Category: Trucks

Breidinger moves to Trucks full-time with TRICON Garage

Toni Breidinger will race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series in 2025, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. Breidlinger will race with sponsorship from long-time partners Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS and Sunoco, alongside Corey …

Toni Breidinger will race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series in 2025, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage.

Breidlinger will race with sponsorship from long-time partners Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS and Sunoco, alongside Corey Heim and Tanner Gray. Her move to the Truck series full-time comes after she made four starts in the series over the last two seasons. She took 15th in her first start at Kansas in 2023, in what was the best debut performance for a female driver in the NASCAR Truck series.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

“Racing full-time with TRICON is a dream for me,” said Breidinger. “It’s been a 15 year process to get here, but I’m so excited for this moment and ready to capitalize on it.

“I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for Toyota, Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco. I’m beyond grateful to have these partners and team in my corner to take this next step in my career.”

The San Francisco native moves to Trucks with 65 starts in the ARCA Menards Series under her belt. She finished fourth in the 2024 standings with 11 top 10s and a best result of sixth – which she achieved twice – for Venturini Motorsports. Between 2018 and 2024, Breidinger achieved four top-five finishes and a further 23 top-10 results, including 10th on her debut at Toledo Speedway, in the ARCA Menards Series.

Before racing in Trucks, Breidinger was recognized at the Drive for Diversity Awards in 2021 with the Developmental Series Driver Award as the first Arab-American woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned event.

NASCAR celebrates champions and award winners

Friday evening in downtown Charlotte, the NASCAR industry celebrated its heroes, industry inspirations and champions at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame for the first time in the sport’s modern era. Race teams, drivers and …

Friday evening in downtown Charlotte, the NASCAR industry celebrated its heroes, industry inspirations and champions at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame for the first time in the sport’s modern era.

Race teams, drivers and fans gathered to watch these 2024 titlists receive their trophies and to see the sport honor those whose careers impacted NASCAR not only this season but for years and even decades.

NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano began the afternoon celebrating his third title with a special solid gold car given to each year’s champion from Goodyear and then later finally being feted by the sport at the tuxedo-and-gown banquet that will be televised on the CW Network, Sunday at 3pm ET.

The 34-year old’s three titles in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford are now most among all active drivers and he is one of only 10 competitors in the history of the sport to have ever earned a trio of championship trophies.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

Logano thanked his team, his team owner Roger Penske and the father of three gave a special nod to his wife Brittany, who he praised for taking care of their young family and home — allowing him to maintain championship focus. He thanked his family, who was also in the audience, “remembering when I was a kid and got a go-kart for Christmas and now I’m sitting here a three-time Cup champion, it’s just truly incredible.’’

“To me, we did get a lot of opportunities and life’s really all about what you do with the opportunities, you don’t know when they are going to come your way but are you ready to take advantage when they do,’’ continued Logano, whose four wins in 2024 give him 36 total.

Logano was sentimental reflecting on his career and season’s accomplishments.

“If you take the opportunity that God’s given us to talk to people, to inspire others to live a life of generosity, that’s when these scenarios of ‘just driving in circles’ aren’t just driving in circles anymore,’’ he said, noting the sport’s huge push to help Hurricane Helene victims in Western North Carolina recently.

“That to me is something I’m most proud of in this industry and being part of that,” added Logano, who has personally helped raise money and deliver supplies to the affected regions. “I’m proud of winning. I’m proud to be part of this team but what I’m probably most proud of is the heart of this sport.’’

Logano’s team owner, NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Penske has now earned five NASCAR Cup Series championships including the last three consecutively between Logano (2022 and 2024) and Ryan Blaney (2023).

“From my perspective, Joey Logano was a winner when he came to our team in 2013,’’ Penske said. “We’re so proud of all our teams. Racing is a common thread through our businesses. It’s teamwork. It’s pressure. It’s integrity. It’s transparency. This has built the Penske brand. And we’re thrilled to be here.’’

Beyond the Logano-Penske dominance, it was a night of emphasizing highlights across all NASCAR series — those in supporting roles in the pits and beyond.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series and its first-time champion, popular veteran JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier along with Craftsman Truck Series first-time champion Ty Majeski and his ThorSport Raing team were celebrated.

Allgaier’s team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. was visibly excited to honor his longtime driver.

