In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers covers F1 at COTA, NASCAR at Talladega and more.
We used to get the Australian Supercars races on Speed Channel, but not much lately. It was interesting to see the results from the Bathurst 1000 held on the spectacular Mount Panorama circuit. I’m still blown away by the elevation changes the drivers’ faces, and the action is always intense. This year’s winners, the team of Matt Payne and Garth Tander in a Mustang, topped the six Camaros that finished right behind them.
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Nova Scotia racer Cole Butcher (right), the 2025 ASA/CRA Super Series champion, will be getting a second ride in one of injured driver Stewart Friesen’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyotas at the season finale at Phoenix on Friday, October 31.John Force Racing has announced that Josh Hart will replace the retiring Brittany Force in the team’s Top Fuel dragster next year — a good pick.
For the first time in a very long while, the NHRA National Event at Dallas a week ago actually edged out the NASCAR Cup race at Las Vegas in TV ratings — 1.872 million viewers to 1.717 million. Interesting.
Reports have it that Kaulig Racing, the team Ty Dillon drives for, has fired Dillon’s spotter Joe White after William Byron crashed into a slowing Dillon who was pitting at Las Vegas. Did they fire the right one?
Sad news from Formula One: presidential candidate Tim Mayer has withdrawn from running for the top job. He cited the rules for his departure, noting that any candidate must have a list of vice-presidential representatives from each region. Current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem already has representatives lined up in three regions, meaning Mayer could not get all regions represented.
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NASCAR Cup Series – Michael McDowell (Chev) grabbed the pole for Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway ahead of Chase Briscoe (Toyota) and Kyle Busch (Chev). A full 40-car field took the green — 18 Chevs, 13 Fords and nine Toyotas. It’s always exciting to see all those cars entering Turn 1 at full song on the opening lap.
The first yellow came out on Lap 52 when Noah Gragson, at the front of the pack, got bumped and turned by Erik Jones, collecting AJ Allmendinger (whose car was smoking heavily on the apron), Chase Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Cindric, Justin Haley and Austin Dillon. Strangely, there was radio silence from the announce team during the incident. What’s up with that?
Ty Gibbs won Stage 1. On Lap 111, Shane van Gisbergen locked up entering pit road, spun and ended up mired in the wet grass outside the lane, bringing out the yellow. Chase Briscoe won Stage 2. On Lap 167, Cody Ware suffered an engine failure and spread oil on the track, prompting another caution. With two laps to go, Chris Buescher, leading the race, was bumped by William Byron and went hard into the inside wall. NASCAR Overtime!
Coming to the flag, Kyle Larson ran out of fuel, then Byron got spun. Briscoe took the win over Todd Gilliland and Ty Gibbs — two JGR Toyotas into the Final Four — and about 100 lead changes during the race. In the points, Briscoe leads Christopher Bell by nine and Larson by 10.
Next race – Martinsville, Sunday, 2 p.m. on TSN 4.
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NASCAR Xfinity Series – Jesse Love (Chev) won the pole Saturday for the race at Talladega Superspeedway ahead of William Sawalich (Toyota) and Christian Eckes (Chev). Thirty-eight cars started — 28 Chevs, five Fords and five Toyotas.
Things went well until Lap 15 when Jeb Burton got loose and moved up the track, collecting several cars including Sheldon Creed, Harrison Burton, Ryan Sieg, Sam Mayer, Anthony Alfredo and others. Yellow, red and a long cleanup followed. Austin Hill won Stage 1.
On Lap 44, Leland Honeyman got bumped and spun down the track, collecting points leader Zilisch, Connor Mosack, Blaine Perkins, Dean Thompson and Sawalich, who was transported to hospital for evaluation. Another yellow, then red for cleanup. Hill also won Stage 2.
On Lap 95, Sammy Smith moved to get behind Jesse Love but triggered another multi-car wreck including Aric Almirola, who hit the wall hard. NASCAR Overtime! At the flag, Hill swept all three stages, finishing ahead of Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier.
In the points, Zilisch leads Allgaier by seven and Love by 43.
Next race – Martinsville, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on CW.
