his inaugural appearance in the Cup Series Playoffs, no matter how narrow the current gap is.

Wallace’s surge in the past five races have produced four top 10s, the one exception a 13th-place finish at the Chicago Street Course that theoretically should have been even better if not for contact with Alex Bowman, the eventual winner. Six weeks ago, Wallace sat 51 points outside the playoff grid. That margin is now three points to the good for the driver of the No. 23 Toyota.

Buescher and Chastain, on the other hand, don’t need to panic with just three points to gain on Wallace over the next three weeks in the current squabble for 16th on the postseason grid, but the competition remains as tight as ever.

RELATED: Cup schedule | How to get notified for 2025 schedule release

Chastain’s results through the summer stretch have left plenty to be desired, with just one top-five finish (fifth, Richmond) and an additional top 10 (10th, New Hampshire) over the past seven races. To be fair, Chastain did lead 45 laps at Nashville and appeared to be on the way to a second-place finish that afternoon — until an Austin Cindric spin with two laps to go in regulation set up overtime … when Chastain wound up wrecked with a 33rd-place finish instead. That alone marked a 31-point swing for the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team.

In that same seven-race span, Buescher has only done marginally better on the results sheet with two top fives — fifth-place finishes at both New Hampshire and Nashville. The No. 17 RFK Racing team appeared quick last week at Richmond, qualifying inside the top 10 and netting points at the end of Stage 1, but a pit-road error cost them a lap and ultimately produced an 18th-place finish.

The net result of Richmond, however, gives everyone at least one more spot for which to fight over the next three weeks.

Posted on by Zack Albert

NASCAR officials ruled Wednesday that Austin Dillon’s win at Richmond Raceway would not count toward eligibility for the Cup Series Playoffs. The decision arrives three days after the Richard Childress Racing driver bashed his way to victory by crashing Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap of Sunday’s Cook Out 400.

Dillon’s penalty was the most severe of a handful of those issued after Sunday’s race, which was decided by a chaotic last lap of overtime. After a full review of footage and data, NASCAR officials ruled Dillon’s victory would stand, but that his automatic berth in the 16-driver postseason field would be voided for violating Section 12.3.2.1.b of the NASCAR Rule Book, which deals with playoff eligibility and states: “Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.”

Dillon and the No. 3 team also were docked 25 points in both the drivers’ and owners’ standings, dropping Dillon from 26th to 31st in the former rankings. Officials also indicated that the rescinded playoff eligibility for Sunday’s win applies to both the drivers’ and owners’ championship.

RELATED: Standings | Watch final lap

Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, indicated that the penalties stemmed from the total chain of events through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap.

“I think in all due respect to the appeal process, we looked at this and the totality of everything that happened as you enter Turn 3 and as the cars got to the start/finish line,” Sawyer said. “So, as we look through all of that data, we came to the conclusion that a line had been crossed. Our sport has been based going for many, many years, forever, on good, hard racing. Contact has been acceptable. We felt like, in this case, that the line was crossed.”

Logano was fined $50,000 for his actions after the race, when he spun the tires of his No. 22 Team Penske Ford in anger near the RCR No. 3 team’s pit box. That show of disgust — a violation of the member code of conduct for compromising the safety of others — sent celebrants from Dillon’s team scattering on pit road and drew a stern rebuke from NASCAR officials at the scene.

NASCAR competition officials also suspended Brandon Benesch, the No. 3 team’s spotter, for three Cup Series races for his guidance of Dillon atop the grandstand roof. A review of transmissions from the No. 3 team radio revealed Benesch saying “wreck him” as Dillon battled alongside Hamlin with the checkered flag in sight.

In a statement posted to social media Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced it plans to appeal the penalties levied to Dillon and the No. 3 team. Representatives from Team Penske said Wednesday that Logano accepts his penalty and will not plan to appeal.

Dillon entered Sunday’s race in 32nd place in the Cup Series standings, but his performance had vaulted him into the 13th position on the provisional playoff grid. Wednesday’s ruling reduces the number of playoff qualifiers to 12, with four open spots to be determined in the three remaining regular-season events. Dillon is still eligible for the playoffs overall, should he win one of those remaining three races.

