In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers includes the NASCAR Canada Series finale at Autodrome Montmagny and a full slate of other racing action from the weekend.
Can somebody explain to me why NASCAR has a ‘Damaged Vehicle Policy’? Is it not better to have as many cars on track as possible as opposed to having cars parked in the garage? They could also get some great, dramatic footage showing teams repairing the cars to get back out on track to fill in some of the boring laps. And who came up with the five minutes limit?
Can somebody else explain why IndyCar has reduced the number of charters, that one team can own, from five to three? That move has resulted in Chip Ganassi Racing dropping two of its five entries and laying off a bunch of personnel.
Could the reason be that Penske Racing has only three teams? Or did the series only want to start 25 cars? Or is it the fact that a Ganassi car won the 2024 championship? Hmm.
Even though the IndyCar season is complete, there is still news to be consumed. Apparently, the FBI made a ‘visit’ to the Rahal Letterman Lanigan headquarters last Wednesday and instructed every employee to exit the building and leave their computers behind. Rumours have it that a former Andretti Global employee left to join RLL and ‘may’ have brought some classified information with him/her? Both teams issued ‘no comment’ comments!!
It seems that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has requested that Formula One drivers watch their language on their radios during the races. He stated that they were racers, not rappers, where swearing is rampant.
Feedback was fast and, not surprisingly, Max Verstappen was the first to criticize the request. Several drivers, in response, have asked that their radio conversations NOT be broadcast. My view is that kids hear much worse in the playgrounds at school. But Wait, There’s More!!
At Saturday’s post-qualifying press conference, Max stated he wouldn’t expand on his single sentence replies ‘in this room’ because ‘I might get fined or get an extra day’. But he did expand… outside the room. Well done, Max!!!
NASCAR Canada Series: Former series champion Alex Labbe earned the pole for the NASCAR Canada Series season finale at Autodrome Montmagny. The race was notable for being the first time Canada’s national stock car championship ended its season at a track outside of Ontario.
Labbe, who also competed in some Xfinity Series races, started in front of Kevin Lacroix and Raphael Lessard. There were 23 entries for the 250 lap event.
At the flag it was Lacroix over Will Larue and Alex Guenette. A special shout out to 4th place finisher Mathieu Kingsbury who had a major off on Saturday.
Marc Antoine Camirand is the 2024 Points Champion.
Click HERE to view the full report from NASCAR.
Targa Newfoundland: This unique event took place last week. Click HERE to view a report and gallery.
United Racing Series: While the Late Model and Super Stock championships have been decided, the Modified and Hot Rod classes have two more races to determine their champions. Saturday, October 5 at Flamboro Speedway (during Frostfest) and Saturday, October 12 at Peterborough Speedway (during Autumn Colours Classic).
Ontario Sportsman Series: The series dropped into Sunset Speedway Friday night for their final race of the year. Cory McAllister started on the pole followed by Connor James, Kevin Trevellin, Brendan Patrick and Ollie Ferguson. At the flag it was James over McAllister, Ferguson, Patrick and Trevellin. McAllister set fast time with 15.807 on the fast 1/3-mile track. McAllister won the Season Championship over Patrick.
ASA Stars: In the series points, Canadian Kyle Steckly sits 2nd in points behind leader Casey Roderick. Maritime racer Cole Butcher sits 4th. Their next race is Sunday, October 13 at the bad fast Winchester (Indiana) Speedway.
CARS Tour: In Saturday’s AutosByNelson.com 280 at South Boston (VA) Speedway Travis Kvapil took the win over Treyton Lapcevich and Ryan Millington. In the points Lapcevich sits 6th. I told him a week ago at Delaware that he would like South Boston!! Their next race is Saturday, October 12 at Tri-County Motor Speedway, Granite Falls, NC.
Owosso Speedway: After leading for many of the first 100 laps Canadian Chase Pinsonneault had to settle for 4th behind Kyle Crump, Dylan Stovall and Chase Burda as the rains cut the 150 lap race short at lap 105.
