"I don't know a piston rod from a PEZ dispenser, but boy we've had luck!" These are the words of Chauncey Redmond Jr., praying for three-in-a-row in the Russ Charneski 500. Ryan Heuser and Zach Michael start on the front row, a reversal of fortune from their 44th and 45th-place efforts in 2024. Michael enters just 20 points behind leader Tony Pizzaro. The lights are out. The crowd is stout! 334 laps decide the fate of 45 cannoneers, ready to "cannon" their way to the front.

Race Results

Points Standings

Race Recap

Russ Charneski waves the green flag, flicking his wrist in impeccable style! Pole-sitter Ryan Heuser and Molemar Diggs fight maniacally for the top-spot, holding off Jeremy Hebel, John Battista, Ken Pettit, Logan Sheets, Matthew Dominique and Dakota Wilkins. Zach Michael and Zakk Miller dropped back early, reversing their early-race fortune from one year ago. From the rear, Johnny Reed Foley, Dave Miller, Tony Pizzaro and Alex Crapser adventured their way through the field.

Molemar and Heuser continued their stride. Ignition troubles sent Mark Heron to the garage, finishing 45th in an eventual low-attrition affair. Only he and Donald Stewart fell to the gremlins. Up front, Johnny Reed Foley and Ken Pettit chased down the leaders, still swapping the top-spot and keeping the field close in consequence. Heuser momentarily steals the reigns from Johnny Reed Foley by leading his eighth race of the season.

The #3 AC-Delco Chevrolet took only 52 laps to traverse from tenth to first! Foley adds two to his league leading lap led total before Molemar re-took the spot. A fourth victory for Wizards of Speed was in the midst! Only Dave Miller could terminate the presses, leading the field to the first round of fuel stops. He, Dakota Wilkins, Diggs, Heuser and Pettit entered the pits inside the top-5.

Zakk Miller slingshots from thirteenth to second! He and Dakota Wilkins came in early, catapulting the #77 Colorado Rockies Chevrolet to a four-second advantage over the field. He spent 40-laps at the helm before Johnny Reed Foley, Markell Murphy, Rick Jackson, Tony Pizzaro, Matthew Dominique, Bink Lucas, Molemar Diggs, Alex Crapser and Zakk Miller all caught the man, conveying Wilkins to the tail-end of the group. Towards the rear, Alan Nesfeder and Michael Henson limped after heavy early-race contact. They would finish 39th and 37th.

Johnny Reed Foley and Markell Murphy alternate the lead numerous times for the remaining stint. They lapped John Battista and Jimmie Stevens before the halfway point, rendering the Wendy's and Ampio fan-base into severe dismay! Veterans Rick Jackson and Dave Miller shadowed the front-two during the run, dismembering the idea that neither driver will win a race in 2025.

Markell Murphy exits the pits first! He and Danger Zone teammate Zakk Miller fight for the Halfway Bacon Bonus, with Miller grabbing the slab with ease. He and Dakota Wilkins shuffled the lead through lap 177. By then, Johnny Reed Foley was there. "He plays every instrument well, including the steering wheel!" said crew chief Ronnie Pressley. Foley's always compared his racing prowess to his musical ability. Unfortunately he still struggles to rip open a ketchup packet.

Laps 178 through 207 were dominated by the #3 AC Delco Chevrolet. Only Tony Pizzaro could keep pace, leading the field through green flag stops while pulling to a four-second advantage over third place. Dave Miller, Ryan Heuser and Dakota Wilkins remained in striking distance. The remaining contenders were in danger of losing a lap. Up front, Foley and Dave Miller left Pizzaro behind after fuel stops.

Foley pulled to a two-second gap over Miller and Ryan Heuser. After the final pit stop, Dave Miller came out on top! The #90 cigarette crew haven't won since the inaugural Gateway race during their Championship season in 2022. Sadly, they would be denied again. Struggling to put Adam Crapser and Ben Geer a lap down, Miller opened the gap entering turn-1 and let Foley through with 17 laps left. Foley failed to disperse the #90 from his mirror, but held him off in style to become the second two-time winner in 2025!

A miracle run by the Champion! Foley's third race with 100 laps led, and a victory bumping him to third in the standings. If his stride continues, only engine failures and concrete can slow this man down. Look for more of the same at Kansas, a track CFM motorsports has dominated since it's return in 2022. Congratulations to Johnny Reed Foley, crew chief Ronnie Pressley and the entire CFM Motorsports organization for an excellent victory!

2025 Russ Charneski 500 Video