Both Hamlin and Logano were critical of Dillon’s last-lap tactics, which turned both of their cars into the outside retaining wall. Logano had cleared Dillon on the final restart and opened a slight advantage in the two-lap dash to the finish, but Dillon hustled his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet deep into Turn 3, clipping Logano’s No. 22 Ford and spinning it sideways.

Dillon’s loss of momentum allowed Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota to inch ahead at the exit of Turn 4 but contact between those two sent Hamlin broadside into the outside wall. Dillon drove on to his first Cup Series victory in 68 races, a span of nearly two years.

Dillon and his team owner and grandfather Richard Childress defended the final-lap moves in the winner’s press conference. Dillon explained he was trying to get Logano’s car loose and that his contact with Hamlin’s car “was more of just a reaction.” He also noted the pressure of a lengthy winless skid and the stakes of qualifying for the Cup Series Playoffs.

“I don’t know, man. It’s just the rules of the sport, right?” Dillon said. “It is what it is. Wins get you into the next round. I did what I had to do to cross the start/finish line first.”

Dillon, Childress and No. 3 crew chief Justin Alexander all indicated they did not hear Benesch’s directive of “wreck him” from the spotters’ stand. Told that a recording of the team’s radio transmissions seemed to confirm that language, Childress said: “I didn’t hear him, and I was on the radio with him. We’ll see. If he did, he did a damn good job at it. He won the race.”

Sawyer explained the thought process that went into the officials’ decision to suspend Benesch, saying, “If you look at at the crew chief and you look at the spotter, and view them as calming voices in the driver’s ear, in this case, we just felt like we’ve all listened to the audio. We know exactly what was said. We just felt like that that’s not what we need spotters doing. That’s not what we need (from a) crew chief sitting on the box. They’re a calming voice to what the situation is in front of them, and they’re supposed to be spotting for the race, not making comments like were made, as we all know.”

Sawyer addressed the fine for Logano’s pit-road anger, saying that officials would take a closer look at post-race protocols for people going over the wall while cars are still moving toward their designated parking areas.

“Some of this, we’ve got some work to do on our side,” Sawyer said. “There was a lot of people on pit road, and there always is. We have our officials out there. The drivers need to understand that. Totally understand the emotion — I get it, I’ve been there a few years back. But you have to respect the fact that we do have people on pit road. Our officials will be there, security will be there. We’ll do a better job on our side to make sure that families and young children and sponsors and of that nature are not on the hot side.”

Posted on by Dustin Albino

Sam Mayer moved up the NASCAR ranks at a rapid pace. His trajectory was compared to two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano as JR Motorsports created an opening for Mayer on his 18th birthday, halfway through the 2021 season.

Then, reality hit. Mayer, who claimed three years ago he wanted to break every NASCAR record, realized how demanding the jump to the Xfinity Series was. Meanwhile, his closest foe, Ty Gibbs, was accelerating, winning in his series debut.

RELATED: Mayer driver page | View Mayer’s career stats

It took Mayer more than two full seasons — 71 starts — to taste victory for the first time, coming at his home track, Road America. The dry spell was unfamiliar to a driver who climbed through the other developmental series in style.

“You kind of run out of excuses more than anything,” a reflective Mayer told NASCAR.com recently of his Xfinity route. “I had two years to develop and learn, and we saw that at the end of last year. This year, I’m executing races a lot better, not choking and finishing the job and taking wins that maybe I don’t deserve.”

Among the catalysts of Mayer’s surge was being paired with crew chief Mardy Lindley ahead of the 2023 season. The duo first worked together in 2019, splitting time in the Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. The following season, the pair won five of the 13 ARCA races they entered.

“I push him as hard as I can,” Lindley said of his working relationship with Mayer. “That’s a key to him. Sam needs to be pushed; he thrives off it. But there is a limit, and with my experiences with him, I do know that limit.”

With six victories over the last 34 starts, no driver has won more Xfinity Series races since Mayer claimed his first checkered flag. His first three triumphs all came on road courses, a background he’s excelled at since racing go-karts at 4 years old.

Until Mayer won at Homestead-Miami Speedway last year to clinch a spot in Championship 4, he was concerned about being labeled a road-course specialist.

