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  • NASCAR community mourns Greg Biffle and family at memorial in Charlotte

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hundreds in the NASCAR community gathered for a memorial service at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum on Friday for former driver Greg Biffle, his family and others who were killed in a plane crash last month. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum for a memorial service honoring former driver Greg Biffle, his family, and others killed in a plane crash last month

    • Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children were among the seven victims

    • Garrett Mitchell, a close friend, spoke at the service, urging people to “Be Like Biff” by taking opportunities and helping others

    • The crash left the NASCAR community shaken, adding to a difficult offseason


    Biffle was among seven killed along with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when the plane crashed as it returned to the airport in Statesville, North Carolina, according to authorities. Others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

    A memorial song opened the ceremony before speakers began to reflect on the victims.

    “We remember and celebrate Dennis, Jack, Craig, Emma, Ryder, Christina and Greg. What makes it meaningful is that we will all share together. Laughter and tears,” said Billy Mauldin, chaplain for Motor Racing Outreach.

    Driver/influencer Garrett Mitchell, known as “Cleetus McFarland” in his YouTube videos and a close friend of Biffle’s, was among those who spoke at the service.

    You can watch the service here:


    “We have all been saying, ‘Be Like Biff,’ since we lost our hero,” said Mitchell, who befriended Biffle later in his life. “What does that mean? That means to take opportunities when you see them. Whether you are taking opportunity to pass somebody on the track or getting off your couch to chase a dream you have only been talking about for the past five years.

    “It means showing up for your friends and family. It means using your heart to make the world a better place. It means being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they’re down. That is what it means to be like Biff,” Mitchell added.

    Biffle, who was 55, was selected by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history, was a Hall of Fame nominee for the stock car series and drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

    He drew headlines last year for his tireless humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot supplying aid in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

    Biffle’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, told stories about Ryder’s hero being his father, Emma’s laughter and Cristina’s loving nature.

    She said the Biffle family “lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely.”

    “Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we are here, but how we use the time we are given and how fiercely we love while we are here,” Biffle added. “And while this loss is devastating beyond words, their impact remains etched into all of us that were lucky enough to have known them, loved them and be changed by them.”

    Speakers also painted a fuller picture of Biffle beyond the racetrack… recalling his rebellious younger years, including a burnout in front of his high school that led to his expulsion and even having his car impounded by his own father.

    In the parking lot outside of the coliseum, fans paused to peer inside three racecars Biffle drove during his career.

    Inside, the pictures of the seven who lost their lives where shown on a videoboard above the makeshift platform in the center of the covered hockey rink. There were seven wreaths on the stage where Mitchell, Biffle and former drivers Jeff Burton and Phil Parsons addressed the crowd.

    Dylan Zirkle, 28, of Archdale, North Carolina, worked one year for Biffle at Roush Racing as a pit support employee while he was in high school.

    He said Biffle made a lasting impact on him, and felt he needed to attend.

    “Greg was always a really good guy and I enjoyed being around him,” Zirkle said. “You could always talk to him at anytime and he was just a real person. You could talk to him about anything.”

    Chaplain Billy Mauldin speaks during the NASCAR Plane Crash Memorial memorial in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

    Back home, Zirkle still has model racing trucks in his gameroom autographed by Biffle that he cherishes.

    Zirkle said he didn’t believe the news of the crash when he heard it.

    “It still doesn’t feel real,” Zircle said. “I was watching some of his YouTube videos the other night and it just doesn’t seem real at all.”

    Tanner Roberts and Jassamin Green made the four-hour trek from Wilmington, North Carolina, with their 7-year-old son Bentley after hearing about the memorial.

    “He was a good racecar driver and I enjoyed him,” Roberts said. “And he was a good person. I grew up watching him and Dale Earnhardt. Them two were my favorites. They were good people and they loved to race.”

    The Cessna C550 carrying the Biffle family and the others erupted in flames when it hit the ground shortly after it had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive north of Charlotte.

    The plane crashed while trying to return and land, authorities said.

    The crash a week before Christmas left the NASCAR community shaken and was another blow in a long offseason. Ten days later, on the 52nd wedding anniversary of Denny Hamlin’s parents, the house the future Hall of Famer built to repay them for their years of sacrifice burned down. His father, Dennis, was killed, and Mary Lou Hamlin was rushed to a hospital burn unit.

    Sheriff’s deputies are also investigating an alleged break-in and theft last week at Biffle’s home in Mooresville that netted $30,000 in cash, some guns and memorabilia.

    As part of the public tribute, Mitchell planned to do a burnout later Friday near Biffle’s marker along the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.

    The victims’ families requested that, in lieu of flowers, people consider donating to charities that held special meaning to those lost in the crash, including the Davidson Day Fund, the American Red Cross, Lake Norman Humane and Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Jordan Kudisch, Associated Press

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  • Another NASCAR race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway

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    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — The hills are alive with the sound of racing. Several NASCAR Cup Series teams tested a new engine package at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Tuesday afternoon.

    What You Need To Know

    • Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19

    • Testing on a new 750-horsepower package at the racetrack happened on Tuesday

    • Hundreds of racing fans attended the test

    • Single-day tickets for the race are now available online


    “I’d like to maybe try to get a ticket for this,” said Collin Welborn, a racing fan from High Point.

    Fans came out in numbers to secure their tickets for the Window World 450 on July 19. It’ll be the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro since 1996.

    Some fans say they have gotten tickets to every race held at the historic speedway and see the upcoming event as a chance to carry on the exciting tradition.

