The DDI Truck Series faced the infamous Chicago Street Course on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025. It was a high-stakes showdown in the heart of the Windy City. With temperatures up and grip down, drivers faced a relentless test of control and concentration. The slick surface was unforgiving, punishing every mistake. Survival became just as important as speed in this grueling 50-lap event.
Steven Kirby wasted no time asserting control, launching from pole and never looking back. He led all 50 laps in a commanding performance, but the opening stages weren’t without pressure. Alex Hillman tried his best to stay close early. He kept the heat on Kirby through the first handful of laps. Then, the #109 truck settled into a dominant rhythm.
The drama kicked off immediately behind them. On Lap 1, Zach Panzarella locked up hard entering Turn 2 and came to a dead stop mid-track. The rest of the field took evasive action. They split around him in spectacular fashion. This was done to avoid a race-changing pileup. Though disaster was averted, it was a moment that instantly reshuffled the early order.
While the leaders battled up front, others never got the chance to race. Jonathan Casebere was knocked out on Lap 1 because of internet connectivity issues. This ended his night before he could even complete a full lap. After the race, Casebere shared his frustration:
“Super annoyed with my Lap 1 internet issue,” Casebere said. “I recently moved in with someone whose internet isn’t the best. They’re planning to upgrade—or maybe even switch providers soon—but it ran fine right up until the green flag. I made it just before Turn 3, then got booted to the pits. I wasn’t going to mess with it, so I just left.”
Cody Gibson, driver of the No. 5 truck, started the night strong from 7th on the grid. He made early gains. He used some impressive moves in the opening laps. He showed confidence and control through the narrow street course. But his momentum came to a halt on Lap 8 after contact in the mid-pack. A lap later, Gibson disconnected from the session, officially ending his day in 18th place. A tough break for a driver who looked poised for a solid finish.
The No. 83 of Brandon Lollis had a roller coaster night. After getting caught up in an early incident, Lollis fought his way back through the field. He climbed as high as 5th and was running in 7th when disaster struck. On Lap 17, he was seen entering the pits with smoke bellowing out the exhaust. He was officially scored in 17th place.
Last week’s winner at Iowa, Colton Easterday, didn’t enjoy the same fortune in Chicago. On Lap 18, Easterday clipped the concrete barrier hard and immediately towed to the pits. His quick reaction prevented a massive pileup. Several trucks were rapidly closing in behind him through the narrow section. Though his night ended early, his awareness may have saved others from race-ending damage. Easterday was classified 16th.
Lap 29 brought one of the biggest surprises of the night. Zach Panzarella, the points leader entering Chicago, was working to clear lapped traffic—specifically Gerald Rose—when disaster struck. Approaching the braking zone, Panzarella misjudged his entry and Cody Ware’d it straight into the tire barrier with full force. The impact ended his night early and dealt a serious hit to his championship campaign. He was officially scored 15th.
After the race, Panzarella owned both mistakes:
“The track increased 20 degrees between practice and the race, and I just didn’t respond to it properly,” he said. “I didn’t adjust my braking lines when everyone else did and really didn’t want to ruin my teammate’s race. So I grabbed a handful of brake and spun it.
The second incident, I have no excuse for—just a mental lapse. Really mad at myself for that one.”
On Lap 32, Dalton Guyer’s night came to an early end after a costly mistake. Entering the fountain section once again, Guyer slammed the right front of his truck into the outside wall. Though he managed to limp it back to pit road, the damage was terminal. He was unable to continue and was credited with a 14th-place finish—a frustrating end after running consistently in the midfield.
🔦ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT
Tuesday night marked Gerald Rose’s third-ever Truck Series start, and he delivered a performance well beyond his experience level. Rose navigated one of the toughest street circuits on the calendar. He kept his truck clean and consistent all night long. Many seasoned drivers couldn’t claim this achievement. He finished in a solid 8th place. This marked a career-best finish. It was a big confidence boost heading into Auto Club.
Post-Race with Steven Kirby: Focus, Fuel Strategy, and a Dominant Drive
Steven Kirby stood out from all the other competitors on Tuesday night. He delivered what can only be described as a Shane van Gisbergen–like performance on the streets of Chicago. Leading all 50 laps in dominating fashion, the No. 109 driver executed a flawless game plan and kept the field at bay despite the track’s punishing layout.
After the race, Kirby took a moment to reflect on the win and shout out his team:
“Just a big thank you to all the Gold Octopus Motorsports teammates—Peltz, Easterday, Newman & associates. Thanks to Zach and Dalton for the broadcast!”
But even the cleanest-looking races can come with close calls.
“Yes, I almost killed it in Turn 1 with two laps to go—missed my braking point while passing a lapped car,” Kirby admitted. “The track takes a ton of focus at all times. It’s very hard to crew chief yourself and be fast here.”
On fuel strategy, Kirby explained there was a plan from the start:
“Yeah, a little. I was saving fuel on the formation lap—knew I wanted to go 13 laps on the first run, 12 on the second, and 13 on the third. So I saved some on that last stint too. There’s just over 13 laps of fuel per load.”
When asked about the league and its direction, Kirby was enthusiastic:
“Very respectful racing so far. I was a little worried with the fast repair, but everyone seems to be racing hard and clean, which is awesome. Zach has done a great job listening to drivers and holding true to commitments. Really enjoying it so far!”
🔮 Looking Ahead: Week 5 – Auto Club Speedway
The DDI Truck Series is moving from the tight confines of Chicago’s street circuit. It heads west to Auto Club Speedway for Week 5. The contrast couldn’t be sharper. Auto Club has a wide two-mile layout. It has a worn-out surface and multiple racing grooves. These features promise high-speed strategy, tire management, and plenty of side-by-side action.
Expect drivers to experiment with lanes from the drop of the green. Tire falloff is likely to play a major role. Fuel mileage is also likely to play a major role. For those who struggled on the technical streets of Chicago, Auto Club offers a clean slate.
Points leader Zach Panzarella still holds the top spot with 158 points, followed by Patrick Cowgill in second at 138. Alex Hillman sits third with 132. He is now tied with Steven Kirby. Kirby leapt up 12 spots in the standings after his dominant Chicago performance. The championship picture is tightening. All eyes turn to Auto Club. It’s the next chapter in the battle for the DDI Truck Series crown.
League News Weekly 
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