Posted on by Staff Report

Rick Ware Racing will field Chevrolets starting in 2026 as part of a multiyear partnership with the manufacturer and a newly formed technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, the team announced Monday.

Cody Ware will return as driver of RWR’s No. 51 car in 2026 as the team transitions to a new manufacturer after spending the last four seasons fielding Fords.

MORE: 2026 Cup Series schedule

As part of its alliance with RCR, Ware’s entries will utilize engines prepared by ECR Engines.

“Chevrolet has always set a high bar with its people, its performance and its passion for racing, and partnering with them gives us the resources and support to make real progress on the race track,” team owner Rick Ware said in a press release. “Teaming up with RCR and ECR provides a foundation we can build on, not just for 2026, but for the future of our race team. We’re proud to be part of the Chevrolet family.”

Rick Ware Racing has owned entries across NASCAR’s three national touring series since a one-off debut at the Xfinity level in 1995. Ware fielded his first Cup entry in 2012 for Timmy Hill at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has entered cars consistently at NASCAR’s top level since 2017. Until 2021, Ware fielded cars from multiple manufacturers, including Chevrolet for 268 starts.

RWR’s endeavors in other forms of motorsports have resulted in plenty of success, including the 2019-20 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series as well as motorcycle titles in 2022 with Shane McElrath in the World Supercross 250cc class and 2024 in the American Flat Track 450 Singles class with Kody Kopp. Additionally, Clay Millican has collected five NHRA Top Fuel wins for RWR since late 2022, and its entry in the 2025 CARS Tour Pro Late Model series earned the 2025 owners’ title.

Cars fielded by Ware in the NASCAR Cup Series have two top fives and 11 top 10s through 702 starts.

“The NASCAR Cup Series is the toughest and most competitive series in motorsports, and this is an important move for the long-term growth of our company,” Ware said. “We’ve won in NHRA, American Flat Track, World Supercross and the CARS Tour, and we want to elevate our NASCAR performance to the level of our other programs.”

Chevrolet teams combined to win 15 Cup races in 2025, including Austin Dillon’s triumph in August at Richmond Raceway for Richard Childress Racing. Chevrolet also earned the 2025 manufacturers’ championship, its 44th overall and fifth consecutively.

“Rick and his team have shown a real commitment to growing their program, and we’re proud to support that effort alongside our partners at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines,” Pat Suhy, manager, NASCAR Competition for GM Motorsports, said. “Bringing RWR into the Chevrolet fold is a win for all of us. Their drive to keep improving aligns with our dedication to performance and innovation.”

In his first full-time season since 2022, Cody Ware piloted the No. 51 to 36th place in the final 2025 standings, averaging a 30.4 finish and leading a total of 32 laps. Ware’s best finish of 2025 was 13th in July at EchoPark Speedway.

The 2026 season begins with the Busch Clash exhibition race on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Brandon White

PENSACOLA, Fla. — For a brief moment, Keelan Harvick thought he let a victory slip away in his debut Snowflake 125 appearance at Five Flags Speedway early Sunday morning.

A bad restart with 45 laps remaining stymied a valiant charge the young Harvick had made from the 15th starting position, which forced him to play catch up against Tristan McKee and reigning Snowball Derby winner Kaden Honeycutt. Possessing the same poise as his father Kevin, Harvick did not waste the limited time at his disposal.

Not even 20 laps passed before Harvick found himself on McKee’s rear bumper to re-take the top spot. Harvick easily dispatched McKee and held him off in the closing laps to become the youngest Snowflake 125 winner at 13, surpassing the record previously established by a 14-year-old Hunter Robbins in 2005.

Battling his way to a Snowflake 125 victory was a mentally taxing experience for Harvick, who climbed out of his No. 62 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford shortly before 4 a.m. CT. Yet he still made time to appreciate and reflect upon the journey that led him to prevailing on the Pro Late Model discipline’s premier stage.