ISMA Super Modifieds: In the final season’s points, John Nicotra was the champion followed by Steve Stout, Clyde Booth and London’s own Mark Sammut who was standing beside me Friday night at Delaware with his father Tony.
Delaware Speedway: Friday night was Championship Night for the V/8 Stocks, Super Stocks and Late Models.
In the Late Models Jesse Kennedy won Heat 1, Gary Adriaensen won Heat 2 and Kennedy won the Feature over Adriaensen and Ray Morneau, the feature going caution free. Morneau becomes the 2024 Late Model Champion for the 2nd time with an 18 points lead on Adriaensen and 28 points ahead of Marshall Schrenk.
The Super Stocks saw Hudson Nagy win Heat 1, David McCullough win Heat 2 and Trevor Collver won the Feature over Brody Rickwood and Hudson Nagy. Their feature ran almost caution free except for Brendon Edgar spinning off corner 2. Collver is the 2024 Super Stock Champion with a 22 point cushion on Carson Nagy and 52 on Lane Zardo.
The V/8 Stocks class witnessed Jordan Morris win Heat 1, Barry Watson win Heat 2 and the feature over Doug Stewart and Kaden Patrick. Watson is the 2024 V/8 Stock Champion over Jeff Ferguson 10 back and Doug Stewart 14 back.
The Bone Stocks came back Saturday for their finals and the very popular Pumpkin Smasher race. I thought the APC Late Model Championship race was long but this one went over 4 hours to run 125 laps. Several unexplainable delays held things up.
Heat 1 was won by Jordan Willms, Heat 2 by Charlie Verhoevem, Heat 3 by Ian Levac, Heat 4 by Matt Langford, the B Main by Daniel Mailloux and the Championship Feature was won by Donavin Clark over Jeremiah Rabideau and Justin Collver. Rabideau and Langford ended in a tire but Rabideau had four wins to two by Langford so Rabideau is the 2024 Bone Stock Champion.
To put the icing on the cake Rabideau also won the Pumpkin Smasher 35 lapper over Clark and Willms. It was funny to see the drivers hit the smashed pumpkins that were all over the track from the starting line to corner one. You could tell who had some dirt track experience and those who didn’t. It took fifteen minutes to get all the people through the gate down onto the track and the reports had it that there were 185 pumpkins smashed on the track plus a couple launched from the starter’s stand during the race by retiring starter Scott Mackie.
Toronto Motorsports Park: TMP plays host to the Canada Heads Up season finale, this weekend.
Flamboro Speedway: Their next race is the Championship Night, Saturday. They’re building towards Frostoberfest in a few weekends.
Grand Bend Dragway: Their next race is the Ontario Team Finals, October 5 & 6.
St. Thomas Dragway: Their next race is The Big Rig Nationals, this weekend.
NASCAR Cup Series: Alex Bowman won the pole for the Bass Pro Shops race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway ahead of Kyle Larson and William Byron. A Hendrick trifecta with Chase Elliott starting 10th. On lap 6 John Hunter Nemechek suffered a flat tire, spun off 4 and ended up hitting the wall for a yellow. Larson won Stage 1.
On lap 243 Joey Logano spun on corner 4 exit with a flat right front tire and tapped the inside wall for a caution. Larson also won Stage 2. On lap 329 Corey Lajoie got loose after contact with Josh Berry and spun down off track for another yellow.
Things ran smoothly right to the end, something unusually rare at ‘Bristol baby,’ with Larson winning the race as well as the two stages followed by Elliott and Bubba Wallace.
In the playoff points, Christopher Bell leads Larson by 6 and Bowman by 10.
Their next race is Kansas, Sunday at 3.30 P.M. on TSN 5.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Chandler Smith (Toyota) nabbed the pole for Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway ahead of Cole Custer (Ford) and Anthony Alfredo (Chev). Toyota/Ford/ Chev!!