“I’m not too fluxed about that because I know when I show up to a road course, I have that extra little bit of confidence,” he added. “Getting those oval wins were huge. We got [Homestead] last year and two this year already.”

Mayer’s two oval wins in 2024 came in completely different fashion. In a dramatic ending, he caught Ryan Sieg and edged out the No. 39 car by a few inches at Texas Motor Speedway. At Iowa Speedway, he controlled the race late, leading 47 laps and holding off Riley Herbst in an overtime restart.

Sam Mayer celebrates in Victory Lane following his NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Iowa Speedway.
Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images

After Iowa, Mayer declared he was upset that his name wasn’t thrown around for opportunities at the Cup level while other young phenoms have moved up the proverbial ladder.

Clearly, Mayer has his eyes set on the Cup level.

“It’s definitely a step,” Mayer said of potentially moving to the Cup Series. “I’m not going to deny the fact that whatever team, when, if that comes soon in the next year or so, it’s going to be a step. It’s going to be a long lesson to learn at some point in time. You see a lot of these other guys that I’ve been racing against the last couple of years, they are in Cup now and still haven’t won yet.

“It’s interesting because it’s that big of a step and that much harder, I acknowledge that. But I feel like I can go up there and make something happen.”

Mayer doesn’t expect to necessarily win a race in his first 50 starts, but he set a lofty goal of earning 10 to 12 top-10 finishes. He knows a move to Cup will come with its trials and tribulations.

“I’m sure I’m going to get my teeth kicked in,” he added about whenever he does move to Cup. “I’m going to put my mouthguard in and get ready to rip on it. I like to learn my lesson the hard way a lot, and I feel like going Cup racing, you’re going to learn those lessons either way. The sooner I can experience that, the better, and make my future career that much longer.”

Through the process of weighing his options, Mayer has leaned on key people in his life. Lindley wants what is best for his driver, even if that means holding off on making the step up.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, I would like to see him have one more year of Xfinity,” Lindley stated. “Just more experience. That is a tough outlet, especially if you’re with a B [level] or C race team and not with one of the top-performing race teams. At the same time, you have to learn how to race that style of race and you have to learn that car. Sometimes, the sooner, the better.”

One of the key components that Lindley wants to see an improvement from Mayer is consistency. Although the No. 1 team had a trying start to the 2024 season, wrecking out in three of the opening four races, some of that boils down to positioning. Mayer was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his five DNFs are tied for the third-most among full-time Xfinity drivers. And though Mayer has locked up an Xfinity Series playoff berth, he ranks 12th in the series standings. His 16.8 average finish ranks 13th among full-time competitors.

Mayer’s next chance at consistency will come at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Xfinity Series schedule | Xfinity Series standings | How to get notified for 2025 schedule release

“We just have to address it head-on,” Lindley said. “We have to shoulder that responsibility, no matter what. Whether it’s his fault, our fault, somebody else’s fault. The bottom line is the bottom line. If we can get on that path, then you’re talking about a championship contender.

“The next 13 are the most important of [Mayer’s] career and mine as well. You may not ever be in this opportunity, and you’ve got to take full advantage of it.

Selfishly, Mayer wants to be in the Cup Series as soon as next season. He has reportedly seen interest from multiple organizations to fill a potential spot for the upcoming season.

“I want to go Cup racing right now because the car is so different from what these Xfinity cars are that, as soon as you can hop in one of them and learn them before you compete for championships and all that, it’s going to take you a while,” he said. “I’m ready to learn. I’m ready to soak up information. I feel like I’m mentally ready. It’s just about getting everything done and buttoned up and making sure that I’m ready and not just saying that I’m ready.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Erik Jones is set to return to the No. 43 Toyota with Legacy Motor Club in 2025 after agreeing to a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

Jones has spent each of the past four seasons in the famed No. 43 car, joining in 2021 under different ownership at what was then known as Richard Petty Motorsports. The Michigan native is a three-time winner in NASCAR Cup Series competition, with two of those victories coming in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, a crown jewel on the NASCAR calendar for the toll it takes on both driver and vehicle.