“It’s just really cool,” he said. “[I’m thankful for] everything that everybody has sacrificed for me to get to this point. My dad took me to Italy when I was 10 to get the experience with all the other kids who are so much better. That helped me understand the value of racing and helped me get to this point.”

A full year’s worth of racing in Pro and Super Late Models alongside his dad was crucial toward preparing Harvick for everything the Snowflake 125 was going to bring.

The two Harvicks traveled across the United States, choosing races that would provide both stout competition and a chance for Keelan to properly develop. Seven of their starts together comprised a season-long competition between father and son called the Harvick Cup, with Keelan defeating Kevin in five of those races.

Racing against stellar fields in what is now the ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR Southwest Series shaped Kevin into a driver that would later win the 2007 Daytona 500 and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Kevin wanted to carve out a similar path for Keelan knowing he would benefit from both the highs and lows.

“We typically try to find the hardest races because you learn the most,” Kevin said. “This race is no different. Not going to find the best competition you can is detrimental to the kids. [Keelan] has done a great job, but Rackley [W.A.R.] has done a great job of preparing the cars all year and getting him used to driving the [Pro Late Models].”

Kevin’s beliefs were validated when he watched his son make a mistake on the Snowflake 125’s penultimate restart before ultimately gathering himself up to make a successful charge for the victory. There have been plenty of instances across all levels of racing where Kevin has seen other young drivers unravel in a similar scenario due to overall inexperience.

The younger Harvick could only linger on the botched restart for so long. He remembered everything his father, Rackley W.A.R., Ron Hornaday Jr. and everyone else in his corner had taught him about composure. All he needed to do was just drive.

“I thought I was in third gear, but I was in second gear,” Harvick said. “I just made a mistake, but I knew I had to fight back. [It would have been] a pretty embarrassing way to lose the Snowflake [125] after I had just got the lead.

“It was right at the top of my fingertips, but I really did not want that one to slip away.”

Keelan Harvick
Keelan Harvick joined a prestigious list of Snowflake 125 winners early Sunday morning that includes Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek, Bubba Pollard and Derek Thorn, among others. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

The Snowflake 125 triumph gave Harvick his eighth victory in his first full season driving full-bodied stock cars. Among the places where Harvick has prevailed include Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway along with historic tracks such as Hickory Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.

More than 60 cars were entered in this year’s Snowflake 125, one of the toughest fields Harvick has encountered in his young career to date. It was not just other competitors Harvick dealt with, as persistent rainfall all day at Five Flags delayed the Snowflake 125 by several hours, further adding to the mental strain shared by everyone in the infield.

Yet there was not a single moment throughout Harvick’s maiden Snowflake 125 venture where Kevin did not think his son was ready for the task at hand. Every obstacle the younger Harvick faced was met with both a sense of calm and professionalism, which is why Kevin is confident his son will continue to accumulate marquee victories long after the Snowflake 125.

“I’m really proud of him,” Kevin said. “We all work really hard at trying to keep the evolution of how he races, what he races and when he races. The best part about [the Snowflake 125]] was watching him through traffic. The laps at the end were good and he kept his head on his shoulders with two good guys behind him.

“It’s great to see him win, but I like to see the progression of different things throughout the night.”

The race Keelan put together early Sunday morning embodied many characteristics that garnered Kevin his nickname as “The Closer.” While Keelan did not dominate statistically, he kept his car out of trouble all evening and pounced on the chance to take home a victory during the closing stages despite his mistake on the restart.

Now a part of a long list of Snowflake 125 champions, the younger Harvick plans to cherish his accomplishment as he prepares for 2026. One day, a chance at a Snowball Derby victory will come about, so Harvick wants to make sure he is ready to meet that moment when it arrives.

“Learning off [so many other drivers] helps me a lot,” Harvick said. “[It all comes down] to preparing and watching all the videos. All the hard work that goes into this pays off. My guys worked so hard for this and it’s really cool to see it pay off [with a Snowflake 125].