“I’m normally not this kind of person but I knew we were going to win it. I’m normally the kind of person who thinks about the odds and wonders how we might lose a race or what are the obstacles in front of us,’’ Earnhardt said. “But for some reason I just felt like the universe owed Justin and we were going to collect when we got to Phoenix.’’

“Man, did he get up on the wheel, all those restarts — those were classic, classic moments and if you just watched that seven-car work all night long you could see how bad Justin wanted it. He carried the whole company on his back that night. Just proud of him and so thankful to be able to see Justin celebrate this tonight.”

The sport also celebrated Earnhardt’s good friend, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, who retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season and also marked the distinction earned by a former Penske champion as well as Brad Keselowski, who claimed his first victory (at Darlington, S.C.) as a driver-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, the 2020 series champion, was named the sport’s Most Popular Driver for the seventh-consecutive season.

“First and foremost, thank you to the fans,’’ said Elliott, 28, who won at Texas this season. “When I look at this award, regardless if I win it or not … I’ve always viewed it as an opportunity to honor and appreciate the legacy my family has set up for me.’’

Former NASCAR Truck Series and Xfinity Series champion Greg Biffle was recognized as the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Myers Brothers Award winner. Biffle, an avid pilot, flew rescue missions and dropped supplies to the residents in Western North Carolina following the devastating damage from Hurricane Helene in October.

“I thought, if I didn’t go, who’s going to go,’’ said Biffle, who said he received 12,000 messages for help and flew supplies into the area for 14 consecutive days after the storm hit.

“I didn’t do anything any different than anyone in this room would have,’’ a humble Biffle added.

In other awards presented on the night, David Wilson, the long-time president of Toyota Racing Development was presented the Bill France Award of Excellence for his contributions to the sport. Wilson is retiring after leading the Toyota racing effort in NASCAR for 30 years — a tenure that included Toyota’s first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2015 and two more in 2017 and 2019.

Legacy Motor Club driver Erik Jones was named the Comcast Community Champion Award winner for his work in promoting cancer screenings, raising money for breast cancer patients and longtime literacy advocacy, reading books to school children as he travels around the country racing.

The NASCAR Foundation formally announced Judy Simmons, of Axton, Va., as the 2024 winner of the prestigious Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Simmons received a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to her God’s Pit Crew non-profit organization, which provides disaster relief help to families.

The evening, hosted by Jamie Little, Adam Alexander, Kim Coon concluded shortly after 8pm with the hosts reminding the crowd and fans who will watch on the CW Network on Sunday, that NASCAR racing resumes with the NASCAR Clash exhibition at the venerable Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 2. The Daytona 500 opens the points season Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR confirms 2025 start times, TV networks for Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series

NASCAR has confirmed the full slate of 2025 start times and TV network coverage for its Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Changes and additions to the Cup Series include: 2025 kicks off with night-time action as The Clash at …

NASCAR has confirmed the full slate of 2025 start times and TV network coverage for its Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

Changes and additions to the Cup Series include:

  • 2025 kicks off with night-time action as The Clash at Bowman-Gray Stadium is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
  • The Nashville Cup race returns to action under the lights as it is slated for a 7 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime. Both Craftsman Truck and Xfinity events will also have evening green-flag times at the Tennessee oval.
  • Two weeks later, the Cup Series heads to Mexico City for a 3 p.m. ET start on Prime at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
  • At the end of June, both the Xfinity and Cup Series return to Atlanta Motor Speedway will run at night, with Cup’s reunion on TNT airing at 7 p.m. ET.
  • Independence Day weekend also sees a slight bump up in start time at the Chicago Street Course as the Cup Series race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET on TNT.
  • On Sunday, Aug. 3, the NBC portion of the broadcast schedule sees the Cup race at Iowa Speedway move to an afternoon start with a 3:30 p.m. ET slot on USA Network.
  • The Cup Series Round of 8 playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12 will now be a 5:30 p.m. ET start on USA.

Cup Series schedule:

Xfinity Series schedule:

Craftsman Truck Series schedule:

Majeski nabs first Truck Series championship with Phoenix win

All Ty Majeski needed was a green-flag run to finish off his domination of Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race – a victory that earned him his first series title. Majeski led 132 of 150 laps at one-mile Phoenix Raceway, …

All Ty Majeski needed was a green-flag run to finish off his domination of Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race — a victory that earned him his first series title.

Majeski led 132 of 150 laps at one-mile Phoenix Raceway, and when the race-ending 27-lap green-flag run finally came, Majeski pulled away to a 3.945s victory over Corey Heim, who recovered from a restart violation to finish second.