    Not only was it the first day fans could buy tickets for the race at the box office, but it was also the first time fans got to see NASCAR’s new 750-horsepower package in person. The new package will be used during select races this season, and fans say they are excited to see the difference in speed. 

    “It’s not just having it. It’s knowing how to use it,” said Bobby Mills, a racing fan from Winston-Salem. “You can’t just mash the gas and go. You’ve got all the power you need for this place now.”

    Fans say the corners of the track are tight coming in, so the extra horsepower on the straightaways could help pick up a little of the difference from having to lift off so far back.

    The Speedway hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023-2025 after sitting empty for decades following the infamous 1996 race.

    Fans say they are glad to see action back on the track. 

    “The atmosphere here is unbelievable,” Welborn said. “Fans come from all across the world just to see the best of the best come here and tackle this track that’s been here since 1949.”

    “I think it takes talent to get around this track with 30 or 40 other cars on the track, versus some other tracks that have more wider grooves,” Mills said. “I think this track makes you show your talent.”

    Single-day tickets for the Window World 450 will be available online starting Wednesday morning, Jan. 14.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Settlement announced in Michael Jordan’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has reached a settlement of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against it by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.

    The Thursday settlement was announced following a lengthy delay on the ninth day of the trial in federal court. Details were not immediately released.

    U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell opened the day preparing the hear motions but called an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, out of the courtroom to another room for more talks.

    23XI and Front Row filed suit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented to teams in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced the bulk of 2025 uncharted.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • NASCAR and teams to meet in court to try to resolve yearlong feud

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR and the two teams suing it over antitrust allegations will participate in a judicial settlement conference later this month in an attempt to resolve the yearlong feud over the charter system.

    The conference involving NASCAR, 23XI Racing — which co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — and Bob Jenkins-owned Front Row Racing will be Oct. 21 before District Judge Kenneth Bell in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

    NASCAR filed a motion Monday seeking the conference and Bell granted it Wednesday. Jeffrey Mishkin, the former executive vice president and chief legal officer of the NBA, also will participate. Mishkin has been unsuccessful in previous attempts to mediate between the two sides.

    Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI and Front Row, said the teams welcomed the decision “to bring all parties together to engage in a meaningful resolution.

    “We remain open to a settlement that genuinely benefits the sport and its fans,” Kessler continued. “The goals my clients have raised are clear, and the teams have affirmed them in their own declarations. From the outset, our objective has been unwavering: to secure lasting stability and growth for every team, their employees, and the sport. It’s time for all parties to step up and deliver.”

    The judicial settlement conference will take place two days before an Oct. 23 hearing on motions for summary judgment.

    The charter system is at the heart of NASCAR’s business model and the focal point of the court fight. It is NASCAR’s version of a franchise model and a charter guarantees cars spots in the field, a base amount of revenue each year, and according to NASCAR, has created more than $1.5 billion in equity value for its teams since 2016.

    A year ago, 13 of the 15 teams re-signed when they believed two-plus years of negotiations would not lead to a better deal. 23XI and Front Row Motorsports went to court instead.

    For months, the other 13 teams have complained privately that the lawsuit is creating uncertainty over the future of NASCAR. Most of the top teams in NASCAR last week issued declarations urging a settlement of the case while defending the charter system.

    Many of the declarations also stressed the team owners want the charters to become permanent — they are currently renewable — and that issue is one of the biggest sticking points to 23XI and Front Row.

    The case is currently set for a Dec. 1 start of trial.

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    Associated Press

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  • Joey Logano clinches final playoff spot in dramatic Charlotte finish

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    CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Joey Logano, winner of two of the last three Cup Series championships, was never part of the conversation of potential elimination from NASCAR playoffs.

    At least not until Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the Team Penske driver found himself struggling most of the race and in a tense battle with Ross Chastain for the final spot in the round of eight.

    The two swapped the final transfer spot multiple times as NASCAR prepared to cut the field from 12 drivers to eight ahead of the third round of the playoffs. Chastain was in, then it was Logano, then the two were tied with Logano holding the tie-breaker.

    Logano, on fresher tires, worked his way through the field for every point possible. Chastain was nursing old Goodyears and holding off every challenging driver closing quickly in his rearview mirror.

    But then came Denny Hamlin, who for the second week in a row played a pivotal role in the finish and the playoff field. A week ago, his hard racing of Bubba Wallace kept Wallace from winning at Kansas Speedway and ultimately led to Wallace being eliminated from the playoffs.

    This time it was chasing down Chastain. The two cars had contact, Chastain spun, and crossed the finish line backward in 21st, one spot behind Logano. It was enough to give Logano the final spot in the third round of the playoffs and eliminate Chastain.

    An animated Hamlin on pit road complained to his No. 11 crew that he was not made aware of the situation and would not have passed Chastain had he known it would benefit three-time Cup Series champion Logano.

    “I didn’t know anything about anything on that last run, I wasn’t very good,” Hamlin said. “I saw (Chastain) and I didn’t know anything about anything going on. I didn’t know. I thought I was racing for about 18th. I just wish I knew so I could have been either prepared or made a different decision.”

    Shane van Gisbergen, meanwhile, won his fifth consecutive race on a road or street course. Charlotte, called The Roval in this configuration, is a hybrid road course/oval.

    The theory headed into Charlotte was that van Gisbergen had the race locked up and the only way a driver below the cutline could save his championship chances was if the New Zealander was beat.

    Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell both put tough challenges on van Gisbergen, but van Gisbergen emerged from a car-slamming battle with Larson through the turns with 14 laps remaining and took the lead for good with 11 laps remaining.

    That eliminated any shot for Tyler Reddick and Wallace of 23XI Racing, or Austin Cindric of Team Penske, claiming the final playoff position. Chastain of Trackhouse Racing remained in the hunt, though, as Logano couldn’t get his Penske Ford running well enough to secure his spot in the playoffs.

    “Everybody was telling me how close it was going to be there. We’re still in. We’re still alive, baby,” Logano said as he reveled in a loud chorus of fan booing. “I knew it was within a point there, and I knew we were going to be tied there at the end and Ross was going to do whatever he had to do to make it happen.

    “If you want drama, the playoffs bring it every time. What an entertaining finish there. We’ve still got a shot.”

    It was similar to a year ago when Logano left Charlotte eliminated from the playoffs, only to learn hours later while having dinner with his family that Alex Bowman had been disqualified and Logano was back in the field. He went on to win the Cup Series championship.

    “Unforced errors, it’s just terrible,” Chastain said of two early race speeding penalties that made him want to “start the whole day over.”

    “It’s heartbreaking for almost 200 employees at Trackhouse,” Chastain said. “It’s not acceptable, just completely unacceptable. To get here and fail is a terrible feeling. I will wake up tomorrow and get right back to work.”

    The eight drivers moving on to the third round of the playoffs are Ryan Blaney and Logano of Penske, Chase Elliott, Larson and William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports, Hamlin, Bell and Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing.

    Chastain, Cindric, Reddick and Wallace were eliminated — which takes both of the Michael Jordan-owned cars out of title contention.

    Bad day for Cindric

    Cindric opened Sunday ranked last in the 12-driver playoff field and never had a shot to race for the win that would have prevented his elimination.

    He spun early, was hit by another driver in the second stage, and had to go to the garage for lengthy repairs. That made him the first of four drivers eliminated. Team Penske teammates Logano and Blaney, who combined have won the last three Cup titles, advanced into the round of eight.

    Smokey Yunick award

    Chad Knaus, the vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports, was named the recipient of the 2025 Smokey Yunick Award ahead of Sunday’s race.

    The award that began in 1997 is named after the late mechanic and innovator Henry “Smokey” Yunick to recognize an individual who demonstrated exceptional innovation and made a major impact in the world of motorsports.

    “This means a lot to me,” Knaus said. “I have been a Smokey Yunick fan for my career, quite honestly, and the biggest reason is because of the stemming of invention and pushing the boundaries — that if there’s not a rule, try to exploit that opportunity. When I was a young man, the stories, and the lore of Smokey Yunick, was there. That was a bit of a fuel for me — it was something that I wanted to try to create.”

    Knaus was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024 and won 82 Cup Series races — 81 and seven Cup Series titles with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson — and one with William Byron.

    Up Next

    NASCAR opens the third round of the playoffs Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Logano won last year to earn a berth into the championship-deciding finale. He went on to win his third Cup Series title, most among active drivers.

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    Associated Press

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  • Tony Stewart to race against wife, Leah Pruett, in NHRA during 2026

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    NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will continue his drag-racing career in 2026 — and he will compete against his wife.

    Stewart announced Thursday he will drive a Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports next season. The move comes two weeks after he announced plans to turn his NHRA seat back over to his wife, Leah Pruett. Pruett took a little more than a year off after welcoming their son, Dominic.

    Pruett will resume her role at Tony Stewart Racing in 2026, and Stewart will now race against her even though their teams have a marketing alliance.

    “First things first, though, we need to get the program funded, but letting everyone know our intentions, that will help,” team owner Richard Freeman said. “Tony is a great driver; we all know he can drive anything.

    “He’s great for drag racing, not just as a team owner but behind the wheel. We’re excited that through our marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing, we’re creating an opportunity for Tony to keep a Top Fuel seat and a chance to race alongside his wife, Leah.”

    Freeman purchased the Top Fuel operation from Josh Hart earlier this month — and now he has one of the motorsport’s most accomplished drivers behind the wheel.

    “I said from the very beginning that I was just keeping Leah’s seat warm and that it was hers as soon as she was ready to come back,” Stewart said. “And as much as I wanted to continue driving, TSR is not in a position to add a second Top Fuel car. But with Richard buying Josh Hart’s team and our recent alliance, I can still work as an owner and a driver to help both our organizations grow.”

    The 2026 season will be Stewart’s third in Top Fuel. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 1997 IndyCar champion earned NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 and broke through with two Top Fuel wins this year. With five races left in the NHRA season, Stewart is second in points.

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    Associated Press

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  • Fiery texts from Michael Jordan, NASCAR execs disclosed in antitrust battle

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The bitter fight between NASCAR and two of its teams who have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-racing giant spilled into public view Thursday during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden emails and text messages from team owner Michael Jordan and other high-profile litigants.

    In one exchange, the retired NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of the 23XI Racing Team used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.

    “Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Curtis Polk, his business manager who, along with Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin own 23XI Racing.

    That organization and Front Row Motorsports were the only two that refused to sign extension agreements on charter agreements, the equivalent of franchises in other sports. The two teams then sued NASCAR, accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.

    Nothing, however, has been as explosive as the details that came to light for the first time Thursday as documents related to discovery were disclosed.

    NASCAR is privately owned by the Florida-based France family, with founder Bill France Sr.’s son, Jim, the current chairman. His granddaughter, Lesa France Kennedy, is the executive vice chair and was in court for the first time since the case began.

    Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI, at one point wrote “Jim dying is probably the answer” to teams getting better terms on a charter agreement while Hamlin said “my despise for the France family runs deep… (but) please let’s not sabotage our own business.”

    In a partially redacted text conversation between Jordan and Polk, presumably about the price of charters, Jordan wrote that “I’m not selling even if they were for sale (redacted). What would we do?” Polk replies “This is just a hobby!!!” and Jordan responds “Only can play but so much golf.”

    In a second exchange, Jordan discusses with Polk the cost of signing a driver whose name is redacted.

    “I have lost that in a casino. Lets do it,” Jordan replied.

    NASCAR had its own expletive-laden email exchange among top executives disclosed. Commissioner Steve Phelps in one email wrote that talks had not been productive and argued an early charter proposal offered “zero wins for the teams” and in another message wrote the charters “must reflect a middle position or we are dead in the water — they will sign them but we are (expletive) moving forward.”

    Steve O’Donnell, the president of NASCAR, also didn’t like an early version because it would return NASCAR’s model to 1996 terms with an attitude of “(Expletive) the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport,” he wrote.

    Jeffrey Kessler, the attorney for 23XI and Front Row, contended that the NASCAR exchanges as well as contingency plans on how NASCAR could prevent rival competition prove NASCAR is monopolizing the stock car racing market.

    NASCAR has maintained in legal filings that 23XI and Front Row relinquished any rights they have to six combined charters when they refused to sign the extensions last September. The teams started the season recognized as chartered, which guarantees 36 chartered teams entry into the 40-car field each week. Chartered teams also receive a substantially higher percentage of payouts.

    The order that recognized the six cars as chartered has been overturned and they are currently competing as “open” teams. 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick has a clause in his contract that says he can leave if his car is not chartered; Kessler indicated that Reddick and sponsors have given notice that 23XI is in breach.

    U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell warned during the hearing that NASCAR’s charter system is at stake, depending on the outcome of the case. The arguments before Bell were focused on the teams’ urgent request to restore their status as chartered teams through the end of the season ahead of a trial scheduled for Dec. 1.

    NASCAR has indicated it plans to immediately begin selling off the charters. Bell asked NASCAR’s attorney that if there is indeed such an eager buyer, why couldn’t the series sell one of the four open slots and then figure out how to address it once the case is settled. NASCAR has maintained that it can’t be forced to do business with teams it does not want to work with.

    The judge said he would rule on the request next week after the first playoff race of the season. Reddick and Bubba Wallace are in the playoff field for 23IX and so is Hamlin, who drives for JGR.

    Outside court, Jordan said he has been open to a settlement but is willing to see the case go to trial. Kessler warned if 23XI and Front Row do not receive their charters back they will go out of business in 2026.

    “Look, I’ve been a fan of the game for a long period of time,” Jordan said. “When we first started this whole process I’ve always said I want to fight for the betterment of the sport. Even though they tried to point out that we’ve made some money, we had a successful business. That’s not the point. The point is that the sport itself needs to continually change for the fans as well as for the teams.

    “As well as as for NASCAR, too, if they understand that,” Jordan said. “I feel like we made a good statement today about that and I look forward to going down with fire. If I have to fight this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will do that.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Steve Newmark’s shift from auto racing executive to UNC’s AD-in-waiting

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    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Steve Newmark has spent years working in a sport defined by speed.

    Maybe that will have the former NASCAR racing team president prepared for the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports as North Carolina’s designated next athletic director.

    The school announced its succession plan in July, hiring Newmark away from RFK Racing for a transitionary position before becoming Bubba Cunningham’s successor in 2026. Newmark started working alongside Cunningham this month as an executive associate AD, giving him the better part of a year to study the intricacies and quirks of overseeing a power- onference athletics program while evaluating what could be ahead with schools now permitted to pay college athletes directly.

    “We were joking,” Newmark said of Cunningham, “some of it is just me following Bubba around and learning the ropes here.”

    And yet, Newmark’s status as an outsider is exactly why he’s here at this particular moment.

    UNC has touted the Chapel Hill native’s experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations after his 15-year run as president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. That announcement came, fittingly, on the fourth anniversary of athletes being able to profit from use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

    It also came the same day as the official start of revenue sharingfollowing the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, clearing the way for schools to share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes in Year 1.

    Starting a transition plan

    Paying for all that — along with facing issues for the 28-sport program such as the uncertain future for the Smith Center home to the school’s storied men’s basketball program — will be Newmark’s responsibility by next summer.

    Cunningham, UNC’s AD since late 2011, said the two had conversations going back to last summer about differing approaches to generating revenue between auto racing and college sports, particularly with things changing so quickly in the latter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Cunningham described it as “an ongoing conversation,” leading to Newmark working on an advisory committee in the hiring of Bill Belichick as football coach in December before ultimately being named Cunningham’s successor.

    Cunningham, 63, is set to transition into an advisory role tied to special projects, such as the “Carolina North” campus expansion that could potentially host a new basketball area if the school opts not to renovate the 39-year-old Smith Center.

    “He and I shared the passion for what we were doing and where it was headed,” Cunningham said. “And then thinking about, all right, I’ve got two years left on a contract, I’m ready to do something else, how do we make this transition work for Carolina?

    “He’s a perfect fit for us right now. There wasn’t anything too magical to it. It was just kind of taking time over a developing relationship between the two of us, and the thought of: ‘How do we continue to get better?’”