38 cars qualified for the race with one car failing to qualify. There was some drama even before the green flag as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was having radio problems. The yellow came out on lap 4 to pick up some debris on the track.
Things then went smoothly until lap 52 when Austin Green bounced off the wall and slid down tearing the rear bumper off race leader Justin Allgaier who kept going and also collected Parker Retzlaff for the second caution period. Chandler Smith won Stage 1.
On lap 122 Parker Kligerman spun in 2 but kept going without hitting anything for another yellow. On lap 154 Allgaier moved up track at the same time as Sheldon Creed was coming down and they touched and Allgaier spun for a caution. And he then carried their saws-all out onto the track to add insult to injury. Jeremy Clements won Stage 2.
On lap 200 Allgaier, NOT having a good day, did a ‘slow spin’ in 2 for another yellow after his right rear tire went flat. They surprisingly ran the last 100 laps caution free and Custer got the win over Creed and pole sitter Smith. Little E finished 7th in spite of his earlier radio issues.
In the playoff points Allgaier leads Custer by 6 and Austin Hill by 9.
Their next race is Kansas, Saturday at 3.30 P.M. on TSN 3.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks: Last week’s race winner at Watkins Glen Connor Zilisch (Chev) won the pole last Thursday night for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway over Corey Heim (Toyota) and Rajah Caruth (Chev). Canadian Stewart Friesen (Toyota) started 5th. There were no Fords in the top ten. 36 trucks qualified for the race and two were sent home including Marco Andretti.
Stage 1 featured good hard racing with several trucks bouncing off the wall but there were no caution flags. The stage was won by Caruth. On the last lap of Stage 2 pole sitter Zilisch got dumped by Nick Sanchez and he spun down track but didn’t hit anything. Corey Heim won the stage.
On lap 155 Daniel Dye slowed with a flat left rear tire and got hit by Kaden Honeycutt. After a lengthy yellow flag period for clean-up the green came back out. On lap 181 Jack Wood appeared to get tagged by Ben Rhodes and spun but kept it off both walls for a caution.
At the flag it was Layne Riggs (Ford) for his second win in a row (he won at Milwaukee) followed by Heim and Caruth. 23 trucks still on the lead lap. Time of race: 1:20:24, an hour and twenty minutes of edge of your seat excitement.
In the playoff points Christian Eckes (Chev) leads Heim by 15 and Sanchez by 32.
Their next race is Kansas, Friday at 8.30 P.M. on Fox Sports Racing.
Formula One: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) topped Free Practice 1 at Singapore on Friday while Lando Norris (McLaren) was quickest in FP2. FP3 was delayed by a very agile lizard on the circuit. It was tough to catch. Norris also topped FP3 and won the pole ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Other than the in-car whining from Max Verstappen the race ran smoothly and drama free with no cautions. At the flag it was pole sitter Norris winning by 21 seconds over Verstappen and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
Word is that it was Daniel Ricciardo’s last race with the RB team and likely his last as an F1 driver. He nabbed the fastest lap point in the late going.
In the Drivers’ Championship Max saw his lead cut to only 52 over Norris and by 86 on Leclerc.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship McLaren extended their lead to 41 over Red Bull and by 75 on Ferrari. Who saw that coming?
Their next race is COTA, Austin, Texas on Sunday, October 20.
IMSA: Wow, 56 entries for the Battle on the Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. 11 GTP cars, 10 LMP2s, 13 PROs and 22 GTDs. In qualifying Saturday, the Bourdais/van der Zande Caddy topped GTP, the Smiechowski/Dillmann/Boulle was fastest in P2, the Christensen/Heinrich Porsche was quickest in PRO and the Skeen/Koch/Grenier Mercedes was tops in GTD. The Jarvis/Kirchhöfe Pfaff McLaren started 12th in PRO.
Thank you, Lord, there is a God after all!!!! I taped the race on REV TV and later on the NBC coverage. And, hallelujah, NBC had REAL announcers who did NOT require ‘closed captioning’!!!!!
