In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers looks at some recent news from NASCAR, previews the Dragstrip Memories show this weekend in Hamilton and covers the action from this past weekend.
I find it interesting, considering the ongoing lawsuits, that NASCAR has ‘promoted’ Steve Phelps to the position of Commissioner!! Emulating the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, etc.? Form your own opinions!
Jayski reports that Sammy Smith has been fined $25,000 after his brain-dead bump on Taylor Gray on the last corner of the Martinsville Xfinity race. We need more of these fines to stop the bumping and wrecking we have seen of late.
The violent tornados that hit Middle America last Wednesday caused some damage to the John Force Racing shop in Brownsburg, Indiana. Several garage doors were blown in and they also experienced a hole in the roof.
It was really cool to see the two old Wood Brothers cars on the track at Darlington, although I doubt the 1971 car was really Pearson’s car. The reason, you ask? There was no cigarette lighter on the dash!!
Jayski reports that Front Row Motorsports has teamed up with Bare Knuckle Boxing for sponsorship on Layne Riggs’ Ford F-150. FRM is one of the two teams involved in lawsuits with NASCAR. Are they trying to up their game with some outside muscle? Just asking.
Drag Strip Memories – Sunday, April 13 9 A.M. – 4 P.M., Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on the grounds of Hamilton’s airport. Dragstrip Memories will return to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum this weekend, presenting Canada’s most extensive collection of historic drag racing cars and memorabilia.
The show will feature nostalgic and contemporary race cars, including front-engined dragsters, Pro Modifieds, several period Gassers, and a collection of Stockers and Super Stockers, presenting some of this country’s most outstanding cars and displays.
Also taking place at the event, the PMRA will present The John Massingberd Memorial Award to a deserving individual again this year.
Following three rounds of the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA Stars National Tour, Nova Scotia’s Cole Butcher leads a stout field of competitors in the standings. Milverton, ON racer Kyle Steckly is 13th and rookie Chase Pinsonneault (Belle River, ON) is 15th.
SOME MOTORAMA SWAG STILL AVAILABLE
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NASCAR Cup: William Byron (Chev) topped the 38 cars for the Cup race Sunday at Darlington Raceway over Ryan Preece (Ford), wait, who?? And last week’s winner Denny Hamlin (Toyota). Chev, Ford, Toyota!! 17 Chevs, 12 Fords and 9 Toyotas.
Things did NOT start well for the broadcast. No audio!!! However, that was corrected on lap 2. Although I must admit that it was pretty cool to see and hear only the cars!! And, reportedly, there was no internet access for the teams on pit road. Ah, modern technology!
On lap 5 the #5 car of Kyle Larson got ‘below the cut line’ and spun hitting the inside wall fairly hard to bring out the yellow. On lap 24 Carson Hocevar appeared to have a flat right rear tire and spun off track for another yellow. On lap 82 Hocevar spun again for a caution.
Polesitter Byron won Stage 1. On lap 135 Brad Keselowski spun after losing the locking nut on his right rear wheel but did not hit anything and kept going without having the wheel fall off. Nevertheless, the caution came out I’m assuming for the wheel lock nut lying on the track. Byron also won Stage 2.
On lap 195, just after the restart, Tyler Reddick got into Josh Berry spinning Berry off and down into the inside wall. With three laps to go Bubba Wallace spun Kyle Larson, who was many laps down, bringing out the caution (black flag? We don’t need no stinkin’ black flag!). Bubba’s reward for spinning Kyle? He got the Lucky Dog getting back onto the lead lap!
NASCAR overtime!! Blaney had just taken the lead, passing Reddick before the yellow. So, all the leaders pitted for fresh booties. Hamlin’s crew got him out first and he held on for the win over Byron and Bell. In the winner’s interview he said he wanted to thank two people – his crew and Kyle Larson. He should have thanked Wallace for spinning Larson to set up the exciting finish to the race.
In the points Byron leads Hamlin by 49 and Bell by 52.
Next race – Bristol, Sunday, 3 P.M. on TSN 5 and Fox.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Forty cars showed up to qualify for the 38 starting spots at Darlington Raceway on Saturday. Christopher Bell won the pole ahead of Brandon Jones (both in Toyotas) and Justin Allgaier (Chev).
28 Chevs, 5 Fords and 5 Toyotas. On lap 23 Kris Wright spanked the wall hard pushing in the side of his car for a yellow. Josh Williams appeared to have some damage as his rear bumper cover was dragging. Harrison Burton won Stage 1.
Allgaier won the caution-free Stage 2. On lap 117 the caution came out for a spinning Garrett Smithley in Corner 4. On lap 128 Anthony Alfredo spun after Leland Honeyman got loose in front of him. He lifted and got hit from behind for another yellow. At the flag it was Jones over Chase Elliott and Allgaier. In the points Allgaier leads Sam Mayer by 71 and Austin Hill by 79.
Next race – Bristol, Saturday at 5 P.M. on USA and CW.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks: Next race, Bristol, Friday at 7.30 P.M. on CTV Speed!!
Formula One: Lando Norris (McLaren) topped the charts in FP1 for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. His teammate Oscar Piastri was quickest in FP2, Norris was back on top for FP3 and the Max Verstappen (Red Bull) spoiled the McLaren picnic by grabbing the pole over Norris and Piastri. Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) qualified DFL (20th).
Interestingly, Lawson, who got demoted from Red Bull down to Red Bulls, started one spot ahead of Tsunoda who replaced him in the Red Bull. The race cars weren’t the only things that were hot at Japan. Grass fires had flared up requiring firefighters to douse them.
At the halfway mark it was Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) over Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Verstappen. Things had been very uneventful that far and continued that way to the checkered flag.
At that flag, it was Verstappen over Norris and Piastri, just the way they started. Any worries that the Red Bull would not be able to stay out front were allayed. Stroll ended up where he started, DFL, the only car one lap down as every car finished the race.
It was good to see Jacques Villeneuve back on the broadcast adding insight often missing from some of the others.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Norris leads Verstappen by ONLY one point with Piastri in third, 13 points back. In the Constructors’ Championship McLaren leads Mercedes by 36 and Red Bull by 50.
Next race – Bahrain, Sunday.
IndyCar: Next race – Long Beach, April 13.
IMSA: Next race – Long Beach, April 12.
NHRA: Next race – Las Vegas, April 13.
NASCAR Canada Series: First race – Mosport (CTMP), May 18.
APC Late Model Series: First race – Sunset, May 18.
Ontario Sportsman Series: First race – Delaware, May 16
Delaware Speedway: First race – Friday, May 9.
Ohsweken Speedway: First race – Friday, May 9.
Peterborough Speedway: First race – Saturday, May 17. Free admission!
Flamboro Speedway: First race – Saturday, May 3
Buxton Speedway: First race – Saturday, May 10.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway: First race – Saturday, May 17.
Grand Bend Speedway: First race – Saturday, May 10.
Grand Bend Dragway: First race – weekend of May 18.
St. Thomas Dragway: First race – weekend of May 24/25.
Toronto Motorsports Park: First race – weekend of May 11.
Speed Promotions Racing (No Prep) : TMP, weekend of July 12.
Can Am Stock/Super Stock: First race – TMP, weekend of May 18.
PMRA – First race date: Empire Dragway, June 21.
660 Sportsman Nationals: Race date – Grand Bend, October 5.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series: First race weekend of May 18 – TMP
Shannonville Drags: First race – June 7 & 8.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