    Added Newmark: “I don’t think when we started the discussions that that was the objective. I wasn’t looking to leave RFK Racing. I really enjoyed it there.”

    Mulling new revenue streams

    Rather, Newmark said, he looked at moving to UNC as an opportunity to use his own professional sports experience in a college world looking more pro-like by the day — or hour, for that matter.

    Newmark said he’ll spend the coming months looking at options for generating additional revenues in the long term. And it doesn’t take long to connect his history in auto racing — where sponsors turn cars into high-profile advertising for their brand — to the possibilities.

    That’s of particular interest in Chapel Hill, where the school long refused to allow advertising in major athletics venues until roughly two decades ago. Yet now, UNC joins schools across the country in mulling options such as selling naming rights to venues, field sponsorships or even jersey patches if permitted by the NCAA — which only last year permitted advertisements on football fields for regular-season games.

    “If you put Modelo (beer) on the (coaches’) headsets, probably not a good idea,” Cunningham said. “Modelo sponsoring the beer garden makes sense. So it just becomes part and parcel to what you’re doing. But I think that’s where the sponsorship experience that he brings to us is going to be really valuable to Carolina.”

    Newmark said he thinks sports fans nationally are more acclimated now to seeing more marketing, promotions and advertisements “integrated” into sporting events.

    “I think it may have been something that would’ve been a shock to the system 20 years ago, but I think everybody has seen the evolution of sports,” Newmark said. “And collegiate athletics is clearly not on the leading edge of doing that. If you look at professional sports, they’ve been much more aggressive in integrating brands and properties.”

    Still, Newmark stopped short of planning to replicate those ad-heavy racing looks in that trademark shade of light blue.

    “Well, I have committed to several donors that I promise we won’t look like a NASCAR driver’s fire suit and show up at any time,” he quipped.

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    Associated Press

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  • NASCAR’s playoffs begin with no clear favorite

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nobody cheered Ryan Blaney louder to win NASCAR’s regular-season finale than Alex Bowman, who vowed to buy Blaney 7 million beers for the Daytona victory that saved Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

    Bowman had wrecked out at Daytona very early Saturday night and had to watch on television as Blaney won a four-wide race across the finish line to stop a gaggle of long shot drivers from snagging Bowman’s spot in the 16-driver field.

    His relief was a contrast to the frustration shown by Tyler Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, who limped into the playoffs this year. Like Bowman, he also wrecked early, but his points total was better, so once Bowman was out of the race, Reddick was locked in.

    But his 23XI team heads into the playoffs in a slump, a year after making it all the way to NASCAR’s championship-deciding season finale, and Reddick hasn’t had the consistency it will take to race again for the Cup title. Who has?

    Well, no single team has emerged as the favorite as NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for Sunday’s playoff opener. Kyle Larson is the top seed, just ahead of regular-season champion William Byron.

    Lurking right behind the Hendrick Motorsports teammates is Denny Hamlin, one of only two drivers with a Cup Series-high four wins this season. There are two first-time playoff participants in the field, including rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated street and road courses to match Hamlin with four wins.

    The front of the pack

    Larson is the top seed but hasn’t won a race since early May, before he ran the Indianapolis 500, when his Kansas victory gave him three wins in seven races.

    It’s been up and down since, but Larson starts the playoffs coming off back-to-back six-place finishes.

    Byron has two wins, including the Daytona 500, and hasn’t ranked lower than second the entire season. He is trying to make it to the championship race for a fourth consecutive year.

    Hamlin does have four wins but is coming off a bad night in Daytona: His car was damaged in an early crash and he finished 25th, dropping from third to sixth in the season standings — which cost him five playoff points, the equivalent of a victory.

    Hamlin has never won a Cup title and hasn’t even made it to the championship four since 2021. He’ll try to get there this year at the same time as 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with Michael Jordan, fights NASCAR in federal court over antitrust claims. The two sides are due in court Thursday, four days before the playoff opener.

    Blaney’s victory at Daytona boosted him to fourth in the playoff seedings and gave him the momentum to potentially be considered the favorite. Team Penske gets hot this time of year and has won three consecutive championships with Blaney’s title in 2023 sandwiched between a pair of Joey Logano triumphs.

    Logano is seeded a distant 12th, but as NASCAR’s only active three-time champion, he can’t be counted out.

    Drivers in the middle

    Christopher Bell is the fifth seed and his three wins are tied with Larson, but he won three straight after the season-opening Daytona 500 and hasn’t been to victory lane since March 9 at Phoenix.

    Van Gisbergen is seeded sixth for his playoff debut based on four victories, all on street or road courses. If he can make it out of the first round, the New Zealander could be a spoiler — the hybrid road course/oval Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in the second round and a win there would vault van Gisbergen into the final eight.

    Chase Elliott is the seventh seed, but the 2020 champion needs to start winning. His victory at home track Atlanta is his lone win this season and only one of two victories since 2022 — the last time he made it to the championship four.

    One win club

    Elliott is the highest-seeded driver among eight who made it into the playoffs with a single victory this season. The group includes Bubba Wallace, who won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make the playoffs for just the second time in his career.

    Austin Dillon earned a berth with his victory at Richmond this month, but Richard Childress Racing hasn’t shown to be a consistent contender and he enters the playoffs as the 15th seed.

    Austin Cindric won at Talladega Superspeedway to put all three Team Penske cars in the playoffs, but Cindric has only one top-five finish since that victory 16 races ago.

