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The Automotive Amusement Park Roars Back to VIR May 15–17 After a Record 23,000+ Crowd Last Year

by MikeApril 23, 2026

ALTON, Va. (April 23, 2026) — VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) is gearing up for one of its biggest weekends of the year: Haltech HyperFest, returning May 15–17, 2026. HyperFest draws an energetic crowd to Southern Virginia, giving the whole weekend a lively atmosphere.

The numbers back it up. In 2025, HyperFest welcomed 23,000+ fans and 965 drivers across NASA Road Racing, NASA Rally, USDrift, HyperDrives and Trackcross, generating more than 7.5 million impressions across social and digital platforms. The event’s audience uniquely skews young and passionate.

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John Beatty Jr. Announces Retirement After 3 Riverhead Modified Championships, Leaving 2026 Title Chase Wide Open

by Bob FinanApril 23, 2026

Just weeks after celebrating his third consecutive Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified championship John Beatty Jr. of Merrick disclosed on social media that he along with car owner Mark S. Mina had their entire operation available for purchase. The whispers and rumors began to swell, what’s the story? Are they changing chassis types? Are they splitting? Monday afternoon John Beatty Jr. made it official when he announced he would retire from driving after he and the MSM Elite Motorsports teams historic three straight championships. Beatty’s retirement leaves the chase for the 2026 Riverhead NASCAR Modified title wide open.

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Ryan Preece Encouraged After Day 1 Test of New 750-HP Package at Bristol

by Lou ModestinoNovember 14, 2025

Toby Christie reports about Ryan Preece and the new750HP test at Bristol …. (sent in by northeastern correspondent Lou Modestino)

In an effort to further cure the NASCAR Cup Series car’s deficiencies on short tracks, NASCAR will boost horsepower numbers from 670 to 750 at all road course layouts and tracks under 1.5 miles in length in 2026.

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NASCAR Cup Title Favorites Have Work To Do After Fraught Southern 500

by MikeSeptember 2, 2025

Darlington Southern 500 — DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Pinnacle Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

DARLINGTON, S.C. — It was a Southern 500 race that didn’t follow form—not anywhere close.

The presumptive favorites for the NASCAR Cup Series championship didn’t perform like favorites in Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500, the opening race in the 2025 Playoffs.

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After A Stressful Night At Daytona, Alex Bowman Is Ready For A Playoff Run

by MikeAugust 28, 2025

Alex Bowman didn’t know until the absolute last second whether he would have a Playoff spot or not.

On the final lap of the final NASCAR Cup Series regular-season race last Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, two winless drivers—Cole Custer and Justin Haley—alternately surged ahead. A victory by either driver would have eliminated Bowman from the Playoffs.

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Shane Cockrum Returns To DuQuoin State Fair After Springfield Crash

by MikeAugust 25, 2025August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025-DuQuoin, IL-Two-time Ted Horn 100 winner Shane Cockrum was beside himself after the Hans Lein #97 Silver Crown championship car was hauled away on a hook during practice for the August 16 Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield. Cockrum had entered turn one at speed when the front end washed out and the car slid into the outside concrete and a series of flips ensued. Fortunately, the “Chief” wasn’t hurt but the car, a potential winner, was done for the day. Cockrum and the Lein team will be one of the contenders in the upcoming Ted Horn 100 at DuQuoin, joined on the team by veteran Ken Schrader.

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Justin Grant Back Driving At Springfield IL Mile This Saturday Afternoon After Lawrenceburg Crash

by MikeAugust 12, 2025

August 12, 2025-Springfield, IL-Less than two weeks after breaking his foot in a sprint car crash at the Lawrenceburg (IN) Speedway, USAC champ and 2-time Bettenhausen 100 winner Justin Grant of California is back behind the wheel of the Hemelgarn big car. Grant gingerly climbed into the cockpit of his machine this past weekend at Salem Speedway and managed a second place finish, completing all 100 laps.

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Kevin Harvick Rips NASCAR After ARCA Cars Qualified Faster Than Cup Cars At Iowa

by MikeAugust 7, 2025

Nick Geddes of ON3 reports that Kevin Harvick had a major issue with the NASCAR weekend at Iowa Speedway. The ARCA Menards Series cars ran faster in qualifying than the Cup Series cars.

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After 749, The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Comes Home for 750 with Thompson 150

by Lou ModestinoAugust 5, 2025

Barre, VT & Naples, ME — The Thompson Speedway oval is back in action this Wednesday, August 6 with a big-time showdown on the line for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Amidst their 40th anniversary season celebrations, this Wednesday’s 150 lapper also serves as the 750th event in the open-wheeled Tour’s history after first debuting on the Thompson highbanks back in 1985.

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Kaden Honeycutt Named Driver of Halmar Friesen Racing Truck Series Entry After Watkins Glen

by MikeAugust 5, 2025

STATESVILLE, NC. (August 5, 2025) – Kaden Honeycutt will fill in for Stewart Friesen for the balance of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season in the No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro starting with next weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway.

Friesen was injured while competing in a Super DIRTcar Series race at Canada’s Autrodrome Drummond on Monday, July 28. He was later transferred to a hospital in New York where he continues to make progress after undergoing several surgeries.

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