BAKERSFIELD, Calif. When you take your biggest annual event to Las Vegas the nations Entertainment Capitol you had best bring your A Game.

The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame met that challenge on March 13, when it celebrated its 22nd Induction Gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. With a huge assist from the hosting South Point Resort and Casino, the sold-out celebration was nothing short of spectacular.

Among those impressed by the Halls first event outside California were guests Roger Penske and Richard Petty.

I had no idea this dinner had grown to the heights it has, said Penske, the 20-time Indianapolis 500 winning team owner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series championship car owner who inducted the Unser Family.

Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, accepted the 2025 Knockin Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presented by 51FIFTY award on behalf of the familys Victory Junction camp. He expressed pleasure in being a part of the festivities.

Added presenters included Daytona 500 winner and WCSCMHOF Derrike Cope; and NASCAR Cup Series champion and WCSCMHOF Kevin Harvick. NASCAR Cup Series champions and WCSCMHOF Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson presented via video. The Halls Lady of the Century Linda Vaughn also presented.

In the near quarter century since the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded, this years Gala and Induction dinner individual is the most successful individual event weve ever presented, said Ken Clapp, West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame chairman and CEO. Speaking for the Board of Directors and myself, we are gratified at the never-ending compliments weve received.

Larree Renda, a member of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fames Board of Directors, lauded Clapp during the evenings program. Ken has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people colleagues, family, friends with kindness humor, empathy and generosity and the legacy he has created is what brings us together tonight to celebrate these amazing and accomplished race car drivers, owners and promoters.

Members of the class of 2025 are A.J. Allmendinger, Los Gatos, Calif., NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series veteran; Chuck Gurney, Oakland, Calif., United States Auto Club Silver Crown and supermodified champion; Davey Hamilton, Nampa, Idaho, Canadian-American Modified Association champion, Indianapolis 500 veteran and race promoter; Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash., three-time NASCAR Northwest Series driver champion and former NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West owner; Justin Marks, Menlo Park, Calif., founder and team owner of Trackhouse Entertainment Group and Trackhouse Racing; Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Sports Car Club of America Trans-Am and Grand-Am GT champion; Rick Ware, Los Angeles, Calif., owner of teams competing in NASCAR Cup Series, the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the NTT IndyCar Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, and FIM World Supercross and AMA American Flat Track motorcycles.

The Heritage Class is comprised of the racing Unser family, nine-time Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser; Idaho sprint car and supermodified champion Ken Hamilton; three generations of the Hunt family Joe, Tommy and Tony; California supermodified champion Mike Sargent; and two-time United States Auto Club national midget champion Sleepy Tripp.

The organizations second Pioneers of Speed are Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Fresno, Calif. race and auto show promoter; Ted Halibrand, Southern California pioneer of wheels and brakes; Ed Iskenderian, Los Angeles, known as The Camfather; Jack London, Oakland, Calif., midget competitor and longtime Bay Cities Racing Assn president; and Wally Parks, founder of the National Hot Rod Assn.

TRENTON, N.J. The checkered flag has fallen on the 2025 Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series, with more than $100,000 in prize money distributed among the 244 competitors who registered for the events.

The three-race series, held in Northeast arenas, featured two events on concrete surfaces: the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Race at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., on Jan. 3-4, followed by the NAPA Auto Parts Atlantic City Indoor Races at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The season finale, the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals presented by BELFOR, took place at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J., on Feb. 21-22.

Ryan Flores and Andy Jankowiak dominated victory lane in the TQ Midget division, each securing two wins. Jankowiak, the 2025 series champion, earned $11,275 across the four-race series, including $2,000 courtesy of Hoosier Tire for winning the mini-series title.

Victories for the Tonawanda, N.Y., driver came on Saturday night at the PPL Center and the BlackJack 21 on Friday night in Atlantic City. With additional finishes of fifth and fourth in Atlantic City and Allentown, Jankowiak edged out Flores by just nine points to claim the championship.

Although Jankowiak claimed the title, Ryan Flores was the top money earner of the series, pocketing just over $17,000. His impressive haul included a $10,000 payday for his Gamblers Classic victory in Atlantic City, which included bonus money from the AC Sports Commission and the Ironton Auto Body challenge.

Flores, fell just short of collecting the challenge after a Friday night win in Allentown and a runner-up finish to Jankowiak on Saturday night. An eighth-place finish on Friday night in Atlantic City, was his only blemish netting him second place in points and an extra $1,000.

Other Notables

Briggs Danner: Consistent throughout the series, Danner secured third place in points, taking home $5,475 despite never winning a race. His three third-place finishes and a mechanical DNF in Allentown kept him just behind the top two.

Tommy Catalano & Tanner VanDoren: Both drivers who rounded out the top five in points and earned over $3,600 in prize money.