“[Now] I’m probably going to stay up and watch the Snowball Derby.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Snowball Derby

Five Flags Speedway

  • Starting lineup
Position Car No. Driver
1 48 Preston Peltier
2 91 Ty Majeski
3 17 Hudson Bulger
4 51f Jake Finch
5 96d Spencer Davis
6 3 Michael Atwell
7 08 Jace Hansen
8 98g David Gilliland
9 55 Haedon Plybon
10 1 Kasey Kleyn
11 89 Dylan Fetcho
12 26s Dawson Sutton
13 28b Cole Butcher
14 16 Jacob Gomes
15 96 Derek Thorn
16 21 Kaden Honeycutt
17 81 Carson Brown
18 5m Tristan McKee
19 18 Max Reaves
20 26p Bubba Pollard
21 9 Derek Kraus
22 30t Treyten Lapcevich
23 30c Casey Roderick
24 36 Ty Fredrickson
25 22 Buddy Shepherd
26 33 Dustin Smith
27 60 Ryan Preece
28 6 Brandon Lopez
29 76 Kole Raz
30 14p Chase Pinsonneault
31 51b Kyle Busch
32 51n Stephen Nasse
33 12g Derek Griffith
34 35 Jake Garcia
35 44c Matt Craig
36 24 Gavan Boschele

 

Posted on by Brandon White

PENSACOLA, Florida – After skipping last year’s Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, veteran Preston Peltier reminded the fans and his fellow competitors just how fast he still is.

Peltier patiently waited out a persistent rainfall to put down a blistering 16.240-second lap, which earned him his second career pole in the crown jewel Super Late Model event. Besting more than 40 of the best Super Late Model competitors in the country was a cathartic feeling for Peltier, but now he is determined to replicate that speed on Sunday afternoon in his final Snowball Derby.

“I had a perfect car and a good crew,” Peltier said. “All the puzzle pieces are here. I’ve never had a problem going fast for a couple laps, but I’m trying not to get too excited. Let’s see how I feel after 300 [laps] on Sunday.”

RELATED: Snowball Derby starting lineup

During his career, Peltier has made 11 attempts at the Snowball Derby, successfully qualifying for 10 of them. The best performance Peltier has recorded in the event came in 2019, when he finished fifth. It’s a milestone Peltier believes he can improve upon if good fortunes continue to fall his way.

Joining Peltier on the front row for the Snowball Derby is Ty Majeski, a two-time Snowball Derby winner and the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. Majeski led a race-high 192 laps in last year’s Snowball Derby and is looking to end 2025 on a positive note before taking over the No. 88 Menards Ford vacated by Matt Crafton at ThorSport Racing in 2026.

Of the four NASCAR Cup Series drivers entered in the Snowball Derby, Ryan Preece was the only one to lock into the main event with a top 30 qualifying run. Kyle Busch, a two-time Snowball Derby winner, earned a starting spot by winning the Last Chance Qualifier. Erik Jones and Noah Gragson, both former Snowball Derby winners, failed to qualify for the race.

Kaden Honeycutt, the defending Snowball Derby champion, will start 16th.

The green flag for the 58th Snowball Derby is set to wave at 12 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon, with FloRacing providing live coverage of the on-track action.

Posted on by Brandon White

The long journey from Illinois to Pensacola, Florida, for the Snowball Derby is one Austin Nason has embarked on a handful of times during his career.

Nason’s arrival to Five Flags Speedway for the first time in three years brought about the usual excitement, but it also carries a bittersweet undertone. He knew that no matter what happened, it would be the last time he attempted the Snowball Derby.

Motorsports has long been synonymous with Nason’s life, from watching his father Fred accumulate numerous accolades at their home track of Rockford Speedway to earning checkered flags himself. Nason still possesses a strong passion for racing, but also wants to focus on more important priorities.

“It’s time to move on with life,” Nason said. “I’ve got a business to run, the kid’s racing and doing hockey. I’m busy with a lot of other things and don’t really have the time to do all this travel stuff anymore.”