RELATED: Cup Series standings | Erik Jones driver page

Team co-owner Maury Gallagher joined the team in 2022 with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s addition to the team ownership in 2023, rebranding the program to Legacy Motor Club.

“Erik Jones has been the consistent cornerstone of Legacy Motor Club’s driver lineup since Maury chose to enter NASCAR’s highly competitive Cup division,” Cal Wells III, CEO of Legacy Motor Club, said in a team release. “He’s a proven champion that, surrounded with the right team powered by Toyota, can and will compete for race wins against the very best on any given Sunday. Having personally known Erik for close to 14 years, I feel blessed he’s chosen to remain with the Club, and I’m looking forward to winning races with him at the helm of the iconic No. 43.”

In 276 Cup starts, Jones has accrued 37 top-five finishes and 89 top 10s in addition to his three victories, with two pole positions and 827 laps led. The No. 43 car has yet to lead a lap in 2024, but Jones has led at least one circuit in each season, including in his Cup debut with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015.

“I’m looking forward to what we can build at Legacy Motor Club,” Jones said in a release. “I’ve been with the No. 43 car for a handful of years and feel like I’m coming into some of the best years of my career. I am hoping to grow alongside Legacy MC in the seasons to come.”

The 28-year-old missed two races this season after incurring a back injury in May at Talladega Superspeedway. Through 21 starts in 2024, Jones has one top-10 finish — eighth in the season-opening Daytona 500 — and ranks 28th in points with a season-long average finish of 22.5. His playoff hopes still remain, however, with races ahead at both Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway before the playoffs, both tracks at which he has won.

“Erik is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR,” Johnson said in a release. “I’ve had the chance to race against him and have had a chance to watch him drive for other teams and the Club. I admire his talent and am glad we will have him race for us for the upcoming years. Erik will be a key to helping us turn our program around, and we look forward to giving him the tools he needs to go out on Sundays and race for wins and eventually a championship someday.”

Up next for Jones is Michigan International Speedway on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), where Jones has collected one top five and three top 10s in 11 starts.

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Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2024) — HEYDUDE, a brand known for stylish and comfortable footwear, is coming together with the No. 1 motorsport in America for the first time to launch the new HEYDUDE x NASCAR collection, available for purchase as of today at https://www.heydude.com/collections/nascar-collection, Rack Room Shoes and select retailers.

The collection features five different designs of HEYDUDE’s classic Wally silhouette selling for $74.99 each, including three that are inspired by beloved drivers Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kyle Larson.

• Wally NASCAR: Race track ready, the black design features NASCAR written on the silhouette and NASCAR color details throughout the design.

• Wally NASCAR Daytona 500: Inspired by the iconic international speedway, the beige shoe features Daytona branding and NASCAR color details throughout the design.

• Wally Chase Elliott®: The blue No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts livery best associated with NASCAR’s 2020 Cup Series champion comes to life with plenty of additional detail from the car to the shoe.

• Wally Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Combining multiple fan favorites, this bright green shoe is inspired by the iconic Sun Drop scheme the NASCAR Hall of Famer continues to roll out with JR Motorsports.

• Wally Kyle Larson: This shoe brings to life the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion’s red, white and blue HendrickCars.com design synonymous with the No. 5 Chevrolet.

“HEYDUDE is an ideal partner to add to NASCAR’s licensing portfolio, and one that will absolutely resonate with NASCAR fans” said Megan Malayter, NASCAR vice president of licensing and consumer products. “The brand’s ability to delivery easy-on, easy-off comfort with designs that allow our fans to stylishly express themselves and their passions is a perfect fit at or away from the race track.”

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“HEYDUDE is thrilled to come together with one of the most prestigious racing organizations in the world, NASCAR, to celebrate the exhilarating world of motorsports through this unique collection,” said Paul Nugent, Chief Marketing Officer at HEYDUDE. “We know that HEYDUDE and NASCAR fans alike will enjoy this collection that combines iconic NASCAR designs and personalized styles inspired by some of the sport’s top drivers.”

With just three regular season races remaining, Elliott, Larson and the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series roll into Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, Aug. 18 (USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Tickets are available for purchase at www.nascar.com/tickets.

A general photo of a HEYDUDE shoe with a Daytona International Speedway logo on its side.
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