PressBox, Author at NXTbets Inc

July 1, 2026

Bobby Pierce sweeps Norman County for sixth straight WoO win

Bobby Pierce extended his dominant World of Outlaws Late Model Series run Tuesday at Norman County Raceway, leading every lap of the 50-lap feature and completing a perfect six-race sweep of the northern swing. He finished more than five seconds ahead of Nick Hoffman, with Ryan Gustin third, Tim McCreadie fourth and Jonathan Davenport fifth. The victory was Pierce’s sixth straight World of Outlaws win, tying the series all-time streaks set by Darrell Lanigan and Josh Richards, and left him one win short of the first seven-race run in series history.

Pierce entered the Minnesota races on a five-race swing winning streak and had won 15 World of Outlaws features this season. He has won nine of his last 10 starts and is within reach of the series single-season win record of 18. His June surge included 10 wins in 11 races, his first Dirt Late Model Dream victory at Eldora Speedway and $271,500 in earnings. The win also increased his championship lead over Hoffman to 76 points.

The northern swing is wrapping up with four races in Minnesota, starting at Norman County Raceway and continuing with the NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway on July 2-4. Norman County’s race paid $20,000 to win, while Deer Creek will pay $10,000 to the winner on Thursday and Friday and $40,000 on Saturday. The Deer Creek weekend is also set to include fireworks, concerts, autograph sessions and other fan activities, with Hoffman, McCreadie, Dennis Erb Jr. and Dustin Sorensen among the contenders.
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July 1, 2026

Button calls Russell-Antonelli fight a ‘proper’ battle

George Russell’s Austrian Grand Prix victory left him 40 points behind Kimi Antonelli in Mercedes’ internal title fight, with Jenson Button calling it a “proper” battle for the world championship and Claire Williams describing it as a psychological contest. Button said the result should have lifted Russell ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, while Russell said he believed in himself, liked the Silverstone layout and knew Mercedes had at times struggled with car setup and tyre performance.

The discussion also centered on how Mercedes supported its two drivers. Button questioned whether Russell received the same backing from race engineer Peter Bonnington as Antonelli, pointing to Bonnington’s close involvement with Antonelli since he joined the grid at the start of last season and citing Monaco as an example. Alex Brundle made a similar point on the F1 Nation podcast, saying Bonnington should tell Antonelli he would have won in Austria without outside factors. Brundle said Antonelli had shown strong pace but had also had brief lapses and “mini meltdowns” that cost him track position, while Russell’s consistency and experience had made him more reliable.

Antonelli remained firmly in the title picture after starting the season with five straight wins in China, Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco. Button said he had been quick all season, while Williams said Russell’s maturity, self-awareness and perfectionism could give him the edge if both drivers had comparable equipment. Russell’s Austria win was his second of the season, following his season-opening victory in Melbourne, and came after a difficult run in which reliability issues and Safety Car timing may have cost him more results.
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July 1, 2026

Deer Creek cancels Gopher 50, plans 2027 return

Persistent thunderstorms and rain in the Spring Valley, Minnesota, area forced the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Deer Creek Speedway to cancel the NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 before it could be run at Deer Creek Speedway. Officials said the weather made travel unsafe for drivers and fans during the holiday weekend. No reschedule date was announced, and the series said it still expects to return to Deer Creek for the Gopher 50 in 2027.

The World of Outlaws had been scheduled to race at Deer Creek on July 2-4, with drivers competing for $10,000 on each of the first two nights and $40,000 to the winner of the finale. Advance ticket buyers will receive a face-value credit in their MyDirtTickets.com accounts valid for two years, while refund requests for tickets are available through July 30 and camping refund requests through July 31. The cancellation drew added interest because Bobby Pierce entered the week with a five-race win streak and 15 World of Outlaws victories in 2026, Nick Hoffman had won both previous World of Outlaws races at Norman County Raceway, and Minnesota native Dustin Sorensen was seeking his first series win at Deer Creek after a career-best third-place finish there in 2023.
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July 1, 2026

MotoGP locks in Malaysian GP at Sepang through 2031

MotoGP agreed to a new five-year extension that will keep the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit on the championship calendar from 2027 through 2031. The deal was reached with the Government of Malaysia and was approved by the Malaysian Cabinet on April 15, 2026. One source said the race would remain at Sepang through at least 2032, but the other facts in the package specify five more editions through 2031.

Malaysia has hosted Grand Prix motorcycle racing since 1991, when the Malaysian Grand Prix was first staged at Shah Alam, with earlier editions also held at Johor before the race moved to Sepang in 1999. Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the renewal was a strategic decision tied to tourism, hospitality, transportation, small and medium-sized enterprises, jobs, and the development of local motorsports talent, pointing to riders Hakim Danish and Qabil Irfan as examples. He also said MotoGP supports Malaysia’s broader motorsports economy.

MotoGP chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta said Malaysia is an important market for the championship and cited Sepang’s large fan base and economic impact. The circuit drew a record 190,977 spectators for the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix, and it also hosted MotoGP’s 2026 season launch in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. The 2026 Malaysian MotoGP is scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, which also remains a key venue for shakedown running, official pre-season testing and private testing activity.
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June 30, 2026

RedBud weekend pairs amateur combine with Pro Motocross return

The weekend at RedBud MX in Michigan begins Friday, July 3, with the first SMX Next, Motocross Scouting Moto Combine of the summer, a showcase for 25 of the country’s top amateur A and B class prospects. Riders were selected with input from Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha, and they will race two 25-minute-plus-one-lap motos to determine a winner and overall podium. The program also includes classroom instruction on health, fitness, nutrition and media, along with coaching from Broc Glover, Kevin Windham, Michael Byrne and Gareth Swanepoel. SMX Next is part of a year-round talent pipeline that has helped produce pro standouts such as Haiden Deegan, and the combine is tied directly to the RedBud weekend through a 10-minute practice session at Saturday’s National.

