Latest news with #TexasMotorSpeedway
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Rumors: Corey Day Headed for Full-Time Ride in 2026
Hendrick Motorsports is the best team in NASCAR and has played a key role in the development of some of the top drivers. As the company prepares for its future, it appears there's a chance that Corey Day could land a huge opportunity next season. On Saturday, nascarumornostalgia shared that they've heard Day will be driving the No. 17 car for Hendrick full-time next season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. HMS signed Day in January to a multiyear deal, giving him a chance to run a few races in Xfinity this season. Driving the No. 17 car, he got his first taste of the level in March at Martinsville Speedway, qualifying eighth. He raced fairly well, working his way back inside the top 10 after dropping to the middle of the pack, before contact damaged his car and he finished 21st. Day later took home a 16th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in May and then delivered an 11th-place finish two races later at Nashville Superspeedway. He later placed 24th in the road course race at Sonoma Raceway and most recently placed 24th in the NASCAR Xfinity results at Iowa. Related: The 19-year-old has had more experience at the Truck Series level (11 races) and the ARCA Menards Series (five races). For now, Day remains a full-time driver at High Limit. It would be a bit of a gamble for HMS considering Day still has limited experience in the Xfinity Series. He would be just 20 years old for his entire rookie season at the Xfinity level, competing against very experienced drivers (Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, and Jeb Burton) in addition to top NASCAR prospects with significantly more Xfinity experience (Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, and Nicholas Sanchez). A better path for Day would seem to be becoming a full-time Truck Series driver in 2026, competing at a lower level where he has more experience and has demonstrated more success. Furthermore, the Truck level has lower stakes than the Xfinity level and there is less pressure to generate money. Read More: Ultimately, Hendrick has plenty of time to decide where it will deploy Day next season. The 19-year-old has shown flashes this year that demonstrate why he's one of the top prospects in the sport, but he might be better off developing in the Truck Series for a year before moving up to Xfinity. Related Headlines Report: NASCAR Horsepower Increase in Next Gen Car is Now Likelier to Happen Report: Pittsburgh Pirates GM Ben Cherington Could be Fired 2025 MLB Power Rankings Update: Mets and Padres Surge NASCAR schedule 2025: NASCAR race today, schedule for Truck, Xfinity and Cup Series
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Two Races, Two Types Of Pavement: What To Know About INDYCAR's Iowa Doubleheader
Two types of pavement. That's different. Two races, two days. That's different. To say the Iowa Speedway race weekend is unique for the INDYCAR circuit this year would be an accurate statement. It's not much different from a year ago, but it is different when looking at it with respect to the other 2025 race weekends. Here's info to get you in tune with what will happen this weekend. Two races in two days? Yup. The drivers will compete in 275-lap races, the first at 5 p.m. ET Saturday and then a quick turnaround for 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Both races will air on FOX. How do they set the lineup? During qualifying on Saturday, each driver will do two consecutive laps. The first lap will be their qualifying speed to set the lineup for the first race. The second lap will be their qualifying speed to set the lineup for the second race. Why two races? It goes back to 2011 and racing at Texas Motor Speedway, which wanted to do something different from its 342-mile race. So it started doing a pair of 171-mile races on the 1.5-mile track. Conducting two races in one weekend is not unique in other forms of racing, especially ones where they want to limit travel costs or can't land deals with racing venues. As the series schedule evolved, Texas eventually went back to one race there but continued doubleheader weekends elsewhere to help fill out the schedule, especially now on ovals. While there were doubleheader weekends at both Iowa and Milwaukee last year, an oval was added in February 2024 when the season finale at the Nashville street course was moved to the Nashville Superspeedway oval. Milwaukee went back to a one-race weekend for 2025. Why two sets of pavement? Iowa Speedway is a 0.875-mile oval owned by NASCAR. When the decision was made in the spring of 2024 to repave, given the timing of the project amid worries about potholes developing for the inaugural Cup race at the track, NASCAR paved only the lower lanes (Lanes 1 and 2) in the turns. The lower lanes are where drivers would potentially generate the most loads and heat that could potentially crack the surface. After the NASCAR debut last year, NASCAR opted to leave the track with new and old pavement. What does that mean? It means two very different racing grooves, making it difficult for INDYCAR to find the right tire and aero combination because the new pavement has so much grip that the INDYCAR cars go so much faster in that lane. Having some parts of the track with pavement from when it was built in 2006 also makes it susceptible to weepers after it rains. Weepers refers to water coming up through pores of the track as the surface begins to heat. What is INDYCAR's answer to aerodynamic challenges? INDYCAR, in hopes of having