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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Thirty-six trucks qualified for Friday afternoon’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. Giovanni Ruggiero (Toyota) grabbed the pole over Ty Majeski (Ford) and points leader Corey Heim (Toyota). Kaden Honeycutt (Toyota), subbing for injured Canadian Stewart Friesen, started fifth. Canadian Jason White (Ford) started 33rd, and Cayden Lapcevich served as crew chief on Connor Mosack’s Chev, which started 14th.
The first yellow flew on Lap 5 when Chandler Smith bump-drafted Grant Enfinger, sending him through traffic and onto the grass. Another caution came out on Lap 11 when Layne Riggs appeared to get a flat and collected Mosack and Smith. Rajah Caruth won Stage 1.
On Lap 32, Brett Holmes got turned and went hard into the inside wall. Ruggiero won Stage 2. The “laundry” came out again on Lap 64 when Norm Benning “blowed up real good” on track. Cleanup! With two laps to go, leader Ben Rhodes spun after a bump from Luke Fenhaus. NASCAR Overtime! At the flag it was Ruggiero over Heim and Majeski. Honeycutt finished 10th, Mosack 14th and White 30th.
In the points, Heim leads Caruth by 71 and Tyler Ankrum by 77.
Next race – Martinsville, Friday, 6 p.m. on CTV Speed.
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Formula One – The series visited the beautiful Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Lando Norris (McLaren) was quickest in FP1, then Max Verstappen (Red Bull) nabbed pole for the Saturday Sprint Race over Norris and Oscar Piastri (McLaren). Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) qualified 14th.
The Sprint Race, only 19 laps, provided immediate drama. Piastri got around teammate Norris, who tried to fight back underneath — but Nico Hülkenberg was already in the gap Norris went for. Carnage followed. Both McLarens and Hülkenberg were out. Safety car. At halfway, Verstappen led George Russell and Carlos Sainz. On Lap 16, Stroll overcooked a corner and took out Esteban Ocon — both Astons out, both McLarens out. The pace car looked busy while the field crawled under caution. At the yellow/checker it was Verstappen over Russell and Sainz. Stroll was listed DNF.
In qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar was first to have trouble, stuffing it into the tire barriers in Turn 6 — yellow, then red. Verstappen dominated qualifying, setting fast time in Q1, Q2 and Q3. Norris started second, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) third, and Stroll 18th.
Max made a superb start and quickly gapped the field, leading by three seconds after five laps. On Lap 7, Carlos Sainz stopped on track after contact with Kimi Antonelli, bringing out a virtual safety car. At halfway, Verstappen led Norris by more than 10 seconds, with Hamilton third. The race ran clean to the finish, Verstappen leading every lap and taking the win over Norris and Leclerc. Stroll finished 12th.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Piastri leads Norris by 14 and Verstappen by 40. In the Constructors’ standings, McLaren leads Mercedes by 337 and Ferrari by 344.
Next race – Mexico, Sunday, 3:55 p.m. on TSN 5.
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NHRA – Next race: Las Vegas, Sunday, November 2.
Flamboro Speedway – Flamboro held its annual Halloween Enduro and Pure Stock events this past weekend. See below for a gallery of images, from Derek Smith of RacePulse.com. Click on an image to view the slideshow. Next race: Monster Trucks, next Saturday.
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Brockville Ontario Speedway – The 2025 DIRT Outlaw Apparel Fall Nationals returned to Brockville Ontario Speedway with thrilling racing action across multiple divisions. Mat Williamson captured the spotlight, winning the Big Block Modified feature on Friday and following up with a DIRTcar 358 Modified victory on Saturday, becoming the third driver to sweep both events in Fall Nationals history and securing his 2nd 358 Modified Series Championship. Felix Roy and Gary Lindberg finished behind him.
In other divisions, Sebastien Beauregard claimed his first Mini Stock Fall Nationals win, while Lee Ladouceur earned his first 2025 Winged Crate Sprint victory. Chris Wilson dominated the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club 50/60 class, and Ian Gordon claimed the 70/80 title. Street Stocks delivered a nail-biting battle, with Brock Gregory edging Tyler French for the win. The weekend featured high-speed racing, dramatic moments, and championship-deciding performances, capping off a memorable 2025 season at Brockville.
You can view the full report from the DIRTcar Fall Nationals at The BOS here.
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Toronto Motorsports Park – Next race: Take It to the Track, this weekend.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
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