Supra Sets the Pace at NASA Championships in the Heart of the Ozarks

3 minute read

When the 2025 National Auto Sport Association (NASA) Championships roar into Missouri’s Ozarks International Raceway this September, the Toyota GR Supra will be front and center—literally. For the first time, Toyota’s flagship sports car will serve as the official pace car, leading hundreds of grassroots racers onto one of the most dramatic road courses in North America.

The Ozarks Stage

From September 4–7, the NASA Championships will transform Gravois Mills, Missouri, into a proving ground for talent drawn from 14 NASA regions nationwide. Drivers across 25 classes will put it all on the line over four days of competition, building toward a winner-take-all finale on Sunday.

The setting? The Ozarks International Raceway, a 3.97-mile, 19-turn circuit carved into the rolling Missouri landscape. Known for its massive elevation changes and technical layout, the track has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most challenging—and visually stunning—venues in the country. For fans, it’s a rare opportunity to see grassroots racing on a world-class stage, with action streaming live at DriveNASA.com.

Supra’s Role in the Spotlight

The GR Supra pace car will arrive in full Toyota GAZOO Racing livery—red, white, and black—a nod to Toyota’s motorsport pedigree. While its primary role is to keep the field safe and orderly, the symbolism is hard to miss: the Supra, a nameplate synonymous with performance and driver passion, setting the tone for NASA’s marquee event.

“Our passion for performance and motorsports runs deep, and we’re honored to support grassroots racing through our relationship with NASA. We’re especially proud to have the GR Supra pacing the 2025 Championships at Ozarks International Raceway—marking its debut as the official NASA Champs pace car.”

– Mike Tripp, group vice president of Toyota Marketing

Beyond the Track

Toyota’s partnership with NASA goes deeper than a single weekend. Every new GR sports car buyer receives a complimentary one-year NASA membership, plus a free High Performance Driving Event (HPDE) track day—a perk originally exclusive to GR Supra owners but now extended across the entire GR lineup.

It’s a program that bridges the gap between showroom and racetrack, encouraging drivers to experience performance driving in a safe, structured environment. For many, it’s the first step into the world of grassroots motorsports.

A Poetic Moment for Supra

There’s also an air of poignancy to the Supra’s new role. With Toyota confirming that 2026 will mark the final production year for the fifth-generation GR Supra, the car’s debut as NASA’s official pace car feels like both a celebration and a send-off. The limited-run MkV Final Edition—just 1,300 units for North America—will close the chapter on one of the most iconic nameplates in modern sports cars.

For now, though, the focus is on September in Missouri. Hundreds of racers, thousands of fans, and one Supra leading the charge around a track as thrilling as the competition it will host.