I loved that Max Verstappen refused to answer questions in his post-race interview regarding his first lap move. He praised the track and the fans – but that was it. The man currently “running” the FIA won’t be able to say or do anything about that response.
Following Jesse Love’s disqualification at ‘The Rock,’ I’m left wondering how those ‘transgressions’ slipped through pre-practice, pre-qualifying, post-qualifying, and pre-race tech inspections. Was post-race tech just that much more thorough? As suspected, Jesse Love’s DQ at The Rock stemmed from a report by another team. Second-place finisher (and eventual winner) Sammy Smith noticed the issue while following Love and radioed it in. Busted!
Kyle Larson didn’t have a good Open Test Day last Thursday at Indy. He hit the wall exiting Corner One and then again in Two, severely damaging the car. Larson plans to attempt ‘The Double’ on Memorial Day – 500 miles at Indy and 600 at Charlotte. I believe he’s talented enough to win both.
How important is the internet to auto racing? Apparently, very. Last Wednesday’s Open Indy 500 Test was halted just moments after its 10 a.m. start when the internet went down, cutting off communication between officials and teams. If memory serves, another sanctioning body had a similar issue earlier this year.
Katherine Legge reportedly received “hate mail, death threats, and inappropriate sexual comments” following the Xfinity race at The Rock. NASCAR fans are passionate, sometimes to a fault. The smartest response for Legge might be to let her right foot do the talking.
A confusing article appeared on IMSA.com last week. The headline claimed, “Pfaff Says ‘Ciao’ to Lamborghini,” but the story failed to confirm whether they were indeed leaving or what their next move might be. The definition of the word ‘Ciao’ is usually ‘goodbye’ but in some cases, it can mean ‘hello.’ Pfaff Motorsports, a successful Canadian-based IMSA GTD PRO team, previously ran Porsches, then McLarens, and this year, Lamborghinis. A quick dive using Dr. Google suggests they may have returned to Porsche – the brand where they’ve had the most success. They’ll be at Laguna Seca this weekend. Good luck!
NASCAR has added a new wrinkle to the All-Star Race on May 18 at Martinsville Speedway: a “promoter’s caution,” meaning race control can call for an entertainment break at any point during the main event. And how exactly does that differ from current race direction? Just asking!
You asked, and you got them! The Outlaws are returning to Ohsweken, and the Super Mods are back at Delaware. Get out there and support these tracks for reviving such iconic classes:
– World of Outlaws – May 14 & 15 at Ohsweken Speedway
– ISMA/MSS Super Modifieds – June 6 at Delaware Speedway
BE THERE!
NASCAR Cup: In qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway, Zane Smith (Ford) took pole ahead of Kyle Busch (Chevy) and Joey Logano (Ford). It’s refreshing to see new names up front. 39 cars timed – 18 Chevys, 12 Fords, and 9 Toyotas. Things were smooth until lap 43, when a group of cars got together. Keselowski and Busch slowed for pitting cars off Turn 4, both spun, collecting Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman in the first caution.
On the restart, Christopher Bell, bumped by teammate Denny Hamlin exiting Turn 2, slammed into the inside wall. Leader Chris Buescher also got caught when Bell slid across his nose. Larson won Stage 1, despite Bubba Wallace nearly causing chaos in the final stage laps.
Around lap 75, they went full World of Outlaws – four-wide! Stage 2 ran cleanly, albeit with some scares, and Wallace took the stage win. At the checkered flag, it was Austin Cindric over Ryan Preece and Kyle Larson. Despite Toyota’s earlier dominance – seven in a row at one point – only Bubba Wallace finished in the top ten (10th). In the points, William Byron leads Larson by 32 and Hamlin by 53.
Next race: Texas, Sunday, 3:30 p.m. on TSN 5.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Disqualified winner Jesse Love returned to win the pole at Talladega. Austin Hill and Justin Allgaier (both in Chevys) qualified second and third. 40 cars attempted to qualify for 38 spots: 27 Chevys, 5 Fords, 6 Toyotas.
It took less than half a lap for the field to go three-wide, staying that way around the track. If you’ve never been to ’Dega, put it on your bucket list – and bring binoculars; that back straight is a long way off! The early running was clean, with Love winning Stage 1. Surprisingly, Stage 2 also went caution-free, with Hill taking the win.
Hill has a habit of sweeping stages at drafting tracks. In a surprising turn, Katherine Legge led lap 75. On lap 79, the first yellow came when contact between Greg Van Alst and Sammy Smith spun Ryan Sieg. Jeb Burton later scrubbed the wall, and on lap 101, Aric Almirola moved up into Legge, causing a major wreck.
Almirola argued with his spotter, who replied, “When I said it, you were clear.” Brandon Jones and Jeffrey Earnhardt were collateral damage.