With Sunday serving as his swan song in Super Late Model racing’s most prestigious event, Nason is hoping for a bit of luck. Nason has only qualified for the Snowball Derby twice in four attempts. In his two appearances in the 300-lap main event, Nason failed to finish both times.

RELATED: Watch the Snowball Derby live on FloRacing

Despite the Snowball Derby misfortune, Nason has more than proved himself as a consistent and reliable competitor Among Nason’s accomplishments are two victories in Rockford’s National Short Track Championships, along with a triumph at the historic Milwaukee Mile in 2019.

The environment Nason finds himself in now is almost unrecognizable compared to when he first started. Rockford closed its doors in 2023, the competition is much younger, and parity is more prevalent than ever in Super Late Models, which posed plenty of challenges for Nason each time he branched out to compete nationally.

“[Super Late Models have] changed a lot,” Nason said. “Everything kind of use to be conventional, then around 2015, everyone started getting crazy with everything. If you miss [the setup] by a little bit, you’re off. That’s what happened to us this weekend. We missed something little and it kills your speed.”

As a part-time competitor with limited resources, Nason knows the best way to beat the seasoned veterans and young prospects is to get creative. The past three years have given him plenty of opportunities to experiment as he’s competed in nearly every ASA STARS National Tour event since the series’ inception in 2023.

Many names from the ASA STARS National Tour are on the entry list for the Snowball Derby, along with drivers who are from Nason’s region. The competition does not concern Nason in the slightest, though he admitted finding a cadence around Five Flags Speedway has never been easy.

In seven starts at Five Flags, Nason’s only top 10 occurred in 2023 during a warm evening in March. The temperature is expected to barely exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit prior to the green flag Sunday, which will lead to more dependency on downforce at a track where track position is imperative.

“This place is hard, this place is difficult,” Nason said. “You have to be able to turn and find grip at the same time. Those two things usually don’t go together. It comes down to finding the right balance in your car. Hopefully we can do that.”

Austin Nason
Having faced plenty of stout competition throughout his career, Austin Nason (No. 14, back) is ready to showcase his veteran expertise in his final Snowball Derby start on Sunday. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Unfortunately for Nason, being unable to turn with his tires has been an early hinderance to his final Snowball Derby outing.

Compounding that issue was the limited track time for Nason throughout the week, a problem shared by every other competitor at Five Flags. There has been consistent rainfall since teams first arrived at the facility, which has kept the track green and left drivers with questions about how their cars will handle in qualifying and the race.

One mistake in time trials could determine whether Nason qualifies top 10 in the Snowball Derby or has to fight his way into the race through the Last Chance Qualifier. Nason is optimistic his car can contend for the victory, though its inability to respond to most adjustments has been a frustrating process.

“We’re kind of struggling right now to find more speed in our car,” Nason said. “We’ve got really good race speed and I like the way it drives. When we put new tires on, it doesn’t go any faster, so we’re struggling with that. We kind of threw the kitchen sink at it. We tested on Monday and the other car was better, so we took everything off that and put it on this.

“It hasn’t been working the same.”

Despite the challenges, Nason is still excited to experience the enthralling atmosphere of Snowball Derby weekend once again. For such a special occasion in his career, Nason felt it was appropriate to honor his own racing heritage.

The purple colors on Nason’s No. 14 closely resemble the scheme he utilized during his early days in a Super Late Model at Rockford. For Nason, it’s a reminder of a simpler time, one he hopes to bring back this weekend, if only for a moment.

With his racing future ambiguous after this weekend, Nason finds himself proud of everything he has accomplished both on and off the track. The landscaping company Nason and his dad own is thriving, all while Nason gets to watch his eldest son Levi as he embarks on his own racing career.

The transition in Nason’s life is something that brings him peace and satisfaction, but there is still a bit of business to take care of. He wants nothing more than to find an ideal setup on his car that will put him amongst the contenders once the Snowball Derby reaches its final moments.

Nason understands that Sunday could very well be the last time he visits Five Flags as a driver. If so, he intends to deliver a farewell performance that he can reflect on positively while making the long drive home to Illinois.

