This week’s edition of the Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com by Dave Mathers starts with some racing news and commentary items, before getting into race reports and weekend previews.
It is interesting that Richard Childress Racing is being reported as the top candidate to bring Dodge back into NASCAR — especially in light of their win at Richmond last Sunday. Any connection? Probably not.
It was announced last week that former American-Canadian Tour and NASCAR driver Ricky Craven has purchased Speedway 95 in Hermon, Maine, located right off I-95. Craven, who grew up in nearby Newport, began racing at Unity Raceway at age 15 before becoming a top competitor across New England and eventually moving up to NASCAR’s top three divisions. Craven says he has no plans to lengthen the paved third-mile oval but will improve the grandstands and add amenities. Another track saved.
Condolences go out to the family of Ernie Saxton (right), longtime motorsports journalist and former columnist for Inside Track Motorsport News, who passed away recently.
Also mourned is ‘super promoter’ Humpy Wheeler (below), former GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway, who created the Legends Car series in the 1990s. You can read Wheeler’s full obituary, provided by Charlotte Motor Speedway, here.
Those cars were once sold in Canada through Avenue Motorsports in Toronto, operated by Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Alex Nagy, as well as by the late Ed Hakonson, another CMHF inductee.
O’Reilly Auto Parts has been confirmed as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning next season. O’Reilly is expanding into Canada, which could be beneficial for Canadian fans. Earlier discussions of NASCAR returning to Canada have stalled, though speculation continues that the Xfinity Series may return to Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2027, with the Cup Series possibly following in 2028. There is also talk of the Truck Series returning to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and potentially supporting a Montreal weekend.
In other racetrack news, Speedway Motorsports announced an agreement to manage the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Their plan calls for NASCAR’s return to the legendary bullring, along with major facility upgrades. The track, with its higher backstretch, always provided great fan viewing. Update: After the announcement, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell stated that no deal had been reached.
Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley proved he can “walk the walk,” winning the 2025 Ken Miles Tribute Race at Laguna Seca in his personal 1964 Shelby Cobra 289. Miles, of course, was immortalized in the film Ford v Ferrari.
Some critics often complain about NASCAR’s playoff format. But take a look at IndyCar, where Alex Palou has such a commanding lead that the last four races of the season offer no realistic chance for anyone else to catch him. Excitement? Not much.
NASCAR Cup – With qualifying cancelled due to lightning at Daytona, the field was set by NASCAR’s “performance metric system.” Ryan Blaney (Ford) started on the pole ahead of Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson (both Chevrolet). William Byron, the regular-season champion, was due to start eighth but failed inspection twice. His car was sent to the rear, his crew chief Rudy Fugle was ejected, and Byron had to serve a pass-through penalty at the start.
Early cautions included a Casey Mears spin (Lap 12) and a Reddick-Gilliland tangle (Lap 19). The “big one” came on Lap 28 when Bubba Wallace and Joey Logano made contact, collecting at least 10 cars. Larson won Stage 1, while Ross Chastain took Stage 2. In the closing laps, Joey Logano spun from the lead, and the finish saw Blaney hold off Daniel Suárez and Justin Haley in a four-wide scramble to the line. Larson and Byron remain tied atop the standings, with Denny Hamlin three points back.
Next race: Darlington, Sunday, 6 p.m., TSN 5/NBC.
NASCAR Xfinity – Connor Zilisch (Chev) won the pole over Sam Mayer (Ford) and Sammy Smith (Chev). A rain delay halted things early, and multiple crashes marred the night, including a 12-car wreck in the closing laps. Parker Kligerman substituted for Zilisch, still sore from Richmond, and took the checkered flag, giving the points to Zilisch. Smith finished second, Allgaier third. Allgaier leads Zilisch by three points, with Mayer third.
Next race: Portland, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., CW.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off until Darlington, Friday, noon, CTV Speed.
Formula One – Next race: Zandvoort, Sunday, 8:55 a.m., TSN 5.