Scott Kreutter & Kyle Lick performed well in the TQ Midget division but also thrived in the newly introduced 600 Micro Sprint division in Atlantic City. Kreutters victory in the 600 Micro Sprint added to his total earnings, pushing him just under $3,000.

Slingshot Champion Paulie Hartwig III dominated the division, winning two of the three races, including the Gamblers Classic in Atlantic City, for a total of $3,100. The series title, sponsored by Action Track USA, earned him an extra $500, with his Atlantic City victory netting him $2,000.

Dylan Hoch secured the remaining feature win on Saturday night in Allentown, earning $1,200 for his Indoor Series efforts. Scott Neary: through consistent performances, including finishes of fifth, second, and third, came home second in the points.

In the Champ Karts, much like the TQ Midgets, Missy Bootes scored the series title worth $500 from Hoosier Tire, with one victory coming Friday night in Allentown and a pair of runner-up finishes pushing her season winnings to $2,050.

The runner-up finish in Atlantic City was especially bittersweet for the only female Indoor Series winner, as Mike Perry took home $2,500 for the Gamblers Classic win. Perry, who chose not to compete in Allentown but supported multiple other drivers under his RPM Karting banner, wasnt in the running for the series title, but took home the biggest payday.

The Bealer family consisting of father Pat and son Zach dominated the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, sweeping the weekend taking home the biggest pay days.

Zach Bealer: On Friday night at the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, Bealer took home $2,250 for his victory. He strategically selected his starting position (spot five), which included an additional $1,250 ($250 per spot) in bonus money on top of the base $1,000 winners prize.

Pat Bealer: On Saturday night, Bealer dominated the 40-lap feature, starting sixth and claiming the $5,000 prize for his victory.

Saturday night runner-up Kenny Miller left Trenton with over $2,000 in prize money, thanks a $500 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Dash for Cash victory and $1,600 second place check.

Plans for the 2026 season are already underway with a similar schedule planned starting with the Allentown on Jan. 9-10, followed by Atlantic City Jan. 30-31 and the Trenton Dirt race on Feb. 20-21.

Legendary Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan has died at the age of 76.

Jordan, a native of Dublin, Ireland, started his racing career as a driver before eventually turning his attention to team ownership.

As a driver, Jordan competed in Formula Ford, Formula 3, Formula 2 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He secured an entry in the Formula 1 series in 1991, giving seven-time champion Michael Schumacher his first world championship drive.

Other drivers to wheel entries fielded by Jordan included Rubens Barrichello, Martin Brundle, Damon Hill and Jean Alesi.

Hill scored Jordans first Grand Prix victory during a dramatic, rain-hit 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. Jordan won additional races with Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Jordan sold his team in 2005.

Beginning in 2009, he spent several seasons as part of BBCs coverage of Formula 1 races.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  Sibling rivalries rarely fail to disappoint in competition. One pair of siblings has made an immediate impact on the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and its not the brothers youd likely think of first.

The Taylor and Farnbacher brothers have been part of the IMSA fabric for more than a decade, and the van der Linde brothers shared the track in Daytona this year. Yet its the Vanthoor brothers, Laurens and Dries, who have started the new year off strongest. At least on track.

What they havent achieved in Ultraman Florida competition as Jordan Taylor did in between the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with a great support team including brother Ricky the two Belgians have achieved at both IMSA venues.

Laurens Vanthoor is two-for-two winning races overall and in Grand Touring Prototype with Porsche Penske Motorsport.

Younger brother Dries Vanthoor is two-for-two winning overall Motul Pole Awards for BMW M Team RLL.

Dries pace in qualifying nailing fast laps in limited green flag running has stood out prior to the races. But both races have seen damage to the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 eliminate potential podium finishes.

Meanwhile Laurens role as third driver in the No. 7 Porsche 963 has somewhat flown under the radar due to his teammates. Defending, and three-time IMSA prototype class champion Felipe Nasr has closed both races to start the year while Nick Tandys efforts have secured him two more overall wins at Daytona and Sebring, adding to his personal rolodex of marquee overall endurance race victories.

Thats left the Vanthoors as an intriguing chapter of the early season IMSA story, but perhaps not the overriding one.

Dries, for his part, has excelled early as he starts his full-time IMSA career. Hed made only three WeatherTech Championship starts prior to 2025. At both Daytona and Sebring, hes excelled in qualifying in two different types of sessions.

The cold in Daytona contrasted with the heat in Sebring. In both cases, he had to switch the Michelin tires on quickly.

(The cold) made tire warming a bit more difficult for everyone, I guess, Dries said after Daytona qualifying. I think weve been improving on that quite a lot, especially over the last year, which has been a big struggle point for us last year. But it seemed it worked out today, and then it was just all about getting the lap together and trying to do the best that I could, and that worked out luckily.

After scoring the first pole for the BMW GTP car in Daytona, he added an encore in Sebring, again with a red flag interrupting the session.