“[The Snowball Derby] would be number one in my trophy box,” Nason said. “You’ve got 45 of the best Super Late [Model drivers] in the country here and it’s one race everyone tries to come to and win. It’s tough, but that’s why we’re here.

“I wanted to come to do it one last time and we’ll see what we can do come Sunday.”

The green flag for the 58th Snowball Derby is scheduled to wave at 12 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT. FloRacing will provide live coverage of the event.

Posted on by John Crane

Editor’s note: This is a roundup in which we review the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Check out our index of 2025 driver recaps. 

2025 Xfinity Series Champion: Jesse Love
2025 Regular Season Champion: Connor Zilisch
Full-time winners: 9 (Connor Zilisch, 10; Austin Hill, 4; Justin Allgaier, 3; Jesse Love, 2; Brandon Jones, 2; Taylor Gray, 1; Sammy Smith, 1; Sam Mayer, 1; Nick Sanchez, 1)
Wins by team: JR Motorsports, 17; Joe Gibbs Racing, 6; Richard Childress Racing, 6; Hendrick Motorsports, 2; Haas Factory Team, 1; Big Machine Racing, 1

How 2025 ended: Entering Phoenix Raceway, all signs seemingly pointed to JR Motorsports capturing its second driver championship in as many seasons. After all, three JR Motorsports wheelmen — Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil — made up the 2025 Championship 4. The fourth title contender — Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love — had something to say about that. Though the Zilisch-Allgaier duo led a combined 111 laps and seemingly had the inside track to the title triumph in the 2025 finale, it was an inside maneuver by Love on Lap 176 that proved to be the difference maker, with Richard Childress Racing prevailing to capture its first driver title since 2019. For JR Motorsports, it was an emotional gut punch. For Love, it marked his first championship crown and completed a storybook year that saw the California native start the season with a victory (Daytona) and end with one, too.

RELATED: 2025 Xfinity Series standings

Best race: Collaboration comes in many shapes, and the summer race at Daytona International Speedway is one memorable example. Zilisch, who broke his collarbone two weeks prior at Watkins Glen International and was looking to ease back into action, began the race and, while under caution, switched out with part-timer Parker Kligerman on Lap 13. Being credited with the points would have been a victory in itself, but instead, Kligerman wheeled the No. 88 Chevy to Victory Lane, officially netting Zilisch the race win on top of it all. “I feel honored to have gotten the call to grace the seat that he’s been in, that Kyle Larson’s been in. … For me, it’s such a ‘me’ thing that this will not be on Racing Reference at all,” Kligerman said.

Other season highlights: Boy, there were plenty. A return to Mexico City for the first time since 2008 — and hometown hero Daniel Suárez winning after starting last — was plenty memorable. A bout at Pocono Raceway resulted in Zilisch — with team co-owner Dale Jr. filling in as crew chief — besting his good friend Love. How about Nick Sanchez triumphing in a thriller at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) for his first career Xfinity win? Zilisch vs. Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma Raceway, anyone? Among many others.

Stat to know: Connor Zilisch tallied 10 wins, the most by a driver in the series since Kyle Busch in 2016. Zilisch really took off come the dog days of summer, winning seven of eight races — including four straight — spanning July to September. Such a season culminated with the Regular Season Championship, the first to be achieved by a series rookie.

Quotable: “I’m the champion now, right? I’m gonna try my best to do it like Justin has. Justin Allgaier is such a phenomenal person, and he can compartmentalize it really well, where he can go be the hardest competitor on the race track and still get out of the car and be a phenomenal human being first. I say I’m gonna try and be like Justin next year and represent the series like how he has. I’ve learned a lot from him, and he’s an amazing person. I actually lean on him a lot more than people probably realize, too, even in how to navigate the championship this year. He’s just a great person.” — Jesse Love on wanting to be a model champion like Justin Allgaier.