    Ross Chastain joins teammate van Gisbergen in the playoffs to put two Trackhouse Racing entries in the field. He won the Coca-Cola 600 in May but has just three top-10 finishes since.

    Josh Berry makes his playoff debut with Wood Brothers Racing because of his early season victory at Las Vegas. His performance picked up in the final two weeks of the regular season, and he heads into the playoffs with consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s the 13th seed.

    Reddick and Bowman are the only two drivers in the playoff field without a win this season.

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    Associated Press

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  • NASCAR’s playoffs begin with no clear favorite

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nobody cheered Ryan Blaney louder to win NASCAR’s regular-season finale than Alex Bowman, who vowed to buy Blaney 7 million beers for the Daytona victory that saved Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

    Bowman had wrecked out at Daytona very early Saturday night and had to watch on television as Blaney won a four-wide race across the finish line to stop a gaggle of long shot drivers from snagging Bowman’s spot in the 16-driver field.

    His relief was a contrast to the frustration shown by Tyler Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, who limped into the playoffs this year. Like Bowman, he also wrecked early, but his points total was better, so once Bowman was out of the race, Reddick was locked in.

    But his 23XI team heads into the playoffs in a slump, a year after making it all the way to NASCAR’s championship-deciding season finale, and Reddick hasn’t had the consistency it will take to race again for the Cup title. Who has?

    Well, no single team has emerged as the favorite as NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for Sunday’s playoff opener. Kyle Larson is the top seed, just ahead of regular-season champion William Byron.

    Lurking right behind the Hendrick Motorsports teammates is Denny Hamlin, one of only two drivers with a Cup Series-high four wins this season. There are two first-time playoff participants in the field, including rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated street and road courses to match Hamlin with four wins.

    The front of the pack

    Larson is the top seed but hasn’t won a race since early May, before he ran the Indianapolis 500, when his Kansas victory gave him three wins in seven races.

    It’s been up and down since, but Larson starts the playoffs coming off back-to-back six-place finishes.

    Byron has two wins, including the Daytona 500, and hasn’t ranked lower than second the entire season. He is trying to make it to the championship race for a fourth consecutive year.

    Hamlin does have four wins but is coming off a bad night in Daytona: His car was damaged in an early crash and he finished 25th, dropping from third to sixth in the season standings — which cost him five playoff points, the equivalent of a victory.

    Hamlin has never won a Cup title and hasn’t even made it to the championship four since 2021. He’ll try to get there this year at the same time as 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with Michael Jordan, fights NASCAR in federal court over antitrust claims. The two sides are due in court Thursday, four days before the playoff opener.

    Blaney’s victory at Daytona boosted him to fourth in the playoff seedings and gave him the momentum to potentially be considered the favorite. Team Penske gets hot this time of year and has won three consecutive championships with Blaney’s title in 2023 sandwiched between a pair of Joey Logano triumphs.

    Logano is seeded a distant 12th, but as NASCAR’s only active three-time champion, he can’t be counted out.

    Drivers in the middle

    Christopher Bell is the fifth seed and his three wins are tied with Larson, but he won three straight after the season-opening Daytona 500 and hasn’t been to victory lane since March 9 at Phoenix.

    Van Gisbergen is seeded sixth for his playoff debut based on four victories, all on street or road courses. If he can make it out of the first round, the New Zealander could be a spoiler — the hybrid road course/oval Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in the second round and a win there would vault van Gisbergen into the final eight.

    Chase Elliott is the seventh seed, but the 2020 champion needs to start winning. His victory at home track Atlanta is his lone win this season and only one of two victories since 2022 — the last time he made it to the championship four.

    One win club

    Elliott is the highest-seeded driver among eight who made it into the playoffs with a single victory this season. The group includes Bubba Wallace, who won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make the playoffs for just the second time in his career.

    Austin Dillon earned a berth with his victory at Richmond this month, but Richard Childress Racing hasn’t shown to be a consistent contender and he enters the playoffs as the 15th seed.

    Austin Cindric won at Talladega Superspeedway to put all three Team Penske cars in the playoffs, but Cindric has only one top-five finish since that victory 16 races ago.

    Ross Chastain joins teammate van Gisbergen in the playoffs to put two Trackhouse Racing entries in the field. He won the Coca-Cola 600 in May but has just three top-10 finishes since.

    Josh Berry makes his playoff debut with Wood Brothers Racing because of his early season victory at Las Vegas. His performance picked up in the final two weeks of the regular season, and he heads into the playoffs with consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s the 13th seed.

    Reddick and Bowman are the only two drivers in the playoff field without a win this season.

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    Associated Press

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  • Humpy Wheeler, longtime president and GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died

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    Howard Augustine “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., longtime president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, died Wednesday at the age of 86, according to a release.

    What You Need To Know

    •  H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler died Wednesday at the age of 86

    •  Charlotte Motor Speedway said in a release that Wheeler died peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by family

    •  Wheeler, longtime president and general manager of the speedway, was hired in 1975 by Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith. He retired in 2008


    The announcement released Thursday morning said Wheeler was surrounded by his loving family when he died peacefully of natural causes.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway released the following statement on Wheeler’s death:

    “Charlotte Motor Speedway was blessed to have a leader in Humpy Wheeler who can only be described as ONE of a kind.

    For more than 30 years, Humpy was a promoter’s promoter at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alongside our founder Bruton Smith, Humpy pushed the speedway to new and greater heights – establishing the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway as not only the most innovative facility in NASCAR for fan, partner and competitor amenities, but also one of the most progressive in all of sports.