The lap that should have been my lap was a pretty sloppy lap, I must say, Dries laughed. The last push lap was enough to get it in. The red flag didnt cause any issues. We just needed to get the tires on as soon as possible and get the laps in, so I just sent it as fast as I could.

Where Dries success has come on Thursday in Daytona and Friday in Sebring, Laurens or Larry as he is often called on North American soil has had his Sunday in Daytona and Saturday in Sebring.

His wins have ticked off career boxes previously unchecked. Laurens had never won at Daytona, and while hed won twice at Sebring in class (GTD in 2021, GTD PRO in 2023), hed not won overall.

Its always very difficult to describe your feelings a couple moments after it happened. But Ive been wanting this very badly for a long time and came close a couple times, Laurens said at Daytona.

As third driver in the No. 7 Porsche 963, Laurens is only racing at Daytona, Sebring and Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Porsche traditionally only runs two drivers in the six-hour IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races. The longtime GT driver and two-time IMSA champion (GTLM 2019, GTD 2021) relishes racing in IMSAs top class at the same time as hes trying to defend his FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar world title.

If you go back 10 years ago, I would have dreamed to drive in back then it was P1 then hypercars, GTP, whatever you want to call it, to drive in that category, he explained.

Theres not a better brand to do so than Porsche. When I was in IMSA I always dreamed of being in those chrome trailers with Penske on it, to be part of that team. Now its all in one, and then three months we became world champions and today win the Rolex 24. I couldnt dream of it. I dont know how to describe it.

Its dreams coming true, and extremely grateful to be sitting here and to be part of this team and these boys. Maybe tomorrow I have some more detailed emotions, but thats it for today.

At Sebring, Laurens took even more time to extoll his teammates. Hell be in a unique spot for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though, where hell be in a separate Porsche 963 racing against Nasr and Tandy, as either car will try to complete a Daytona-Sebring-Le Mans-same year sweep. And, for that matter, also against Dries WEC-entered BMW, run by a different team.

Its great when you know youre working and you know you can rely 100 percent on your two teammates, he explained. I know whether its Nick or Felipe, at the end its two pit bulls which will go for every gap and do anything in the restart, whatever, to go for the victory.

Thats always a pleasant feeling to have that trust in your teammates. Its been a pretty smooth and easy collaboration. Yeah, feel a bit sorry for them for Le Mans. But thats what it is, he laughed.

Dries has a busier schedule the rest of 2025 to look ahead to. Hell race full-time in both IMSA and the WEC, although hell prioritize IMSA races on conflict weekends.

So far its going very well, he said. Its the first time for me at Sebring, so Im really enjoying the track. Its something different to what Ive been used to, especially with all the bumps. Its nice. Im enjoying it a lot so far.

DEARBORN, Mich.  Wood Brothers Racing and driver Josh Berry are set to honor a landmark moment in the teams history with a special throwback paint scheme for the April 6 Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway.

The No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Mustang will don a design inspired by Jim Clarks iconic Ford-powered Lotus, which clinched victory at the 1965 Indianapolis 500 a win significantly bolstered by the Wood Brothers innovative pit stop strategies.

The tribute livery was unveiled Thursday with a commemorative event at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., where Clarks original race-winning car is exhibited.

This was a really fun project to work on with the team, from sorting all the details to making sure it properly reflected such an important moment in history, said Jon Wood, president of Wood Brothers Racing. Its always special to run a throwback, but this one carries extra meaning because of the connection our family had to that Indy 500 win. Unveiling it at The Henry Ford, right next to the original car, made it even more special. Seeing the No. 21 in those colors is a great way to honor that history, and I think its something fans will really appreciate.

That connection dates back to an unexpected conversation at Darlington Raceway, the very track where this tribute will take center stage.

During a NASCAR race in the mid-1960s, Ford Motor Company racing official John Cowley approached Glenn Wood with a proposition that took him by surprise assisting with pit stops for Clark and Team Lotus in the 1965 Indianapolis 500.

When we were asked by Ford Motor Co. to pit Jim Clarks car for the Indy 500, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our family, said Leonard Wood. We were just a group of guys from Stuart, Virginia, working on stock cars, and suddenly, we were part of something that would become a unique part of our history. To see that same scheme now on our No. 21 Ford Mustang for Throwback Weekend at Darlington is really special. It brings back a lot of memories, and its a great way to honor that moment.

Berry, in his first season driving for the Wood Brothers, has already added to the teams storied legacy by recently capturing his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which also marked the Wood Brothers 101st win.

The Wood Brothers have such a rich history in racing, and their role in the 1965 Indy 500 is one of those stories that really stands out, said Berry. Getting to drive a throwback that represents such a unique moment for the team is really special. The scheme looks amazing, and I cant wait to hit the track at Darlington with it.