MORE: 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule | Buy tickets

Looking ahead: With the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series officially entering the fold, 2026 is expected to bring plenty of vibrancy. Branding — and fresh track venues — will not be the only change, though; Zilisch will transition to the full-time Cup Series ranks, immediately giving the 2026 driver field a different feel. Even still, expect a deep pilot pool next season, and Love will look to lead the way, attempting to go back-to-back in the title department. There is a pathway for it, but the question is: How will the rest of the field respond?

Posted on by Staff Report

Michael Annett, a past winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has died at age 39, JR Motorsports announced Friday in a social media post and confirmed to NASCAR.com.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, making a name for himself most prominently in the Xfinity Series where he made 321 starts, 158 of which came with JRM. Annett earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his first and only win at the national level.

Annett ascended to the Xfinity Series for his debut in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, entering with Germain Racing before transitioning to Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. He spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts across those three seasons. He then joined JRM in 2017, racing for the company through the remainder of his racing career before stepping away after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of the 2021 season.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports shared on social media via X. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, scoring a Talladega Superspeedway victory in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. believed in the journeyman driver’s ability when he signed Annett in 2017. Annett’s triumph in Daytona in February 2019 sparked a comparison for the third-generation Earnhardt, reminding him of Michael Waltrip’s 2001 Daytona 500 victory after being hired by Dale Earnhardt to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt said.

Michael Annett celebrates his 2019 Xfinity Series win at Daytona.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Before making the leap to stock-car racing, Annett was working his way up the ladder in ice hockey, serving as a defenseman on the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks. His 2004 season with the team earned him a “Most Improved Player” award as he and his team prevailed to win the Clark Cup that year, alongside future NHL player Joe Pavelski, who played for 18 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.

YOUTUBE: Watch ‘The Michael Annett Story’

Annett’s late father, Harrold, previously served as CEO of TMC Transportation, which sponsored much of Annett’s racing efforts. Harrold Annett also co-owned a sprint-car team which fielded cars for famed dirt-tracker Sammy Swindell, collecting 35 wins in their four years together.

TMC Transportation and Pilot Flying J remain sponsors of JR Motorsports’ Xfinity endeavors through driver Sammy Smith, who pilots the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet donning the companies’ colors.

“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family,” Smith shared on X Friday night. “Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”

Noah Gragson, another former teammate of Annett’s at JRM, also shared condolences.

“Heartbroken,” Gragson wrote in an Instagram caption. “Going to miss you man. Love you Diesel Mike.”

Brad Keselowski, 2010 Xfinity champion and 2012 Cup champion, reflected fondly of his time shared with Annett as well.

“Michael was an up-and-comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good,” Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing, wrote. “In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go.”

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran Stewart Friesen has reached another milestone in his comeback from serious injuries he suffered in a July 28 dirt modified crash in Drummondville, Quebec, posting a video on Friday of himself walking unassisted. The clip shows Friesen moving without crutches just more than four months after multiple surgeries to repair a shattered pelvis and significant damage to his right leg.​

MORE: Friesen injured in dirt modified crash | Friesen receives warm welcome in NH

Friesen was initially diagnosed with a pelvic fracture and a fractured right leg after his No. 44 car flipped and caught fire in the Super DIRTcar Series event, leading to multihour surgery on July 31 in New York and a nine‑day hospital stay. His wife, Jessica, later detailed that doctors reconstructed his pelvis, right leg tibia and fibula, also treating a fractured C7 vertebra and a fractured left hip, before he was released to continue recovery at home.​

 

The new walking video underscores how far Friesen has progressed since those updates, after spending late summer on crutches while others filled in for him in the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. While no target date for his competitive return has been announced, Friday’s post is the clearest indication yet that Friesen’s rehab is moving in a positive direction after previously setting Daytona’s season opener as a target return.

MORE: Friesen returns to track, hopes for Daytona truck return

Posted on by Staff Report

Long before his days competing for wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, Bubba Wallace spent time in his youth as an active member of his local Boys & Girls Club.