“I can’t believe it,” said Majeski, who won for the first time at Phoenix, the third time this season at the sixth time in his career. “Huge thank you to (ThorSport Racing team owners) Duke and Rhonda Thorson, (crew chief) Joe Shear Jr. — he’s one bad dude.

“This is so much fun racing with this group. I’m so proud to have the opportunity to drive these great race trucks. There’s a lot of times in my career when this looked like a far dream. Duke and Rhonda really gave me my third opportunity after I had two opportunities that failed — man, I can’t thank them enough.”

The championship was the second for Shear, who guided Johnny Sauter to the title with GMS Racing in 2016. For ThorSport, it was a series-record sixth championship, adding to three with Matt Crafton and two with 2023 champion Ben Rhodes.

ThorSport has won three of the last four Truck Series titles.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

Heim restarted 19th on lap 108 after his penalty and quickly moved forward, but the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota couldn’t overcome the speed in Majeski’s No. 98 Ford.

“I’m really disappointed to come up short like that,” said Heim, who will return for a third season with TRICON next year. “It’s hard to even be upset. I did almost everything right except for that restart violation (changing lanes before the start/finish line).

“But we were able to get our track position back pretty quick and make the most of it. I just had nothing for the No. 98. All day, he was so fast… We’ll move forward with our heads up high, a six-win season — career highs for myself my team, organization, everybody — just one spot short of the championship.”

Championship 4 drivers Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger finished third and fifth, respectively, after pitting for fresh tires on lap 113. Though they were able to move through the field, they had nothing for the race winner.

Before the final green-flag run, three quick cautions — including a 6m9s red flag for a nine-truck wreck on the backstretch — interrupted the action at the start of the final stage, bringing the total for yellows to six for 43 laps. After Majeski got away in clean air from a restart on lap 124, however, the race was over.

Starting from the pole position, Majeski streaked to a lead of more than 2s, but Heim tracked him down in traffic and passed the No. 98 Ford for the top spot on lap 39. Three laps later the Ford of Frankie Muniz spun after contact with William Sawalich’s Toyota, ending the first 45-lap stage under caution.

Majeski reclaimed the lead, with Eckes advancing to second, after Heim slid past the marks in his pit stall under the caution for the stage break and came out third.

Heim complained on the team radio channel that the concrete pit stall was one of the slickest he had ever experienced.

Majeski flipped the script in Stage 2, passing Heim for the top spot on lap 71, six circuits after a restart that followed Jack Wood’s hard crash into the Turn 2 wall.

By the end of the stage at lap 90, Majeski had expanded his advantage to 3.597s. But stage wins were inconsequential to the Championship 4 contenders, who would settle possession of title in the frenetic final segment of the race.

Nick Sanchez finished fourth as the only non-Championship 4 driver to crack the top five. Taylor Gray was fifth, followed by Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, Rhodes and Layne Riggs.

RESULTS

Eckes takes dramatic Truck win at Martinsville for chance at title

Christian Eckes wasn’t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant using the front bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet-twice. After a restart with five laps left in Friday night’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes …

Christian Eckes wasn’t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant using the front bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet—twice.

After a restart with five laps left in Friday night’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes first moved the Toyota of Taylor Gray and then the Ford of Ben Rhodes—both of which were rolling on 40-lap fresher tires—to win the race and earn a spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ Championship 4 Race.

 

Six-time winner Corey Heim ran seventh and Ty Majeski came home 11th, as both earned berths in the Championship 4 on points, eliminating Gray, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth in the final event of the Playoffs’ Round of 8.

Eckes, Heim, Majeski and Grant Enfinger will race for the title next Friday at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

After the restart on lap 196 of 200, Gray used his better tires to squeeze past Eckes to the inside. Eckes regained the top spot by moving Gray up the track. A lap later, Rhodes passed Eckes, who completed the fourth lead change in the final five laps by shoving the No. 99 Ford on lap 198.

Free of his competitors, Eckes crossed the finish line two laps later, 1.191s ahead of Rhodes. Chase Purdy and Gray were third and fourth, followed by Sanchez.

“Like I told everybody, I wasn’t going to lose this race—this truck was too good,” Eckes said. “The No. 17 (Gray) was hard racing. I feel bad about the No. 99 (Rhodes). I just got way too loose entering the corner.