multiple racing grooves, had a test at the track a couple of weeks ago where it had adjusted where the cars generate the most downforce. At the test, the cars still tended to hug the inside lane. Christian Rasmussen had a right front tire blow without warning because of the loads on the right front, so Firestone and INDYCAR opted for a different tire for this weekend. It's a tire that Firestone said has a slightly revised construction to be able to handle the extreme loads. "Obviously it was needed," Rasmussen said. "I guess it was good that we found out that the tire needed to be changed. Not so good that it had to be me that had to find out. "It was pretty out of nowhere [when it blew]. ... Once they figured out what happened, it was the right decision to change it. Otherwise, it was going to be a tough weekend to get through." What do drivers expect? They don't know what to expect, other than likely a very physically demanding weekend, thanks to the high loads and high speeds. Will Power, who won one of the two races last year, said he wouldn't be surprised if drivers were pushed to the limit of being able to handle the cars physically. "I did a half-stint at the end of the day and that was difficult. My car started to get loose so it was probably harder for me," Power said. "It was like, 'Man, there are going to be some guys that aren't going to be able to hold on to this.' "It's going to be tough. Your arms are going to be falling off." For the most part, drivers view this as an unknown because of the changes, despite having had a test just a couple of weeks ago. "I think it's an unknown," said Kyle Kirkwood, who was among those who tested. "We have our guesses. The downforce level that we're going to is one that we're familiar with. It is a good option for racing, general balance, what the car needs to be to race around this track. "We know Firestone is going to come with a great tire. We just have got to tune around the balance of what that new tire is going to give us." Does Kirkwood — or anyone — still have a shot at the title? Kirkwood thinks he does, as he enters second in the standings, 113 points behind Alex Palou. "It's kind of cat-and-mouse with him right now," Kirkwood said. "We claw back at him, he pulls away from us. We claw back." Kirkwood knows he will have to cut into that lead at Iowa. After the Iowa doubleheader, just five races remain: Toronto, Laguna Seca, Portland, Milwaukee and Nashville. A driver can earn a maximum 54 points a race. "If we can get to inside 85 points [with five to go], I think we'll still have a shot," Kirkwood said. "That's a legitimate number that we know we've got some good races coming up. We need to get within a realm that it is still obtainable, which we're not at the moment." Wasn't Kirkwood involved in an accident last year? Yes, he was as part of the aftermath of a scary incident where Sting Ray Robb ran into the back of a slowing Alexander Rossi on the final lap of the second race. Robb's car launched high in the air and he skidded on his roof. He only suffered a blister to a finger and he suffered that after the accident when he grabbed the halo that was still hot from the skid on the pavement. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
CBS News
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Bay Area high school students build solar-powered car to compete at Texas Motor Speedway
A team of Mountain View High School students is building a completely solar-powered car in order to compete on a Texas racetrack this July. In the home stretch of the project, Ryan Liu, a rising senior at MVHS, takes a moment to appreciate the months and months of work that he and his Garage 803 Racing peers have put into the project. "To be able to watch everything come together, I think it's really been a wonderful experience," he said. Come race time, several members of the team will take turns behind the wheel of the vehicle, driving it under the hot sun along the Texas Motor Speedway. The goal is to drive as many miles as they can over the course of four days. "The temperatures are going to be very high, so we are going to be taking shifts," Liu said. They'll be racing towards the finish line against 26 other teams from other high schools throughout the country. "Hopefully we'll be able to finish that race," said Tyler Wang, another member of the team. But the big picture of the project – academic curiosity – goes well beyond the finish line. "Getting introduced to more complicated and advanced topics in engineering that you wouldn't usually get exposed to in the normal high school curriculum," Wang said. "All of us want to go into some sort of STEM field, some sort of engineering field," Liu said. So, this project is just the beginning for these future innovators. "I think the automotive field is very interesting right now," Liu said. "It's a very interesting position as we try to find more alternative sources." "I'd probably like to get into motorsports," Wang said. "I've always loved racing, and I think it's a good way to use my engineering major, hopefully." Aside from the tangible lessons that are reinforced by intellectual and physical challenges on the daily, the students are getting a crash course in the age-old lesson of if you believe it, you can achieve it. "If you asked me last year, I would never think this would have been possible," Liu said. "Just to see it in front of you. It's a wonderful feeling." "If you have something that you want to do and you really put your mind to it and take action on it, I think that you can pretty much do anything," Wang said. The 32nd Annual Solar Car Challenge race begins on July 20.
