Author: John Sturbin

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio The NHRA Funny Car rivalry between corporate atagonists John Force Racing and Bob Tasca Racing was amped-up Thursday, when two-time/reigning world champion Austin Prock was introduced as driver of Tasca’s Ford Mustang beginning with the 2026 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Prock and the tuning pairing led by his father, Jimmy, and brother, Thomas, were introduced live on stage by Mark Rushbrook, Ford Racing’s global director, during the 2026 Ford Racing Season Launch Event at Michigan Central Station in Detroit. Prock’s PPG Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car will carry the No. 1…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will return to his NASCAR roots next month at Daytona International Speedway as first driver of Kaulig Racing’s innovative Dodge Free Agent Driver Program in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020, Stewart will wheel the No. 25 Ram Trucks entry during the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday, Feb. 13, around DIS’ high-banked/2.5-mile trioval. “Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” said Matt Kaulig, founder/owner of Kaulig Racing.…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio FORT WORTH _ Televised coverage of INDYCAR’s inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on Sunday, March 15, will begin with a 30-minute pre-race block at 11:30 a.m. (CT), according to a broadcast schedule announced by FOX Sports. The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Dallas-Fort Worth market to compete on a temporary 2.73-mile/14-turn Streets of Arlington circuit anchored by AT&T Stadium. A “tent-pole” event during the 2026 championship, the weekend is a first-of-its-kind venture uniting three championship organizations _ INDYCAR, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, official events partner of MLB’s…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Dallas-based Sunoco’s trademark three-color logo will return to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2026 as full-time primary partner on the No. 8 Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson. The multi-year agreement with Chip Ganassi Racing marks Sunoco’s first full-season of primary partnership in INDYCAR since 1973. Sunoco _ largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas _ previously served as the primary fuel supplier of INDYCAR from 2010-2018 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2015-2018. The company’s return to the “Fastest Racing on Earth” marks a committed re-entry into domestic open-wheel racing in partnership with…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio A self-described “big fan of single-seater racing,” Mick Schumacher confirmed today he will contest the full 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The 26-year-old son of seven-time Formula One World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher, Mick’s racing resume includes 43 F1 starts with a best finish of sixth, along with three podiums in World Endurance Championship competition. The Swiss-born driver will compete in the No. 47 Honda-powered entry alongside INDYCAR veteran Graham Rahal, 36, and 2025 Rookie of the Year Louis Foster, 22, of Great Britain. Sponsorship details for the…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio A.J. Foyt Racing’s signature No. 14 Chevrolet will feature a patriotic livery during the full, 17-event 2026 NTT IndyCar Series schedule as part of a unique marketing campaign dedicated to improving the quality of life for America’s military veterans. An Indianapolis 500-centric program with driver Santino Ferrucci that raised millions of dollars for Homes For Our Troops (hfot.org) has been expanded with new marketing partners Hendricks Commercial Properties and Geronimo Hospitality Group. Hendricks Holding Co., Inc., is the parent company of the new partners as well as that of former partner ABC Supply…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio A.J. Foyt Racing’s aggressive, youth-oriented offseason has added Brazilian Caio Collett to its driver lineup for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. Championship runnerup in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone standings, Collett will wheel Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet during an expanded 17-race schedule, with sponsorship from Combitrans Amazonia. Collett replaces native Chicagoan David Malukas, who joined Team Penske in mid-September after the exit of free agent Will Power of Australia. Waller, Texas-based Foyt Racing has a technical partnership with Team Penske, the most successful organization in domestic open-wheel history. Malukas finished…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Teen-ager Alessandro De Tullio will make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026 wheeling A.J. Foyt Racing’s signature No. 14 car. Addition of the 19-year-old Italian-American is a significant marker in Foyt Racing’s recently launched commitment to developing the next generation of NTT IndyCar Series talent. The 17-race schedule includes a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington street race on Sunday, March 15. “This is an amazing opportunity to take the next step in my career with such a respected and historic team,” De…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Sebastian Murray has laid down the first marker of the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, leading Monday’s Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. Murray was quickest among 24 drivers turning laps on the 2.439-mile/14-turn circuit, stopping the clocks at 1-minute, 14.5035-seconds/117.852 mph after 86 laps in the No. 27 Andretti Global car. Murray finished 13th in the series standings in 2025 as a rookie for Andretti Cape INDY NXT before moving to the Andretti team for 2026. SEE: Overall Test Results “Great day at IMS,” said Murray, an 18-year-old native of…

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio A.J. Foyt Racing will field a two-car team in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship beginning in 2026 in a strategic alliance with HMD Motorsports. Announced in Indianapolis, the collaboration between Foyt Racing and HMD Motorsports will strengthen the connection for open-wheel driver and team crew personnel looking to advance from the developmental INDY NXT series into the premier NTT IndyCar Series. While Foyt Racing will maintain its brand and identity, the new program emphasizes the team’s commitment to the next generation of INDYCAR talent. The organization aims to provide a more integrated and…