“(Hearing boos from the crowd). Everybody’s really happy with me—but I don’t really care. I’m proud of everybody for working hard, and we’re going to Phoenix.”

The victory was Eckes’ fourth of the season, his second at Martinsville and the ninth of his career, but it came with a price.

After climbing from his truck, Gray walked angrily toward Eckes and expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms. A victory would have landed Gray in the Championship 4 at the expense of Majeski, who instead claimed the last spot by 28 points over Gray.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

“I got sent to the fence when I raced him perfectly clean in [Turns] 1 and 2,” Gray said. “What goes around comes around. I have to race him next year all year long (when both move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

“The No. 19 (Eckes) was the class of the field, right? But it’s not my fault we had better strategy than he did. We came out on tires; we drove through the field and we drove to him. I raced him clean, and he drove me in the fence. I guess the only thing I could have done is wreck him like he wrecked me.”

Eckes swept the first two stages, his series-best 10th and 11th of the season and led 187 of the 200 laps. He held a substantial lead before a six-car accident in Turn 2 on lap 190 caused the sixth and final caution and set up the frenetic finish.

For practical purposes, Gray, Sanchez, Ankrum and Caruth entered the race in must-win situations. Ankrum finished eighth, and Caruth came home 31st after losing 21 laps in the garage as his team repaired a brake issue on his No. 71 Chevrolet.

Despite finishing third in each of the first two stages, Sanchez was 39 points out of a Championship 4 position when the race ended.

RESULTS

Hettinger Racing to debut in Truck Series at Martinsville with Moffitt

Chris Hettinger has bought the assets of Bret Holmes Racing and formed Hettinger Racing to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team will debut on Friday at Martinsville Speedway and run the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Brett …

Chris Hettinger has bought the assets of Bret Holmes Racing and formed Hettinger Racing to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

The team will debut on Friday at Martinsville Speedway and run the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Brett Moffitt, the 2018 series champion, will be the driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Victory Custom Trailers in both events.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

“Between the investments I’ve made over the years in our Late Model program and the opportunity to purchase Bret Holmes Racing, the time was right to grow Hettinger Racing into a team that can further drivers’ development by seamlessly transitioning them from Late Models to ARCA to Trucks,” Hettinger said. “We’ll continue our Late Model program by running the zMAX CARS Tour, and we’ll run select ARCA and Truck Series races that fit best with our overall schedule. Brett Moffitt gives us a great opportunity to get a head start on 2025. He’s proven himself in the Truck Series, and his feedback from this week’s race at Martinsville and next week’s race at Phoenix will be invaluable.

“We’ve had a lot to do in a short period of time to get ready for these last two Truck Series races, and we’re confident the effort we’re putting in now will pay dividends next year.”

The Holmes team took a hiatus after the Oct. 4 event at Talladega Superspeedway. Holmes then announced on Oct. 25 that it was shutting down and not finishing the season. During that time, Hettinger completed its purchase.

Hettinger is a former racer and winner in Midgets and Late Models.

“I said earlier this year that when it came to racing, I wanted quality over quantity, and the equipment Chris Hettinger already had was second to none,” Moffitt said. “With his purchase of Bret Holmes Racing, Chris’ operation is scaled up and ready to tackle the Truck Series. I feel like the potential is there, and I’m really looking forward to driving their Chevy and getting Hettinger Racing prepared for next year.”

Enfinger snatches second straight Truck Series win at Homestead

A strategy call from the pit box coupled with a patient move forward landed veteran Grant Enfinger his second consecutive NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff race win in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his closest …

A strategy call from the pit box coupled with a patient move forward landed veteran Grant Enfinger his second consecutive NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff race win in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his closest competitors ran out of fuel behind him in the closing laps.

Enfinger, who won the opening race in this Playoff round at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway three weeks ago denied the other seven Playoff racers a chance at an automatic bid into championship contention. So now at least two drivers will advance based on points-earned with only next Saturday’s race at Martinsville, Va. to settle which other three drivers move onward into the title fight.

Enfinger’s No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet suffered damage on an early race restart, and the team opted to move to a different pit strategy – taking tires and fuel on lap 80 while most of the day’s previous race leaders opted to pit later on lap 100. Ultimately Enfinger was able to both save enough fuel and race off to enough advantage that no one was able to catch him as he raced away to his 12th career victory.