At the flag Philipp Eng (BMW) took the win in GTP over teammate Connor De Fillippi (BMW) and Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche). After the race IMSA placed all the GTP cars in a ‘Parc Ferme’ corral ‘to conduct extensive technical inspections of the cars in “as raced” condition, to perform stringent checks of each model’s bodywork, powertrain, suspension, and all other key systems to ensure they comply with their specific — now in their second year — homologation regulations’. And those inspections will be done Monday and Tuesday. Interesting.
In the LMP2 class it was Mikkel Jensen over Tom Dillmann and Connor Zilisch, yes THAT Connor who had a great two weeks in NASCAR and ARCA.
PRO saw Laurin Heinrich (Porsche) over Mike Rockenfeller (Multimatic Mustang) and Antonio Garcia (Corvette).
GTD was won by Jan Heylen (Porsche) ahead of Robby Foley (BMW) and Kenton Koch (Mercedes). That should make for some interesting board meetings in Detroit!!
Their next race is Road Atlanta, Sunday, October 12.
NHRA: The series dropped into Charlotte, N.C. for the Carolina Nationals.
Top Fuel – 18 entries for the 16 spots and Brittany Force topped the field in qualifying with a 3.690 at 335.73. Quebec standout Dan Mercier was 13th with a 3.780. In the final Antron Brown ran a 3.848 at 319.90 to top Doug Foley. 8 upsets (lower qualified car wins) and 8 smokers (one or both cars lost traction). Justin Ashley leads the playoff points by only 1 over Brown and by 6 on Shawn Langdon.
Funny Car – Matt Hagan topped the 14 entries with a 3.832 at 333.25. Austin Prock ran a 3.924 at 326.48 to beat Matt Hagan in the final. 4 upsets and 4 smokers. In the points Prock now leads Bob Tasca by 86 and John Force/Jack Beckman by 99.
Pro Mod – (even dragracecentral dissed the P/Ms by NOT posting their ladder until Sunday morning, just their qualifying. No respect!! LOL) Jose Gonzalez was best of the 25, yes, 25 entries with a 5.713 at 251.82. B.C. racers Justin Bond and Jordan Lazic were 2nd and 4th. First to 16th separated by only 0.081 seconds!! Stout!! Travis Harvey won the final running a 5.786 at 247.61 to beat Dmitry Samorukov. 11 upsets and 5 smokers. In the points Kenneth Quartuccio, Jr. leads Kevin Rivenbark by 47 and Jose Gonzalez by 62.
Pro Stock – Erica Enders was the best of the 17 entries with a 6.557 at 209.10. Canadian Eric Latino qualified 11th with a 6.603. Dallas Glenn won with a 6.626 at 207.18 over Aaron Stanfield. 4 upsets and 1 smoker. Standfield leads Glenn by 9 and Enders by 35.
Pro Stock Bike – Matt Smith was the best of the 15 with a 6.799 at 199.67.Matt Smith marched through the field and ran a 6.846 at 199.35 to top Richard Gadson in the final. 3 upsets. Gaige Herrera leads Smith by 17 and Gadson by 19.
Top Fuel Bike – ‘Spiderman’ Larry McBride laid down an eye-popping 4.824 at 240.72 to be the best of the 6 fuelers. McBride won the final with a 4.875 at 238.38 over Mitch Brown. No upsets. McBride leads Brown by 25 and David Vantine by 74.
Their next race is Gateway, Sunday at 3 P.M. on Fox Sports Racing.
Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series: Their next races are Empire Dragway this weekend.
Shannonville Drags: Their next race is October 12 & 13.
Buxton Speedway: Their next races are a double header, Friday and Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway: Their next race is the Fireworks Championship Night (again), Saturday.
Race of Champions: At US 131 Dragway (owned by Canadian Alex Pinsonneault) Canadians won three of the four brackets. Drew Buchner – Box, Jay Talbot – Sportsman and Owen Buchner (son of Drew and Vicki) – Junior Dragster. Oh Canada!! Well done.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