Metro
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson dies aged 79 after Alzheimer's diagnosis
Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has died (Picture:for Texas Motor Speedway) Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has dies aged 79, his family have confirmed. The reality star's loved ones have confirmed his sad death five months after revealing he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in December. His son Jase Robertson wrote on X: 'My dad has gone to be with the Lord today! 'He will be missed but we know he is in good hands, and our family is good because God is very good! We will see him again!' Robertson's granddaughter Sadie Robertson Huff shared a piece of Bible scripture from Corinthians, which read: 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.' She added: 'As I was sitting with Papaw Phil today, I thought about this verse… he has already experienced this on earth—going from dead to alive by the power of Christ! Robertson's family confirmed his Alzheimer's diagnosis in December 2024 (Picture:) He rose to fame with his family on reality show Duck Dynasty, which ran until 2017 (Picture: Art Streiber/THA/Shutterstock) 'It was his testimony that changed his life, our families life, and thousands of others. Now he is experiencing it in the fullness. Fully alive in Christ. The new has come. 'One of the last things he said to me was 'full strength ahead!' Amen!' And the late star's son Willie Robertson and his wife Korie said in a joint Instagram post: 'We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord.' They also reference the Bible, saying the reality star 'reminded us often of the words of Paul'. The show sparked plenty of spin-offs (Picture: Karolina Wojtasik/THA/Shutterstock) They quoted: 'You do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.' They thanked fans for their 'love and prayers', and anyone who has been 'impacted by his life saved by grace, by his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus'. They continued: 'We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life. 'We're having a private service for now, but we'll share details soon about a public celebration of his life.' Robertson's family quoted scripture in their tributes (Picture:) His family made him 'comfortable' for his final weeks (Picture: Karolina Wojtasik/THA/Shutterstock) In April, months after his diagnosis, Jase confirmed his father was 'not good'. 'We're making him comfortable, and we're doing the best we can. I think that's just what you do,' he said on the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. Phil and his wife Kay Robertson rose to fame on Duck Dynasty, which aired for 11 series until 2017, followed by plenty of spin-offs. In January, it was confirmed a reboot was in the works as Duck Dynasty: The Revival. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. Arrow MORE: Injured WWE star returns after 6 months to join 'unstoppable' group Arrow MORE: 'I'm a buff WWE wrestler but I've always struggled with body image' Arrow MORE: Race Across the World fans share their biggest problem with new season
Reuters
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
For Josh Berry, competitive performance is antidote to frustration
May 17 - After his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fifth NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, Josh Berry's luck went from bad to worse. On March 30 at Martinsville Speedway, Berry led 40 laps before electrical problems in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford -- necessitating a battery change -- dropped him to 32nd at the finish. A week later, a crash on Lap 195 ended a promising run at Darlington Raceway. After a 12th-place finish at Bristol, Berry drew a speeding penalty at Talladega that dropped him to a 26th-place result. He led 41 laps with an extremely fast car on May 4 at Texas Motor Speedway, before the bumps in the final corner upset his car and shot the No. 21 Mustang into the outside wall. After he scraped the wall during qualifying last Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Berry's fortunes began to improve. He drove from his 38th starting position to finish sixth, despite a pit road speeding penalty that sent him to the back of the field for a second time. Rather than becoming frustrated by his series of misfortunes, Berry has been buoyed by the speed in his cars. "The frustration is considerably less