Taking the lead for good with 22 laps remaining, Enfinger claimed a 17.5s win over ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski as other trucks on a similar alternate strategy to Enfinger – the No. 38 driven by Layne Riggs and the No. 2 driven by Nick Sanchez — began running out of fuel in the final two laps.

 

Enfinger had enough fuel he even did a burnout to celebrate the win.

“At the end of the day, [crew chief] Jeff [Stankiewicz] just had the best truck out here,” said Enfinger, who actually made up a lap on track after contact on a race re-start cut his tire earlier in the day.

“Our car was really fast after about five laps yesterday [in practice] and was the same way today. Jeff did a good job managing me with the tires and then managing me with the fuel. I feel like I saved at least 20 percent more than I did in the first run. Jeff was on me pretty hard obviously and the No. 38 [Layne Riggs] ran out and the No. 2 [Nick Sanchez] did too.

“Hard to beat these two weeks,” he added with a grin.

“We’ve had potential all year,” the 38-year-old Alabama native continued. “There’s been sometimes, I haven’t executed and sometimes we’ve just had bad luck. Maybe it’s just time we get our momentum now.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

Connor Mosack finished a career best third-place in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports truck. The day’s most dominant truck, driven by TRICON Garage’s Playoff driver Corey Heim finished fourth after leading a race best 68 of the 134 laps. Heim continues to lead the championship standings and is now 49 points above fifth place with the top-four drivers advancing to the title race.

“Overall, a good day for points, but disappointing,” said Heim, who has a series best six wins on the year. “We were so fast last year and wanted to come back and redeem ourselves and win the race of course. But no complaints as far as points go, makes Martinsville a little bit easier if we put together a decent day.”

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Playoff driver Tyler Ankrum, finished fifth – his best finish of the Playoff run to date. Veteran Stewart Friesen was sixth, followed by Daniel Dye.

And three Playoff drivers – Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth, McAnally-Hilgemann’s Christian Eckes and Tricon Garage’s Taylor Gray rounded out the top-10.

Heading into the next race, Heim has that 49-point edge above the cutoff line. Eckes is 38 points to the good and Majeski now holds a 22-point advantage. Caruth is ranked fifth, the first driver outside the Playoff bubble, 22 points back. Gray is 24 points back and Ankrum and Sanchez – who finished 13th after running out of fuel – are 41 and 43 points behind, respectively.

Frankie Muniz, the popular actor from the Malcolm in the Middle television series, finished 33rd in his series debut, his truck suffering mechanical problems early in the race.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races in the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway next Friday evening (6 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to settle the Championship Four field. Eckes won the race there this April.

RESULTS

Muniz lands full-time NASCAR Truck Series ride with Reaume

Frankie Muniz will contest a full NASCAR national championship season for the first time in 2025 as driver of Reaume Brothers Racing’s No. 33 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. Muniz has made two starts with Reaume Brothers Racing this season, at …

Frankie Muniz will contest a full NASCAR national championship season for the first time in 2025 as driver of Reaume Brothers Racing’s No. 33 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Muniz has made two starts with Reaume Brothers Racing this season, at Nashville and Kansas, and aims to spend the remaining races preparing for his expanded program.

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

Muniz’s last full-time campaign was in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he collected one top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, ultimately finishing fourth in the championship. He has since made sporadic appearances in the Xfinity Series.

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

An actor who made his name playing the lead character in the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” between 2000 and 2006 — for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe nominations — Muniz’s interest in racing extends back to 2004, when he made the first of four appearances in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at Long Beach. He used that as a springboard to open-wheelers, completing several seasons of Formula BMW and Champ Car’s Atlantic Championship, before taking a hiatus from racing. When he returned, it was in stock cars, making his debut in the SRL Pro Late Model Series at California’s Kern County Raceway Park in October, 2021.

Harvick partners with Rackley W.A.R. in Truck Series

Kevin Harvick Inc. and Rackley W.A.R. have announced a partnership that will include former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick being a consultant for the team’s Craftsman Truck Series entry. The partnership begins in 2025 and will focus on the …

Kevin Harvick Inc. and Rackley W.A.R. have announced a partnership that will include former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick being a consultant for the team’s Craftsman Truck Series entry.

The partnership begins in 2025 and will focus on the Craftsman Truck Series and Late Model program. Harvick and his son, Keelan, will join the driver line-up for the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model programs. Dawson Sutton, an 18-year-old rookie who has made four starts this season, will be the full-time driver of the Truck Series team.

