06/22/2026
FLASHBACK:
After the hard crash in the O'Reilly race on Saturday, I immediately flashed back to Daytona 2025.
Some moments in racing stay with you because of the finish. Others stay with you because of what they teach you.
For CGM, the 2025 Daytona ARCA race remains one of those unforgettable days. What began with so much excitement and promise ended in heartbreak when a violent accident destroyed our new car, which we had put everything into to get to Daytona.
A race car is more than steel, parts, and paint. It's the product of countless hours in the shop, sacrifices made by team members and families, a lot of money, and the belief that the next race could be the one that changes everything. Watching all of that disappear in an instant was a tough reality to face.
There was disappointment. There was frustration. And there were serious questions about whether we could continue. We were left with one short-track car and a destroyed speedway car, forcing us to confront an uncertain path forward.
But that isn't where the story ends.
Racing has always been a sport built on resilience. Every team that stays in this game long enough faces setbacks, adversity, and days they'd rather forget. What matters is how you respond.
The car was lost, but the passion wasn't. The setback was real, but so was the determination to keep building, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
Looking back now, Daytona wasn't the end of anything. It was simply another chapter in the journey. One that reminded us why we love this sport and why we refuse to quit when things get tough.
For the O'Reilly Series teams, I know they're already back in the shop preparing for Sonoma. That's what racers do.
As for us, our focus is on IRP on July 24. We'll be ready.
Let's go racing.
VIDEO LINK:
https://youtu.be/dtd8L-UNm_o?si=KMnNT3ogaNd0qBCd