Budweiser cans fly over the catchfence, ready for aluminum demolition! 210 miles-per-hour will desecrate the metal, sharding debris into the pits as the crewmen run for cover. "I got sliced by some lids last year." said Rob Scarberry tire changer Lenny Hill. "Hopefully Trump's new metal will sting less." This will be Budweiser's first year out of Extravaganza competition since the 1980's.

Race Results

Points Standings

Race Recap

Speed-master Craig Lee takes the field to green! Ryan Heuser steals the spot away in shades of last week's Daytona 500, hoping to go two-for-two in 2025. He, John Battista, Logan Sheets, Zach Michael, Dalton Lucas and Timothy McDonnell soared ahead of the pack in hopes of pulling away before the first pit stop. A bid by Battista, Johnny Reed Foley and Markell Murphy would put an end to those plans.

Many usual contenders found themselves towards the rear. John Tharp and Zakk Miller raced Mike Carroll and Doug Spark for 35th. Craig Lee failed to lead a lap all day despite winning the pole. Up front, Heuser continued to surge as Dalton Lucas and Markell Murphy showed their top-dog status early. Both drivers remained a force during the first stint, hoping to capitalize on a Heuser mistake and lead some laps.

A Ben Geer, Tony Gunk and Dave Miller accident on lap five failed to bring out the yellow! All three drivers were forced to pit with flat-spotted tires and fender damage, finishing two-laps down or worse by the end of the day. During the first pit stop, Steven Spears and pole-sitter Craig Lee slid the turn-4 wall, bringing out the yellow mid-cycle while trapping Trae Larkin, Cristian Torres, Dan Johnston, Matthew Dominique, David Butterworth and Jimmie Stevens a lap down.

Rick Jackson took the top-spot after the lap 67 restart! John Battista made his bid a few laps later, with the leaders navigating through the newfound lapped traffic. Jackson and CAT-King Timothy McDonnell loomed near the Wendy's Chevrolet, swapping the top-spot with Battista as the rest of the field narrowed in. By the end, Logan Sheets would claim the lead on lap-90 and dominate the remaining stint.

"Our radiator looks like the Magna Carta!" said crew chief David Rattler after contact with teammate Matthew Dominique. Logan Sheets went from dominating the field to a last place finish in an instant, destroying the front end after contact out of the pits. Dominique's Viper blew in front of Logan's merge line, slamming into the #25 and destroying the pride of the #58 Quaker State team. Rick Jackson would re-take the lead.

Cataclysmic misfortune for Logan turned into a Crown Royal boon! A two-second lead out of the pits gave Rick Jackson the ammunition for his first victory since the 2023 Bepis 400; a full 57 race-streak ready for depletion. It was not to be. Despite leading the entire stint, a debris caution on lap 183 sent him to third-place behind Ryan Heuser and Timothy McDonnell. An equalized tire eventually finished Jackson two-laps down in 34th.

Ryan Heuser and Timothy McDonnell battled defiantly as Dakota Wilkins, Alan Nesfeder, John Battista and Zach Michael watched from behind. A second debris caution on lap 214 set the tone for a 100-lap shootout. Dakota Wilkins stole the lead on an excellent pit stop, with Timothy McDonnell leading laps 225 through 238. Ken Pettit then took the point, swapping with McDonnell for the remaining stint.

A crash between Dalton Lucas and Alan Nesfeder put Ken Pettit, Chauncey Redmond, Ryan Heuser and Johnny Reed Foley out of contention after their short-pit gamble fell to the gremlins! A horrible break for most turned into a 16-car renegade to the finish! Timothy McDonnell, Matt Raboin, Michael Henson, Zach Michael, Dakota Wilkins, Zakk Miller, Markell Murphy, Alex Crapser, Rob Scarberry, Adam Crapser, Jonathan Skrabacz, John Battista, Alan Nesfeder, Jeremy Hebel, Doug Spark and Dalton Lucas will all battle for the win.

Timothy McDonnell led the field to the green! A horrid mass of lapped traffic forced the #22 Volkswagen into a funnel of cars, leading only Zach Michael, Dakota Wilkins and Alex Crapser  through while the rest of leaders remained trapped. Michael made his bid with 30-to-go, dropping McDonnell to fourth while Wilkins and Crapser attempted a late charge for the victory. It was not to be. Zach Michael's #20 Team Danger Zone Mustang crosses the line in first for his pioneer victory of 2025!

The dominant Team Danger Zone speedway package held true! An immaculate performance by Zach Michael; gambling on fuel mileage all day and pitting later than most. Despite the risky strategy, the #20 Coca-Cola Mustang was able to powerhouse back the lead group after every stop, racing with the leaders and taking advantage of the short-pit misfortune. Congratulations to Zach Michael, crew chief Justin Knapp and the entire Team Danger Zone organization for an excellent victory!

2025 Cracker Barrel 500 Video