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 ​KENTUCKIANA MOTORSPORTS PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL

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              Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and Merry Christmas from Kentuckiana Motorsports!

                          

  A very somber note this holiday season as a plane crash takes the life of NASCAR Legend Greg Biffle, his wife, two  children, and three others.  It happened about an hour north of Charlotte at the Statesville, NC regional airport. The facility, being so close to various NASCAR shops, is a hub of sorts for NASCAR drivers, owners, and team members.  The aircraft took off Thursday mid-morning December 18, and they quickly noticed something was wrong. Upon an attempt to return and land, his plane crashed and it burst into flames at the end of the runway.  

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Greg Biffle (#16) was a true champion. Winning on all levels of NASCAR. Over the past decade, he became a humanitarian for many causes. In September 2024, the same airport where he died served as a major relief center for Hurricane Helene. Both Greg and his helicopter pilot flew scores of missions and dropped off food, water, and other supplies to storm victims trapped in Western North Carolina. He was one of the first to step up in a major way and lend a huge helping hand. Later, other NASCAR teams, sponsors, and fans followed his lead. He was a true shining example  after one of the biggest hurricanes ever to hit North Carolina devastated the region.   

Kentuckiana Motorsports had the chance over the years to interview and talk with him. Greg Biffle always found time for the media, sponsors, and fans. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family, longtime team members, close friends, and the others killed in this tragic incident. 

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​  As for 2026, one racer looking forward to a new year and a new season is 2-Time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ben Rhodes. The Louisville native did not make the truck playoffs this past racing season. His team, ThorSport Racing just did not have the power or enough car to get the job done. Expect that to change in 2026. Be sure to check our interview Ben below, as this holiday, he talks about his family and the foundation that allowed him not only to race, but be successful. 

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  The Daytona 500 is next, February 15, 2026.  Normally, the Great American Race is the focus in the off-season as teams get ready for the excitement of Daytona!  

  We do want to remind motorsports fan about a huge event coming to Louisville! The stars of Monster Jam  are scheduled to battle at Freedom Hall in Louisville on March 7th and 8th.  Tickets would make a great Christmas gift! Get your tickets and learn more:  www.monsterjam.com 

As mentioned above,  click on the Lucas Oil Online Race Report as NASCAR veteran Ben Rhodes talks about why he is a successful champion today! 

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  What a great year for local race teams and tracks. There are some great tracks in Kentuckiana. The Salem Speedway,  about an hour hour from Louisville in Southern Indiana.  Other local tracks include the Sportsdrome Speedway in Jeffersonville (Off I-65 and five minutes from downtown Louisville), the Ponderosa Speedway (the Baddest Bullring in the Bluegrass state) located in central Kentucky at Junction City near Danville (About an hour and fifteen minutes southeast of Louisville). Drive south to Bowling Green (KY) and you'll enjoy Beech Bend. There is an amusement park, camping, and racing. The Beech Bend dragstrip brings in the fans and has a wide range of events.  And if you like local drag racers, one fun place to witness side-by-side battles is in West Point Kentucky, the Ohio Valley Dragway. It is a 1/8th mile track on Dixie Highway, less than a half-hour from downtown Louisville.  Check out track websites and social media for the latest news and information, and a look ahead to the 2026 racing season. 

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​​​  The NHRA crowned champions it its series, including some new faces.  3-Time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart tried to win it all in Top Fuel. Even leading the points for a time. But in the last few events of 2026, his efforts fell short. The season-long championship eventually went to Doug Kalitta.  In the Indy Car Series, here's the big question? Will Alex Palou dominate again in 2026?  You can bet many other race teams and drivers will try to put a stop to that. Palou took home the 2025 Indy Car Series Championship with eight wins! It is his 4th title (2021, 2023, 2024, & 2025). 

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 ​  We thank our supporters, including our main sponsor, Lucas Oil Products!  Also, Herrings Outdoor Sports!  It is a great place for spring-summer-fall fashions and they carry the most famous and best clothing beach-lake outdoor brands. & accessories!  They ship throughout the US!  Right now, if you place an order with Herrings, mention Kentuckiana Motorsports (Ask for owner's Steve or Jessi)  and you'll get an extra 5% discount (That is on top of their other discounts) on all regular priced items!  Other sponsors include locally owned Bright Pest Control and Bright Retail in Louisville, (Offering Do-It-Yourself Professional Pest Products with a retail store), PNC Bank (Sponsor of Scott Dixon's Indy Car Series Car), St. Matthews Cycling, Sportsdrome Speedway  (Celebrating nearly 80 years of Racing!), VoiceTel Kentucky (Offering consulting, telephone service, security, and network installation to businesses throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana. When experience counts: Call VoiceTel, locally owned and operated (502-493-3200), Jim Ellis/Attorney-At-Law [Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Contract Law (502) 58-Ellis], ICA Dumpsters, Kentucky Raceway Ministries, Dynamic Chiropractic Health and Rehab, Lyndon Mower Repair, Temco Roofing, Apple Appliance Service, Core Senior Protection (Offering Medicare Plans and Final Expense Plans), and Apple Appliance Repair. They can fix just about any appliance (And they clean dirty dryer vents) in Kentuckiana!   We also thank our media connections in all series, NASCAR/NASCAR Media, Indy Car, Monster Jam, ARCA, Google Images, media directors, other contributors, and NHRA for helping us bring the sport to the fans!  ​​ 

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