Just before the restart, yellow lights reappeared when a large piece of metal was found on track. On the final lap, Love bumped leader and teen phenom Connor Zilisch into the inside wall. NASCAR Live Timing briefly showed “John Burton” as the winner – who? Actually, Austin Hill won, though the system initially showed him finishing fourth. The crowd booed, clearly unhappy. I’ll wait for Jayski to sort it out! Final result: Hill over Jeb Burton and Love.
In the standings, Allgaier leads Hill by 79 and Sam Mayer by 102.
Next race: Texas, Saturday at 2 p.m. on USA and CW.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Next race: Texas, Friday at 8 p.m. on CTV Speed.
Formula One: Next race: Miami, Sunday
IndyCar: Next race: Barber Motorsports Park, Sunday
IMSA: Next race: Laguna Seca, May 11
NHRA – 4-Wide Nationals, Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Top Fuel: Doug Kalitta topped qualifying with a 3.646 at 333.74. Brittany Force hit 341.59 mph in qualifying. Canadian Todd Paton qualified 14th. Kalitta won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over Antron Brown. Shawn Langdon took the event win over Justin Ashley with a 3.714 at 330.63. Four upsets and six smokers. Langdon leads the standings over Tony Stewart (+16) and Brown (+20).
Funny Car: Paul Lee topped qualifying with a 3.829 at 328.54. Canadian Spencer Hyde was 4th. Austin Prock won the Challenge over Hyde, then beat Ron Capps in the final (3.870 at 332.92). Lee leads Jack Beckman by 16 points and Prock by 21. Hyde sits 15th.
Pro Modified: JR Gray led qualifying with a 5.680 at 254.76. Canadians Justin Bond and Jordan Lazic qualified 5th and 8th. Gray won the final with a 5.656 at 255.73. Michael Stavrinos leads the points over Rickie Smith (+51) and Gray (+105). Bond and Lazic sit 5th and 8th.
Pro Stock: Dallas Glenn was quickest in qualifying (6.502 at 211.10). Canadians Eric and Matt Latino were 5th and 8th. Matt Hartford won the Challenge over Greg Anderson, but Glenn beat Anderson in the final with a 6.495 at 212.69. Eric Latino finished 4th. Anderson leads Glenn by 4 and Hartford by 160 in points. Eric sits 8th, Matt 10th.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gaige Herrera topped qualifying (6.680 at 201.64). Matt Smith won the final over Richard Gadson with a 6.736 at 202.91. Herrera leads the standings over Matt Smith (+21) and Angie Smith (+45).
Mountain Motor Pro Stock: Elijah Morton qualified first (6.260 at 224.85). Brad Waddle won the final over Johnny Pluchino (6.320 at 222.95).
Factory Stock Showdown: Jason Dietsch topped qualifying (7.715 at 178.00). 17 cars qualified, but only Doug Hamp didn’t return after Round 1. Jonathon Allegrucci beat Mark Pawuk in the final with a 7.719 at 178.28.
Factory X: Lenny Lottig topped qualifying (6.902 at 195.19) and won the final over Jesse Alexandra (6.892 at 199.11). Lottig leads the standings by 1 over Dietsch and 4 over Hamp.
Next NHRA race: Route 66, Sunday, May 18
Other Series Openers:
– NASCAR Canada Series: May 18 at CTMP
– APC Series: May 18 at Sunset
– CASC-OR: Ontario’s road racing organization kicks off its 2025 season May 10-11 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The BEMC Spring Trophy Races will feature: Formula Libre / F4 / VARAC Formula Classic, Formula Prototype Challenge Canada, Miata Canada Cup, Pirelli Tire Super Touring: GT 1 & 2, Pirelli Tire Grand Touiring: GT 3, 4, 5, VARAC Classic & VARAC Modern Classic and VARAC Vintage Historics.
– Ontario Sportsman Series: May 16 at Delaware
– Delaware Speedway: May 9
– Ohsweken Speedway: May 9
– Flamboro Speedway: Saturday
– Brockville Ontario Speedway: May 10
– Peterborough Speedway: May 17 – Free Admission
– Buxton Speedway: May 10
– Full Throttle Motor Speedway: May 17
– Sunset Speedway: Saturday
– Grand Bend Speedway: May 10
– Grand Bend Motorplex: Weekend of May 18
– St. Thomas Dragway: May 24–25
– Toronto Motorsports Park: Weekend of May 11
– Speed Promotions (No Prep): July 12 at TMP
– Can Am Stock/Super Stock: May 18 at TMP
– PMRA: June 21 at Empire Dragway
– 660 Sportsman Nationals: October 5 at Grand Bend
– John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series: May 18 at TMP
– Shannonville Drags: June 7–8
Comments welcome via email at motionman@rogers.com or through Facebook Messenger.