    Humpy’s engaging smile and flair for promotion were legendary, and his impact on every stakeholder in motorsports will be long-lasting. Often described as the “P.T. Barnum of motorsports,” Humpy not only made his mark with publicity, but also with a laser-focus toward the fans. He would often tell his staff to pay attention to “the three Ts – tickets, traffic and toilets” in order to ensure fans have the best possible experience. He would also say it was our job to put a little “technicolor in people’s black-and-white lives.”

    While the motorsports world has lost an icon, the legacy H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler created by building and promoting remarkable events at Charlotte Motor Speedway will continue for generations to come.”

    Wheeler joined Speedway Motorsports in 1975 after being hired by founder Bruton Smith, and oversaw operations at the speedway until his retirement in 2008.

    You can read Wheeler’s full obituary by clicking here.

    The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Wheeler’s name to the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Management Progam. Wheeler helped launch the program over 20 years ago to help “prepare young professionals for business, management and marketing roles across the industry,” a release said.

    Donations to the program can be made here:

    Belmont Abbey College Motorsport Management Program
    Office of College Relations
    100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road
    Belmont, NC 28012
    collegerelations@bac.edu

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • More female students taking automotive, racing classes in Chapel Hill

    More female students taking automotive, racing classes in Chapel Hill

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    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Things rev-up on Friday nights at the Wake County Speedway, and, among the professionals, high school students are learning the ins-and-outs of racing. 

     

    What You Need To Know

    Chapel Hill High School students learn about the automotive and racing industries

    Automotive teacher Robert Ballard and his program have received recognition on the local and national levels 

    Ballard has worked to bring more female students into the automotive and racing classes, seeing the female population in his classes growing by about 30% in the last year

     

    Their teacher, Robert Ballard, is receiving recognition for his efforts to diversify his automotive classes at Chapel Hill High School and, ultimately, the automotive world.

    His students don’t just learn in a classroom. They do the real learning, everything from math and physics to being a part of a team, by solving problems in the garage.

    “If I don’t have a problem to figure out every day, I kind of get a little bit bored. So I like to fix things, figure out problems on a daily basis,” Ballard said. 

    Interest in automotive classes was a big problem he saw when he came on board at the school six years ago

    “They were being pushed toward kind of a university four-year kind of pathway, but I wanted to make sure they understood that they had different pathways available to them,” he said.

    Ballard said he grew the program from 35 students to 115, but there was still a problem. So few of the students were female, so he started female “lunch and learns.”

    He said the female population has grown by about 30% during the past year. 

    “They stay on track usually a lot more. So, they usually bring a different element to the skilled trades,” Ballard said.

    Senior Chloe Claypoole comes from East Chapel Hill High School specifically for the automotive program.

    “I was very, very persistent about trying to get into this course. I was very eager to learn,” she said.

    Claypoole is now one of a few dozen female students in the program. 

    “It is a little bit intimidating, but I think that it’s mostly inspiring that more and more women are slowly showing interest in these kinds of things,” Claypoole said.

    As cars change, Ballard says so are the people who work on them.

    “We’re starting to notice that females are actually starting to fit our parameters better on newer vehicles. Whereas males were fitting our parameters more on older vehicles with more of the mechanical side of things,” Ballard said.

    The school’s racing program also takes them out of the classroom and garage and onto the racetrack. 

    “When I found out there was a racing program here, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that is something that I definitely want to be a part of,’” Claypoole said.

    Ballard hopes the students will be driven by the experience.

    “I just want to give back to the students what I’ve been taught. So, a lot of these guys out here have been mentors to me. So, I want to be mentors for my students. So, I want to see them grow. I also want to see them learn all the different aspects of the racing community,” he said.

    Claypoole said she loves being at the racetrack. 

    “This is definitely going to be a longtime hobby and something that excites me forever. I’ve grown up around it. I never stopped loving it. This is definitely something I would consider going into a career for,” she said.

    Now, students like Claypoole are proof it’s not just gentlemen starting their engines and their automotive careers.

    Chloe Claypoole checking tires at the racetrack. (Spectrum News 1)

    “It’s actually exciting to me because I know that I’m trying to make a difference by being a part of the program and inspiring more women to feel more comfortable being a part of the program,” she said.

    Students can continue learning about racing throughout the summer at the speedway.   

    The school just started a pre-apprenticeship program to jump-start students’ careers. Ballard said it can fast-track them by three or four years.

    He said Chapel Hill High is the first school in the state to have that pre-apprenticeship program, and now that it’s up and running, he said it should be easier for other schools to start similar ones.

    Ballard and his classes have received a number of recognitions. He was named the 2023 Teacher of the Year for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. 

    Chapel Hill High just received $10,000 from WIX Filters and Tomorrow’s Technician magazine for the first place “School of the Year.” Ballard said that’s for the whole nation among both colleges and high schools. He also won Tomorrow’s Technician’s 2023 “Instructor of the Year.” 

    Ballard said the school’s program has a number of sponsors and that they could not do what they do without the community partnerships.

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    Justin Quesinberry

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  • Veteran and NASCAR crew member shares what Coca-Cola 600 means

    Veteran and NASCAR crew member shares what Coca-Cola 600 means

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    LINWOOD, N.C. — The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s longest race and honors military members and families this holiday weekend. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Coca-Cola 600 honors military service members on Memorial Day weekend

    • Race cars will display a patriotic design and carry the name of a fallen military service member

    • Carl Garcia is a veteran and crew member for Legacy Motor Club driver 43, Erik Jones

    • Jones’ car at the Coca-Cola 600 will honor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Thomas Butler, who died in 1967

    Ricky “Carl” Garcia had always dreamed of wearing a green beret. 