The 53rd running of the 5.11 RedBud National follows on Saturday, July 4, as the Pro Motocross Championship returns from its summer break. MX Sports Pro Racing described the race as a key midpoint in the outdoor season and part of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, with the holiday timing and RedBud’s reputation for fast, technical racing helping make it one of motocross’s most popular stops. The event also comes during America’s 250th anniversary year, and company president Davey Coombs said the next races should help clarify how the championships will unfold.

The 250SMX Class arrives at RedBud with a tight points battle after four different winners in the first four races. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen holds the red plate and leads Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda by one point, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer by two, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies by seven. Davies earned his first Pro Motocross victory before RedBud, while Shimoda has won both of his previous RedBud starts and also took last year’s race there. Coverage of the weekend begins early Saturday, with on-track action at 5 a.m. PT, Peacock streaming at 7 a.m. PT and moto coverage at 10 a.m. PT.
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June 30, 2026

McLaren marks 60 years with M2B tribute at British GP

McLaren unveiled a one-off heritage-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, replacing its usual papaya color scheme with a predominantly white design that some reports described as white-and-green and others as chrome. The tribute honored the McLaren M2B, the team’s first Formula 1 car from 1966, and marked the 60th anniversary of McLaren’s debut season. It also referenced Bruce McLaren and the team’s first championship point at the British Grand Prix, which came when Bruce McLaren raced the M2B.

The commemorative design also looked back to McLaren’s early history at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix, and it was influenced by the film Grand Prix, which led to the original car being painted white for filming. McLaren added a Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Team sticker to the MCL40, and drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were set to wear white race suits to match the car.

The Silverstone reveal was McLaren’s second special livery of the season, after a Monaco-themed design tied to its 1,000th Formula 1 grand prix. The latest livery also highlighted McLaren’s partnership with Google, which began in 2022, and its Gemini AI platform. McLaren Racing chief marketing officer Louise McEwen said the design celebrated the team’s roots and its partnership with Google, while Google vice president Marvin Chow said Gemini was helping McLaren apply AI in creative work, business decisions and trackside strategy. Fans were set to view the livery at a joint McLaren-Gemini activation at the Truman Brewery in East London on Thursday.
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June 30, 2026

Williams unveils Union Jack livery for Silverstone

Williams unveiled a one-off Union Jack-inspired livery for its home British Grand Prix at Silverstone, turning the usual blue FW48 into a red, white and blue tribute for the team’s biggest home weekend. The design moved the Union Jack elements from the engine cover to the nose area and chassis sides, and Carlos Sainz Jnr and Alexander Albon were set to wear matching race suits. Williams also rolled out a special team kit and trackside takeover gear for mechanics and engineers, with fans able to buy the commemorative New Era kit online.

The campaign extended beyond the circuit, with a show car and livery display touring Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and London before the race. Williams said the promotion was meant to engage fans and celebrate racing in front of a home crowd, with free London fan zones set to feature Albon, team principal James Vowles and former driver Damon Hill.

Vowles said Silverstone has been the setting for many of Williams’ biggest milestones and that the home crowd gives the team a boost across the weekend. The team linked the celebration to Clay Regazzoni’s first Grand Prix win for Williams at Silverstone in 1979, Jacques Villeneuve’s 100th Formula 1 victory for the team at the circuit in 1997 and Nigel Mansell’s three British Grand Prix wins. Williams has eight British Grand Prix wins at Silverstone overall, arrived at the weekend eighth in the constructors’ standings with 11 points, and brought a substantial upgrade package aimed at solving an overweight car issue as it looked to move back into the top 10.
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June 30, 2026

British Grand Prix Set for July 3-5 at Silverstone

The 2026 British Grand Prix will be held at Silverstone from July 3 to July 5 as round nine of the Formula 1 season, and it returns to a Sprint weekend format for the first time since 2021. Competitive action begins on Friday with one practice session and Sprint qualifying, Saturday features the 17-lap Sprint and grand prix qualifying, and the 52-lap race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. local time on Sunday, July 5.

UK viewers will have multiple ways to watch the event. Channel 4 will show the race live on free-to-air television, Sky Sports F1 will also carry coverage, and Sky One will offer a free viewing option for Sky box users. BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app will provide free coverage, while selected countries will have every session live on F1 TV Pro. F1 TV Premium adds 4K Ultra HD/HDR, multiview and support for up to six devices, and live timing will be available on F1.com and the F1 app.

Silverstone is expected to be warm and dry across the weekend, with Sunday forecast to reach 27 degrees Celsius and no rain currently predicted. The circuit is a fast, demanding 5.891-kilometer track that hosted the first British Grand Prix there in 1950.
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June 30, 2026

Pedro Acosta has wrist surgery after Assen MotoGP retirement

Pedro Acosta underwent successful minor surgery on Tuesday on his right wrist to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, after a problem that had bothered him for nearly a year and flared again during the Dutch MotoGP at Assen. KTM said the operation had originally been planned for the summer break but was moved up.

Acosta retired from Sunday’s race after his wrist went numb and he lost feeling in three fingers on his throttle hand. He was running sixth when he sat up at Turn 1 on lap 13, rode back to the pits and recorded a non-finish. Acosta said the issue likely cost him a chance to finish inside the top six, and KTM said the exit was caused by a physical problem rather than a mechanical failure.

KTM expects the 22-year-old to be fit for the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring on July 10-12, pending a medical check on Thursday. The Assen retirement was his third in the last five grands prix and left him seventh in the championship with 133 points, 60 behind leader Jorge Martin. Acosta has already been confirmed to join Ducati in 2027 alongside Marc Marquez.
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