On Wednesday, Wallace — driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing — joined another Club alum in Carson Daly of “Today” to make a special presentation to the Boys & Girls Club of Newark during a live segment on the national morning show.

RELATED: NASCAR Impact hub page

“I was a Club kid as well and spent many days after school (at the club),” explained Wallace from the “Today” Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York. “Now that I’m 32 years old, I’m just a bigger kid … and to give back to the kids here and across the country has been a big mission of ours.”

Boys & Girls Club of Newark vice president of operations Cynthia Banks and 20 members of her Club joined Daly and Wallace on set, where Banks explained some of the challenges her organization faces every day — including transportation.

“If you have a way of getting (kids) to and from the Club, that lightens the load on parents and helps those that are working by not worrying about ‘where am I going to put my child?'” said the 38-year Boys & Girls Club veteran.

Daly then announced live on air that Toyota, an official partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, would be assisting with the Club’s transportation needs by donating a new Toyota Tundra to the organization. He handed Banks the keys to the truck, which was filled with toys and gifts for the Club’s members.

In addition, Toyota pledged a $215,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America, and Wallace announced his own $50,000 contribution to support the mission to serve young people.

Wallace continues to be a vocal advocate for Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, visiting and interacting with Club kids in NASCAR race markets. Last fall, the driver’s Live To Be Different Foundation helped raise over $100,000 to assist Western North Carolina Boys & Girls Clubs in the recovery process following Hurricane Helene.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America became the Official Youth Community Partner of NASCAR in 2021, and over the last five race seasons, more than 1,000 Club teens have attended Cup Series races as part of a program focused on career exploration and workforce readiness.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Tricon Garage announced Friday that Kaden Honeycutt will join the team’s driver roster for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Honeycutt will take over the No. 11 Toyota that Corey Heim drove to this year’s championship and 12 victories in 25 races. Honeycutt’s move also makes him a part of the Toyota Driver Development program for 2026.

RELATED: 2026 Truck Series schedule | Silly Season’s key figures

“I’ve waited my entire career for an opportunity like this,” Honeycutt said in a team release. “I can’t thank Toyota and Tricon enough for trusting me to carry the torch for the No. 11 Safelite Tundra and continue its incredible run of success. I’m truly honored and fired up to chase a championship with this team in 2026.”

Tricon Garage indicated that veteran crew chief Scott Zipadelli will return to the No. 11 team next season.

Honeycutt drove for three teams in the Craftsman Truck Series last season, starting his first full-time campaign with Niece Motorsports’ No. 45 Chevrolet group. The Al Niece-owned organization released Honeycutt on Aug. 4, indicating that the 22-year-old driver’s shift of team and manufacturer allegiances was pending.

Honeycutt joined Young’s Motorsports for one race (Watkins Glen) before signing on with Halmar Friesen Racing as a substitute for the injured Stewart Friesen for the remainder of the year. Honeycutt qualified for the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs despite the midseason transitions and reached the Championship 4 round, where he battled with Heim for the title.

MORE: 2025 Truck Series final standings

Honeycutt finished third in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway and wound up third in the final standings. He ended the year with four top-five finishes and 14 top 10s.

“This is an exciting transition for Tricon,” Kevin Ray, partner and general manager, Tricon, said in a team release. “We’ve watched Kaden perform and overcome uncertainty, and we admire the grit it’s taken to reach this point. We have no doubt he’s worthy of this opportunity and look forward to him continuing to put Tricon and our No. 11 team in a position to win races and contend for championships.”

Tricon, owned by former Cup Series driver David Gilliland, fielded five full-time entries in the Craftsman Truck Series this year. Drivers Toni Breidinger, Tanner Gray, Heim and Gio Ruggiero have full-season rides with the organization, and driving duties for the fifth Tricon entry were split by four drivers this year.

The organization said that additional driver and crew chief lineups for 2026 would be announced at a later date.

Honeycutt won the CARS Tour Pro Late Model championship last season, adding a Super Late Model crown-jewel win to his portfolio in the Snowball Derby last December.