IndyCar – At the Milwaukee Mile, Christian Rasmussen scored his first career win over Palou and Scott McLaughlin. Will Power and Callum Ilott both brought out cautions, and rain briefly delayed the action. Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco finished 15th. Palou maintains a dominant points lead. InsideTrackNews.com contributor Mary Bignotti-Mendez filed this report from the race.
Next race: Nashville, Sunday, 2 p.m., Fox/TSN 5.
IMSA – At VIR, Alexander Sims and Corvette Racing won in GTD Pro over Ferrari’s Albert Costa and Corvette teammate Tommy Milner. Multimatic Mustangs placed fourth and seventh; Pfaff Motorsports’ Lamborghini finished ninth. In GTD, Philip Ellis (Mercedes) won over Kenton Koch (Ferrari) and Tom Gamble (Aston Martin).
Next race: Indianapolis, Sept. 21.
NHRA – Next race: U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, this weekend.
Brockville Ontario Speedway – On Saturday night, the first of two championship weekends unfolded at Brockville Ontario Speedway as the Ogilvie’s Triple Crown Series titles came down to the wire. It was also final points night for the Surprenant Truck Shop Crate Sprint Cars, with every division producing high drama. Click here to view a full report from the evening.
This Saturday (August 30) at The BOS, the track plays host to the final points night of the season, presented by Eastern Ontario Eavestrough. The Modifieds, Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks will all be in action for the final points events of the season for all five divisions!
NASCAR Canada Series – At ICAR, Marc-Antoine Camirand won over Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani. Justin Arseneau and L.P. Dumoulin both suffered late-race issues. Click here for a full report, from NASCAR.
Next race: Mosport (CTMP), Sunday.
APC Series – At Sauble Speedway, storms postponed Saturday’s race to Sunday. Rain ended the 100-lapper at 59 laps, giving Dale Shaw the win over Kyle Steckly and Josh Stade.
Next race: Sunset, Saturday.
Ontario Sportsman Series – At Flamboro, Connor James won over Shawn McGlynn and Sean Mangin.
Next race: Full Throttle, Saturday, Sept. 6.
Delaware Speedway – On JAAR Group Night, Marshall Schrenk won the Mod feature over Jamie Cox and Steve McCaw. In Late Models, Jake Sheridan captured the 75-lapper over Brady Smith. Cox leads Mod points, Sheridan leads Late Models.
King of the Hill went to Kevin Farrow (Eagle Talon), while Chuck Menze won the Minivan Nationals.
See below for a photo gallery from the evening, by Chris Culos. Click on an image to view at larger size.
Next race: Dave Lawrence Memorial Super Stock 50,V8 Stocks and Bone Stocks
Ohsweken Speedway – Next: Great Lakes Super Sprints, Friday.
Flamboro Speedway – Next: Canadian Vintage Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks and the SOMA Pro4 Modifieds, Saturday. Front gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30.
Buxton Speedway – Next: SOS + Great Lakes Super Sprints, Saturday.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – Next: Chalmers Fuels Night, Saturday.
Sunset Speedway – Next: First Responders Night, Saturday.
Grand Bend Speedway – Next: NASCAR Weekly Series + Tri-State Sprints, Saturday.
Grand Bend Dragway – Next: Dragway Rush, this weekend.
St. Thomas Dragway – Next: Northern Sled Shootout, this weekend.
Toronto Motorsports Park – Next: TMP No Prep, this weekend.
Can-Am Stock/Super Stock, TMP, Aug. 30–Sept. 1.
Quick 32, PBSS, 5.50 Super Series, Empire Dragway, this weekend.
660 Sportsman Nationals, Grand Bend, Oct. 5.
NHRA Canadian Championship, Cape Breton, Aug. 28–30.
Shannonville Drags, Season Wrap-Up, Sept. 20–21.
Comments: Dave Mathers, motionman@rogers.com or Facebook Messenger.
CASC-OR: The Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region – Next up for Ontario’s road racing sanctioning body is the Ottawa Sports Car Club (OSCC) Calabogie Summer Classic at Calabogie Motorsports Park. For info about all things CASC-OR click HERE.