“Although KHI had some success this year in the Late Model Stock world, the Pros and Supers are different animals,” Harvick said. “We still plan to have a presence in the CARS Tour next year, but Rackley W.A.R. has a solid and proven track record that will drastically improve the learning curve for Keelan and I in the Super and Pro Late Models.

“In return, I hope that my years of owning and operating a championship-winning truck program will help shorten Dawson’s learning curve in his rookie truck season and positively impact their truck program. We look forward to working with Willie and the Sutton family in 2025.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]

The late model schedule for Kevin and Keelan Harvick will be announced at a later date.

“Teaming up with Kevin Harvick is a game-changer for us at Rackley W.A.R.,” said co-owner Willie Allen. “His experience as a champion driver and owner brings an incredible amount of knowledge that will help elevate our truck program to the next level. Having Keelan and Kevin join our Late Model team next season is just as exciting. We’re not just building a partnership — we’re building a future. There’s no doubt this collaboration will drive success, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

“It’s exciting to have this opportunity present itself,” said co-owner Curtis Sutton. “In our fifth year as an organization, Rackley W.A.R. is taking strategic steps for a successful 2025 and beyond. Kevin is the first link of many more to come. He will help Willie and I guide the Late Model and NASCAR Truck Series team for long-term success.

“As you strive to grow any business, you have to surround yourself with exceptional people and winners. Kevin and his family have both traits. Kevin has been a winner in everything he has done. I know this is going to be a great partnership for Rackley W.A.R. and KHI’s employees, drivers, vendors, sponsors, and all of our fans.”

Deegan prioritizing NASCAR comeback despite off-road foray

Before embarking on her NASCAR journey, Hailie Deegan followed in her father’s footsteps by competing in off-road. She returned to that world at the start of the month, racing in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where …

Before embarking on her NASCAR journey, Hailie Deegan followed in her father’s footsteps by competing in off-road.

She returned to that world at the start of the month, racing in the Side-by-Side class of Nitrocross at Utah Motorsports Campus, where she raced alongside Mika and Kira Block, and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the X Games Rally Car Racing days when Brian Deegan, Ken Block, and Travis Pastrana were among the stars of the show.

“It’s definitely cool,” Deegan told RACER of her homecoming. “The Block kids are racing and they’re all great kids. We’re all here having fun, having a blast, and it’s a great time.

“It’s been really cool because I like coming here and racing UTVs, Can-Ams are great fun to drive, I drive them all the time at my house, so I haven’t really got away from dirt, but I’d say (I have) the racing side, so it’s good to be back.”

Deegan raced in Nitrocross’ Side-by-Side class at Utah Motorsports Campus. Qnigan/Nitrocross

Deegan these days is of course known for her stints in NASCAR’s Truck and Xfinity series, but that didn’t mean her return to the dirt put her totally out of joint. Driving similar cars in her spare time stood her in good stead.

“I drive Can-Ams at the house, we have a track at our house so I feel like more so getting used to the Maverick R because it’s a little bit more new to me,” she said. “I usually drive an X, so I’m definitely getting used to that, the shifting, even though it’s automatic shifting, so kind of timing it all and all the different inputs.”

Deegan finished the first day of racing in Utah in fourth, but didn’t advance to the eight-car final on the second day, highlighting the highly-competitive nature of the SxS class which, as well as the Blocks and Pastrana, also includes the likes of rising off-road talents Kainan Baker, Gray Leadbetter, Cash LeCroy, and Mia Chapman.

“The cream always rises to the top. There’s always a fast couple of guys and I think it’s like that in all series,” Deegan said.

Deegan’s NASCAR journey has been on pause since the summer. Matthew T. Thacker/Motorsport Images

“This one’s pretty competitive too, especially since everyone’s been racing all year and I haven’t been here at all, so everyone’s got it all figured out.”

While Deegan is currently without a NASCAR seat after splitting with AM Racing in July, a full-time return to off-road is unlikely. And a move to Nitrocross’ premier Group E class, where her father raced four times last season is almost definitely not on the cards.

“I don’t think so, I’m not into electric stuff so I don’t know if I’d want to do that,” she said of the potential of racing in Nitrocross’ main game. “Plus I’ve never been into rallycross cars, that was always my Dad’s thing. I’ve never taken an interest in it, it’s just not my forte.”

As for NASCAR, that remains her main goal. Plans are in the works. “We’re working on stuff,” she says. “Just can’t say a whole lot right now.”