Even when he’s on vacation, Dave Mathers is still delivering the goods! In this week’s edition of the Motion Motorsport Report, Dave is filing from down south. Talk about commitment!
Quick note to Dave’s regular readers… I (Greg MacPherson) was crazy jammed with the Toronto Motorama show, which took place this past weekend at the International Centre. Dave filed last week, but I didn’t have an opportunity to post it… so it was on me if you were looking for it. My apologies to Dave and all of you! Thanks Dave!!!
Dave Mathers: My blog is coming to you LIVE from the lush rainforests of Costa Rica!! LOL Linda and I are visiting our daughter Cathy and her husband Tavo as well as touring the beautiful country especially the volcanoes. And to suggest that full ‘coverage’ is available is a LONG way from the truth.
NASCAR CUP SERIES: Kyle Larson (Chev) grabbed the pole at Phoenix ahead of Denny Hamlin (Toyota) and William Byron (Chev). Byron won Stage 1 and then it was all green until lap 138 when Aric Almirola spanked the wall and lost a wheel bringing out the first yellow. Larson won Stage 2.
On lap 302 Harrison Burton had a flat tire and spun bringing out another yellow. Larson got around Kevin Harvick for the lead with about ten to go. On lap 310 A.J. Almendinger got together with Noah Gragson and they slide up taking out Ty Gibbs. It was humorous watching Live Timing constantly updating the number of laps from 312 to 313 to 315 to 317!!
What a finish!! Byron gets around Larson for the win followed by Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick. Larson finished fourth just ahead of Harvick. In the points Bowman leads Harvick by 3 and Chastain by 6.
Their next race is Atlanta, Sunday at 3 on TSN 5 and Fox.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: Cole Custer (Ford) nabbed the pole ahead of Justin Allgaier and Daniel Hemric (both in Chevs) for Saturday’s race. The race had 9 ‘racing cautions’ with only two cars taken to the garage as a result.
Allgaier won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. However he was, unfortunately, one of the above referenced two cars. At the flag it was 18 year old phenom and high school student Sammy Smith winning for Joe Gibbs Racing followed by Ryan Blaney and Sheldon Creed who came from the back after a late race spin.
Austin Hill continues to lead the point by 30 over John Hunter Nemechek and Allgaier.
Their next race is Atlanta, Saturday at 5 on TSN 5.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS: Eckes leads Crafton by five and Majeski by 9 in the points after one race. Their next race is Atlanta, Saturday on Fox Sports Racing at 2 P.M.
FORMULA ONE: Their next race is Saudi Arabia Sunday on TSN 4 & 5.
INDYCAR: Their next race is Texas Sunday, April 2.
IMSA: Their next race is Sebring, this weekend.
NHRA: Reportedly, the largest crowd in the 54 years of the Gainesville Gatornationals got to see a good show.
In qualifying Brittany Force got the number 1 spot in Top Fuel, Ron Capps in Funny Car, J.R. Gray in Pro Mod, Troy Coughlin in Pro Stock, Gaige Herrara in Pro Stock Bike and Aaron Stanfield in Factory Stock.
In the Top Fuel All Star Callout Josh Hart defeated Mike Salinas. Five of the seven pairings had ‘traction problems’.
Sixteen Top Fuelers showed with Mike Salinas taking out Steve Torrance in the final. There were five ‘upsets’ (lower qualified car winning) and only 3 smokers!!
Sixteen cars were entered as well for Funny Car and the final was Matt Hagan in his Tony Stewart flopper over J.R. Todd. 5 upsets and 8 smokers.
Pro Mod, once again treated as outcasts, only got 2 qualifiers AND, apparently, of the 61 cars last weekend at Bradenton only 19 of them made the trip across Florida for this event. NHRA is definitely missing the boat on this class!! Justin Bond took out J.R. Gray in the final. There were 3 upsets and 5 smokers.
In Pro Stock 20 cars showed up with Coughlin taking out Mason McGaha in the final. 4 upsets and only 1 smoker.
Pro Stock Bike had 19 entries with Herrara getting the win atop Angie Smith. 4 upsets and 1 smoker.
Joseph Welch beat Stanfield in the Factory Stock final (5 rounds – all run).
Needless to say, the points are pretty much exactly where they finished during eliminations.
Their next race is Chandler, March 26.
NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES: Their season starts Saturday, May 13 at Sunset Speedway.
APC SERIES: Their season starts Saturday, May 20 at Sunset Speedway.
ONTARIO SPORTSMAN SERIES: Their season starts Friday, May 19 at Delaware.
SUPERSTAR RACING EXPERIENCE (SRX): Their season starts Thursday, July 13 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Friday, May 12.
FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: Happy birthday to track co-owner John Casale, who celebrated his birthday at the Toronto Motorama show on the weekend. Their season starts Saturday, April 29.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Friday, May 19.
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Buxton): Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
GRAND BEND SPEEDWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 20.
GRAND BEND DRAGWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
ST. THOMAS DRAGWAY: Their season starts Saturday, May 6.
TORONTO MOTORSPORT PARK: Their season starts April 22.
SHANNONVILLE DRAGS: Their first race is June 17 & 18, Nostalgia Weekend.
TORONTO MOTORAMA SHOW: I hear the place was packed, and that many racing tracks and series were there. Congrats!
Toronto Motorama 2023. Photo by Paolo PedicelliDRAGSTRIP MEMORIES: April 16 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on the grounds of Hamilton Airport. BE THERE!!
CAN-AM STOCK/SUPER STOCK SERIES: Their season starts Saturday, June 3, Grand Bend.
MY ‘VIEW’: It’s VERY interesting to see the many NASCAR decals and Dale, Sr. flags down here in Costa Rica!!
It was rather funny (at least to me) to read that Swift Trucking has become the sponsor for Blaine Perkins in the Xfinity Series. You don’t have to be just a trucker to realize that with Swift on the side of the car ALL the other drivers have to be afraid, VERY afraid!! LOL
Until next week!!
– Dave Mathers
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