NASCAR Ditching International Race?

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025 | Edition #209

👋 Dear Motorheads,

After a thrilling doubleheader at Indy, NASCAR turns its attention to Iowa Speedway. But the buzz isn’t just limited to the track. Kaulig Racing has made a bold move in the Xfinity Series, and the 2026 schedule may see some reshuffling, especially with the international expansion plans.

Meanwhile, Bobby Allison’s legendary race car from NASCAR’s golden era is heading to auction. And Dale Jr. has shared early footage of NASCAR 25, along with the list of star-studded musicians collaborating for the game’s soundtracks.

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 📈 Trending News

Chevrolet Driver Sacked Mid-Season

Folks, that didn’t take long. Less than two seasons after Josh Williams joined Kaulig Racing, the team has officially cut ties with the No. 11 Chevy driver. The decision will take effect immediately, and the team plans to rotate drivers over the final 12 races of the Xfinity Series season, with Carson Hocevar taking the wheel for this weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway. 

The reasoning behind Kaulig Racing’s decision is simple. Williams never really hit his stride in his 54 starts for the team, securing just seven top-10 finishes, including just two this season. But beyond that, the 31-year-old has been running in the middle of the pack, and is currently ranked 19th in the standings, down from 18th at this stage last year.

“As most of you have seen, Kaulig Racing has made the decision to release me for the remainder of the season,” Williams shared on social media. “This has been a difficult day for my family, friends, long-time partners and fans, whom I can’t thank enough for standing by my side through all of this. We will be back soon and looking forward to a much brighter chapter in my racing career.”

Williams has been competing in the Xfinity Series for years now, but hasn’t had a breakthrough moment yet. In 240 starts since 2016, the Florida-native has never even cracked the top-five.

Sure, he has raced for teams like DGM Racing and BJ McLeod Motorsports, and gained a reputation as a hard-working underdog. But Williams has had his moments, too. In 2023, he parked his car on the frontstretch at Atlanta Motor Speedway in retaliation against the officials. Here’s the video of that hilarious and yet shocking moment, when Williams walks towards the garage, waving at the fans, leaving everyone in shock.

Now, Kaulig will be relying on a mix of drivers to inject some life into the No. 11 team. Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar is ready to make the most of his opportunity, saying, “I love to race, anywhere, anytime, so when I was asked to drive the Kaulig Xfinity car at Iowa, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Josh Williams isn’t the only underperforming Kaulig Racing driver, though. Christian Eckes is currently 16th in the standings, with just three top-fives, while rookie Daniel Dye has seven top-10s. Looks like team owner Matt Kaulig may have some difficult decisions to make if the situation doesn’t change.

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🎡 Roulette of Rumors

Abandoned Track to Return Amidst Overhaul

The Mexico City race was supposed to be a milestone moment. It was NASCAR’s first points-paying race outside the United States since 1958, marking the start of a new era for the stock car racing series. The sport has been eyeing global expansion for quite a while now, and the double-header at the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was an undisputed success.

But it looks like that ‘experiment’ is on pause, just one year in. An update by Jordan Bianchi all but confirms this shift in NASCAR’s plans. The most likely reason is a scheduling clash with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the major venues in Mexico City booked, the logistical snags could derail NASCAR’s big event next year.

Chicagoland Speedway is perhaps the ideal replacement choice. The 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois, has remained vacant since 2019, but could be on the verge of a comeback once again. NASCAR’s Next Gen car has been a success on intermediate ovals, so a return to the track seems like a win-win situation for both parties.

However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stepped in and shared insider information. Responding to Bianchi’s tweet, he wrote, “And this ain’t the last big domino to fall I hear.” While Junior didn’t hint at the potential tracks that might be cut from the 2026 calendar, his cryptic message highlighted that something big is brewing behind the scenes.

There are already some major changes to the 2026 calendar. NASCAR has pulled the plug on the Chicago Street Race. And it will be replaced by this brand-new event at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The Street Race could be back in the Windy City, but right now, it seems NASCAR’s roadmap is changing fast.

Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar has dropped hints about Chicagoland’s return from his visit. He even spilled the beans on NASCAR’s plans during this live stream. “I’m gonna be so pumped for Chicagoland next year.” Did he let slip some insider information? It certainly looks like it, especially after Bianchi dropped the big update.

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 🗝️ From the Vault

Bobby Allison’s Daytona Jewel Up for Auction

While some cars are special, others are simply legendary. And then, there is Bobby Allison’s 1969 Dodge HEMI Charger Daytona, which is in a league of its own. And on August 16th, the vehicle will be up for grabs at the Mecum Monterey. We’re not talking about a tribute or a replica, but the real deal. The car that broke the 200 mph barrier before Dodge even officially unveiled the Daytona.

Built from the ground up and driven by Bobby Allison himself, the American muscle features the famous red-and-gold Coca-Cola No. 22 livery. Back in 1969, he raced four ‘unofficial’ laps over 200 mph using this exact chassis during a pre-Talladega test.

What makes the car even cooler is that its authenticity is unquestionable. Bobby Allison personally inspected the vehicle, verified it with a handwritten letter dated November 10, 1999, and even signed the dashboard, not once, but twice. George Wallace, one of Chrysler’s aerodynamic designers, also left his signature in the engine bay.

The car features some serious power under the hood. We’re talking about a dyno-tested 7.0-liter (426ci) HEMI V8 race engine built by drag legend Dick Landy. Mopar race block and heads, 706 NASCAR rods, dry-sump oil system, Holley carb, vintage “bathtub” intake, and raw side-exit exhaust. It even has a rare cowl plenum air box.

The power runs through a 4-speed manual and a heavy-duty Ford 9-inch rear end, and it’s all held together by NASCAR-spec suspension with dual shocks at every corner. Well, the unique aerodynamic body of the car was designed in collaboration with NASA.

Here, have a glimpse of the iconic muscle car in its original form.

Found in a barn by Pat McKinney, the racecar was meticulously restored to look brand new. It won First Place at the 2005 Amelia Island Concours and later spent time at the LeMay Car Museum between 2021 and 2022. For Mopar lovers and long-term NASCAR fans, it’s more than just a collector’s item. It’s a relic from NASCAR’s golden era, with a fairy tale story and the provenance to back it up.

🗣️ Talk of the NASCAR Town

Dale Jr. Dawns NASCAR’s New Era of Gaming

The wait is almost over! The release date for the highly anticipated NASCAR 25 is on the horizon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making sure that the fans are hyped. The Hall of Famer recently gave stock car racing enthusiasts a sneak peek of the menu screen and complimented the game’s soundtracks. And in typical Junior fashion, he even teased some unexpected artist collaborations.

This is iRacing’s first NASCAR console title, and will release on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. PC gamers will have to wait a little longer for the Steam release, but it’s pretty clear that a lot of thought and strategy has gone into this launch. Fans have complained for years about not having a good stock car racing game, and the NASCAR 25 might just satisfy that itch.

Dale Jr., who serves as an executive director at iRacing, got early access to the game and shared this teaser on his Instagram story, revealing the game’s menu screen with Killer Mike playing in the background. He later revealed that the game features 27 different artists, with the likes of Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney helping him with the music selection.

This includes bringing bands like Breaking Benjamin and Royal Blood. In fact, the band reached out to the game developers for a potential collaboration, with Dale Jr. saying, “That was awesome that they had that energy and were appreciative of their connection to past racing releases.” Other confirmed artists include Jelly Roll, Have Mercy, and Chevell, who are apparently “well represented.”

However, the process of licensing music was more complex than Dale Jr. realized, and he said on his podcast, “You have to have somebody go out and reach out to each individual person that owns the license… it’s not a simple situation.”

With the music out of the way, the game developers will now focus on adding finishing touches to NASCAR 25.

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