Quick crossword No 264

Can you find the thematic references and explain the title? Solution blog with tips and explanations here https://reinterred.blogspot.com/2025/07/weekend-quick-cryptic-133-solution.html from Friday

An excellent puzzle whose theme came to me in the middle of writing this comment! Favourites include 11a for the mental image, 22a (LOI) which made me smile, and 4a which was just a satisfying surface read. 1a is my pick though, brilliant - I only learned of the custom described by the clue very recently. A couple of non-critical spoilers below...

Splendid puzzle, John, thank you. I spotted the theme quite early on, but didn't know the ref to the title. Nice one!

Lovely stuff! Off to look it up to see if I've missed any themed answers...

A lot of fun although the theme eluded me entirely. Enjoyed the neat references to current culture, and some nifty surfaces (11a, 13a) as well as the self referential clues (4a, 19a) and the witty economy of other clues (24a)

Thanks johninterred. I'm a casual NASCAR fan so I was drawn to the photo you selected but, alas, the theme was lost on me. I still had fun & my favs were 1a, 12a, 24a, 16d, and 20d. Nice work.

Bravo, thanks John, this was 8a! Brilliant theme, great fun, and lots of great clues (1a, 8a, 12a my favourites) with some lovely subtle pointers to the theme (eg 23a. 13d). Was wondering how you would work the mob in, and 22a didn't disappoint! Thanks again, PW