It seems Carson Hocevar has been fined $50,000 for derogatory online comments he made about Mexico City. By NASCAR? Nope… by his own team, Spire Motorsports!
Good news for the Canadian Grand Prix! The event’s contract has been renewed, extending the current end date from 2031 to 2035. Now, about running it on the same day as the Indy 500? Hmmm.
Imagine having your race car endure all 24 hours of Le Mans, only to be disqualified for missing four bolts that support the rear wing. That’s exactly what happened to the AF Corse Ferrari driven by Nielsen, Molina, and Fuoco after finishing fourth. Ouch.
Anyone watching the Canadian Grand Prix must have wondered how Max Verstappen got away with passing race winner George Russell under a late-race caution. I wondered myself. Was Max penalized? No. What happened? Red Bull (the team, not Max) protested Russell for slowing too far behind the pace car. Really! Needless to say, the protest was dismissed.
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CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK: The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for exotic prototype and GT cars makes its only stop north of the border July 11-13 as part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. Canada’s biggest sports car event features a world-class field of drivers racing iconic performance brands (including Corvette, Acura, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Mustang, and Porsche) on CTMP’s legendary Grand Prix circuit.
In addition to the WeatherTech series (with LMP2 prototypes, GTD PRO and GTD classes), the Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing Sportscar Challenge, and the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin fill out the three-day weekend of racing. Click HERE for tickets and info.
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NASCAR is reportedly considering holding a race inside Franklin Field, a 50,000-seat football stadium in Philadelphia. Having driven by there, I see one major issue – no parking.
Reports suggest Formula One is discussing a race in Thailand, with the government pledging $1.2 billion to host the event. I wonder which legacy race will be dropped for that? I remember being in Bangkok about 30 years ago. I was standing outside our hotel, The Oriental, smoking a cigar, when I heard a small-block Chevy revving. In Bangkok? By the way, see right for the hotel shoehorn, which I still have.
Around the bend came a cargo scow with a small-block engine mounted atop a long shaft, driving the propeller. Pretty soon, dozens of those bad boys were zipping up and down the river. Funny.
Last week I had fun teasing Delaware veteran Steve McCaw for his brutally late starts when he won King of the Hill. This week, Steve explained what happened. On his first run, the staging marshal told him to watch the starter. Problem – he was in a Corvette (his wife’s), and he couldn’t see the starter. In Round 2, they told him to wait for the green lights at Corner 1. Bigger problem – Steve is colourblind! So, what did he do? He waited for the other car to start and then launched. Problem solved.
Shout out to Canadian USF Pro 2000 racer Mac Clark (right). Following his three podiums at Road America this past weekend, the Campbellville, ON racer jumped to second in the championship chase after 12 rounds. The Exclusive Autosport driver – with backing from Corpay Cross-Border Solutions / Clubine Motorsports / TNG Exotics / Actuarial Risk Management is optimistic heading into the second half of the season.
“Six out of seven podiums in the last seven races is something you can’t complain about,” said Clark, following Road America. “Still looking for that top step, that victory, but super grateful to all the guys back at the shop, Danny, Mr. Duncalfe, Mr. Cooley and the whole Exclusive Autosport team. This is only the beginning. We still have another half of the season to go and I am looking to make a push for the championship.”
Heat and rain plagued the racing weekend in Ontario. Due to the threat of severe weather at Sunset Speedway this past Saturday at Sunset Speedway (south of Barrie, ON), the NASCAR Canada Series race was wisely cancelled. An alternative date is TBD. The Pocono Cup Series race was rain delayed. St. Thomas Dragway’s Fun Weekend was delayed Saturday through the day, and Buxton’s Saturday night show was canceled because the track turned into a mud pit.
I ran into the original Larry Jackson Friday night, and he told me he’s getting back behind the wheel, driving a Trevellin Racing car in the Delaware V8 Stock class. Larry started racing in 1971 and ‘retired’ about five years ago. Good luck, Larry!