    “I was raised with a lot of uncles that were in Vietnam in that area, and most of my dad’s side of family served,” Garcia said. “So I grew up around listening to stories about Green Berets and the Rangers and the Delta Force and all that stuff. So I wanted to wear a beret.” 

    After discovering he would need to jump out of planes to get the coveted beret, his fate was sealed. Garcia became a specialist in the 3rd Battalion in the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. 

    Carl Garcia’s favorite photo of him parachuting in Panama. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

    “I specialized in urban warfare, which would be like a hostile takeover of a city, going in and clearing out a city if there were a hostile in a city,” Garcia said. 

    He says a favorite memory in service was going to Panama for jungle training. 

    “Spending three months down there and getting to jump and see the culture and be actually in a jungle, which is an eye-opening experience that you would not know unless you’re actually there,” he said. 

    He traveled around the world, including spending time at Fort Bragg. Garcia’s dream was to serve for decades and move into specialized units, but a physical limitation ended his service. 

    “I am glad I did at least get the opportunity to serve,” Garcia said. 

    After his service, he began a career as a plumber and did construction jobs. 

    “I’ve always wondered how things work. I love taking things apart,” he said. “Obviously, if you’re going to take them apart, you need to learn how to put them back together.” 

    He came into his next line of work by chance. 

    “I met a guy at the grocery store one day that was going to cook for a race team, and I had just started watching NASCAR probably a couple of months earlier and got into it. He asked me if I wanted to go, and I said, ‘Sure. I’ve never been to a race,’ so I got to go with him and help cook for a race team,” Garcia said. “I did that for two weeks and was so interested that the owner of the race team offered me a job learning how to change tires.” 

    From changing tires to working in the shop, Garcia became a full-time mechanic, using his size and knowledge of electrical work to specialize in the interior of the car. 

    Carl Garcia working on a four-wheeler at his home.

    Carl Garcia works on a four-wheeler at his home. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

    “I have transitioned over to the last couple of years to the front-end mechanic as well, as personnel has changed, but I pretty much do anything on the race car that needs to be done that’s mechanic-related, whether it’s hanging the suspension, helping put motors in some fabrication stuff, welding that we don’t really do much of anymore. But anything that needs to be done,” Garcia said. 

    Although he didn’t come from the grassroots of racing fans like many other crew members, Garcia landed a spot with Legacy Motor Club, on driver 43 Erik Jones’ crew. 

    “For this week in Charlotte, we’ve spent the last few days getting the car together, safety-checking everything, making sure nothing’s going to fall off, making sure that the car was properly put together, the way the engineers wanted it put together,” he said. 

    Garcia has an important role in making sure his driver is safe and comfortable. 

    “I do think sometimes that the interior gets overlooked for the aspect and only gets reminded when something happens [that’s] bad,” he said. “The most important part of our entire job is to make sure that at the end of the day, everybody’s going home the same way they started the day out with, whether we win a race or we lose a race.”

    “That’s more important than anything else that’s going on with our job,” Garcia said. 

    Garcia travels to different race tracks, and each experience is different. He says the most special part of every race is the national anthem. 

    Erik Jones' car design for the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club)

    Erik Jones’ car design for the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club)

    “Sometimes when we’re not on the track, we’re in the garage working. If the other series is starting to race and then do the national anthem, the entire garage stops, as respect. It’s just something that everybody does because they want to, you know, and that and all the sports that I’ve ever watched. I think the appreciation for the military is probably the greatest in NASCAR out of any of them,” Garcia said. 

    The Coca-Cola 600 is a special weekend in racing, as it is geared toward honoring military service members. 

    The NASCAR Salutes Together with the Coca-Cola Program will recognize fallen military members in a special way this Memorial Day weekend. 

    “It’s really cool because usually all the branches of service are represented this weekend and then all the different cars with all the different people on there and their family gets to have some sort of enjoyment, you know, for the sacrifice that their loved one made,” Garcia said.  

    Image of Charles Thomas Butler, who will be honored on Erik Jones' car. (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB via Charles Thomas Butler's family)

    Charles Thomas Butler will be honored on Erik Jones’ car at the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club via Charles Thomas Butler’s family)

    Besides special events at the track, for the 10th year of the program each car will be carrying a patriotic design as well as the name of a fallen military service member on the car for the 600 Miles of Remembrance.

    “I think that’s probably the highest form of respect you can repay is to show your appreciation not only to him, but to his family for the sacrifices that he made for our country,” Garcia said. 

    Jones’ car will honor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Thomas Butler, who was 38 when he died and had received numerous awards for his service on Reconnaissance Attack Squadrons Five and Three. Butler died in 1967 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

    Garcia is excited to see what surprises are in store for the weekend, and of course eager to pull out a win.  

    “I love the races, the start of the day, and then the night. Erik does extremely well with those…  I think we’ll be super fast this weekend and I think it’ll be a great day and it’ll be good for our organization to have all three cars on the track. I think they’ll do extremely well and put on a good show for everybody for Memorial Day and they can have some fun along with them — a remembrance of what it actually means,” Garcia said. 

    To learn more about each of the fallen military service members who will be honored this weekend, visit NASCAR’s website.

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    Sydney McCoy

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