compared to last year," Berry said of his lame-duck season at Stewart-Haas Racing. "Being competitive is the biggest thing. That's the hardest thing to figure out is how to be fast and lead these races and get yourself in contention, and we've done that a lot. "It's frustrating to make mistakes and those mistakes fall on me, but all we can do is just continue to put me in that position and keep working on those things and getting better and the finishes will come. We're fortunate to have that win in the bank and, like I said, I'm not very frustrated with how it's been going. "Last week (at Kansas), I think we had a chance at that one if I didn't speed on pit road, so that one stung a little bit more, but all in all, our whole team is doing a great job. Our cars are fast, and we've just got to do the little things a little bit better, and we'll be up there." --Christopher Bell needs more speed on intermediate tracks After winning three straight NASCAR Cup Series races early this season, Bell hasn't fallen off the face of the earth -- but at times it might feel that way to the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. The reason? A lack of optimal performance at intermediate speedways. The finishes may not show the deficiency, because Bell acknowledges that he and his team have been outperforming the potential in the cars. In the three most recent downforce races, Bell ran third at Darlington Raceway, ninth at Texas Motor Speedway and a fast-closing second at Kansas Speedway, but to the driver, those results are somewhat illusory. "Well, I wouldn't say that I'm not surprised that we haven't won (since the three-race streak) because winning is very hard, but I've definitely been surprised about just lacking pace on the intermediate tracks," Bell said. "At the end of last year, we did really well at the intermediates, and (were among) the strongest contenders. "And then the last couple of weeks, week-in and week-out, we just haven't been there yet. Hopefully, we make gains on it. I feel like Kansas was a little bit better than what we had at Texas and Darlington, so if we can make another step like that going into Charlotte, maybe we will be contending for the win, but we are definitely lacking a little bit at this point in time." Charlotte was good to Bell last year. He led 90 laps and won the Coca-Cola 600, which was shortened from 400 laps to 249 because of rain. --North Wilkesboro brings a new experience to modified driver Tim Connolly News of his selection as one of the top 40 drivers in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour left Connolly speechless -- a rarity for the popular, garrulous competitor. Connolly was driving from his home in New York to North Wilkesboro Speedway when he got the news. "Pretty big surprise," Connolly said of his selection as one of the first 10 drivers revealed during the 40th anniversary of the series. "A lot of great company out there. It's like race weekend -- it's a tough field. "It's just very flattering, very honored and also humbling." A former star quarterback at Ithaca College, Connolly found his calling in racing. His career blossomed when he landed a ride in the iconic "Mystic Missile," the No. 4 car owned by Robert Garbarino. In 1997, driving Garbarino's car, Connolly claimed four of his nine career victories and finished second in the series standings. Connolly ran three races in 2002 and subsequently left the tour, only to return in 2023 at age 62 with his own car. But Connolly faces a new experience in Sunday's Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro. Ryan Newman, not Connolly, will be driving the car. "I miss the seat horribly-I won't lie to you," said Connolly, who is on his third back surgery. "The problem is I keep forgetting I'm 64. I'm not making any promises to anyone about anything right now. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my options open." Even with a fierce competitor like Newman in his car, Connolly said it will be difficult to spend the race as a spectator. "I want to kick Ryan out and get back in my car," Connolly quipped. "You've got a lot of big names in the show. It's not going to be a lot of fun being on the sidelines, honestly. I'd rather be out there. "This will be my first time, having somebody else drive my car. I don't even let people drive my passenger car. I don't let anyone drive my hauler other than me." By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media