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UNITED RACING SERIES / DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: This Friday and Saturday (June 27 & 28), Delaware Speedway plays host to its jam-packed Canada Day Weekend event. The headline race is Saturday’s APC Pro Late Model AC Delco 100 in Memory of Ivor Jones. Also on the card is Round 2 of the Dayco Super Stocks Series (Friday). OSCAAR will also be there with its Overkill Modifieds (Saturday) and Hot Rods (Saturday). Delaware’s Liftow / Toyota Material Handling Bone Stocks (Friday), Epic Racewear Modifieds (Friday) and King of the Hill Spectator races (Friday) complete the Canada Day Weekend show. Click HERE for tickets and weekend info.
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NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin (Toyota), returning after missing Mexico due to family duties, picked up the pole at Pocono over Chris Buescher (Ford) and Carson Hocevar (Chevrolet). The race had 37 entries: 16 Chevrolets, 12 Fords, and 9 Toyotas. After a two-hour rain delay, the green flag finally flew. Hamlin won a clean Stage 1. On lap 41, Riley Herbst hit the wall in Turn 1, bringing out the first caution. Bubba Wallace blew a tire and hit the wall in the tunnel turn on lap 54. Lap 78 brought a debris caution, and on lap 83, Kyle Busch spun in the tunnel turn—his rough season continues. Ty Dillon, Christopher Bell, and Shane van Gisbergen were collected in the aftermath. At halfway, Ricky Stenhouse led Hocevar and Brad Keselowski. Chase Briscoe won Stage 2. On lap 125, van Gisbergen spun again and backed into the wall. At the checkers, Briscoe held off Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. In points, William Byron leads Kyle Larson by 54 and Hamlin by 78.
Next race: Atlanta, Saturday at 7 p.m. on TSN 5.
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FLAMBORO SPEEDWAY: This Saturday night (June 28) at Flamboro Speedway is $15 Admission Night! It’s the season opener for the OMRS Modifieds. The Canadian Vintage Modifieds, SOMA Pro 4 Modifieds, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks will also be there. And don’t miss the Spectator Drags at intermission. Pit gates open at 4:00, Front Gates open at 5:00 and Racing begins at 6:30. For more info, www.flamborospeedway.ca.
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NASCAR Xfinity Series: Chase Elliott (Chevrolet) grabbed the pole over Brandon Jones (Toyota) and Nick Sanchez (Chevrolet). On lap 3, Daniel Dye spun in Turn 3. Justin Bonsignore blew up on the front stretch during the restart. Jones won Stage 1 but later spun in the tunnel turn on lap 32, collecting Dye, Austin Hill, and William Sawalich. Leland Honeyman spun on lap 41. Connor Zilisch won Stage 2. More yellows followed, including spins by Ryan Ellis, Sanchez, and Kyle Sieg. At the flag, Zilisch, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as crew chief, won over Jesse Love and Christian Eckes. Elliott finished fourth.
Points: Justin Allgaier leads Hill by 82 and Sam Mayer by 100.
Next race: Atlanta, Friday at 7:30 p.m. on CW.
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NASCAR CANADA SERIES: Canada’s national stock car championship series heads to Nova Scotia’s Riverside International Speedway this weekend for the Maple Leaf Classic at the beautiful, high-banked Antigonish speedway. The green flag drops Saturday (June 28) at 4:30 p.m. Go to www.NASCAR.ca for more information.
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NASCAR Craftsman Trucks: Layne Riggs (Ford) won the pole over Kaden Honeycutt (Chevrolet) and points leader Corey Heim (Toyota). Canadian Stewart Friesen (Toyota) started 13th. Heim won Stages 1 and 2. Multiple cautions followed, including crashes involving Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, and Jake Garcia. Riggs took the win over Tanner Gray and Honeycutt. Friesen finished 8th. Heim, despite tire issues, leads Chandler Smith by 124 points and Daniel Hemric by 143. Friesen sits 10th.
Next race: Lime Rock, Saturday at 1 p.m. on Fox.
Formula One: Next race: Austria, Sunday at 9 a.m. on TSN1.
IndyCar: Louis Foster took pole at Road America over Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood. Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco started 19th. The race featured early cautions for David Malukas, Sting Ray Robb, and Conor Daly. At halfway, Christian Lundgaard led Kirkwood and Felix Rosenqvist. Josef Newgarden later spun off corner 14. Alex Palou claimed the win over Rosenqvist and Santino Ferrucci. DeFrancesco finished 19th.
Next race: Mid-Ohio, Sunday, July 6.
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CASC-OR: The Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region (CASC-OR) sanctions the RaceOntario Championships, a series or race events run from April through October at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport), Shannonville Motorsports Park, and Calabogie Motorsport Park. The series includes a variety of individual race groups. Click HERE for more info about CASC-OR Road Racing. Their next event is the BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races, July 26-27 at CTMP. In other CASC-OR news, their Miata Canada Cup will be part of the Toronto Indy weekend in mid-July.
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IMSA: In qualifying for the Six Hours of The Glen, van der Zande/Yelloly/Ohta topped GTP; Hyett/Cameron/Edgar led LMP2; the Canadian Pfaff Lamborghini was quickest in PRO; and the Heart of Racing Aston Martin led GTD. NBC covered the first half—thanks for that. Early on, the P2 car of Rodrigo Sales spun. Rain soon followed, causing chaos. The Pfaff Lambo crashed at the two-hour mark. At halfway, class leaders included Grosjean (GTP), Garg (P2), Vervisch (PRO), and Tuck (GTD). Incidents involving Marco Wittmann, Nick Tandy, and Charlie Eastwood brought more yellows.
Winners: Blomqvist (GTP), Di Resta (P2), Pepper (PRO), Gamble (GTD). The Pfaff Lambo finished 10th in class.
Next race: Mosport (CTMP), July 13.
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NAPA: Looking for NAPA swag and merchandise, including items featuring NASCAR Canada Series racer Kevin Lacroix? Then check out the NAPA Store for a wide variety of racing and other products.
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NHRA: Kudos to NHRA for reducing Pro qualifying to Saturday only in Virginia—saving teams money.
Top Fuel: Brittany Force topped 14 entries with a 3.839 at 327.98 and faced points leader Tony Stewart in Round 1. Canadians Dan Mercier and Smax Smith qualified 11th and 13th. Steve Torrence won the #2Fast2Tasty challenge.
Funny Car: Jack Beckman ran 3.988 to lead the 16-car field. Daniel Wilkerson won the challenge. Austin Prock topped Beckman in the final.
Pro Mod: 21 entries. Dmitry Samorukov qualified first, but J.R. Gray won the final.
Pro Stock Bike: Brayden Davis was fastest and won the challenge. Gaige Herrera beat Angie Smith in eliminations.
Top Fuel Bike: Larry McBride dominated.
Factory X: Jesse Alexandra topped qualifying; Lenny Lottig edged him out in eliminations.
Next race: Norwalk, Sunday at 2 p.m. on Fox.
DELAWARE SPEEDWAY: 38 Bone Stocks raced this past Friday night. Heat wins went to Hana Lamont, Taylor Everest, and Will Quarrie; Charlie Verhoeven won the feature. In Super Stocks, Hudson Nagy and Trevor Collver won heats. The feature saw a fantastic side-by-side duel between Carson Nagy and Collver, with Nagy taking the win. In the Earl Ross Memorial 75-lap Late Model race, Kyle Steckly set fast time. Jake Sheridan, driving car #52 (Earl Ross’s number), took the win over Treyten Lapcevich and Jesse Kennedy.
Next races: Friday – Dayco Super Stocks, Liftow / Toyota Material Handling Bone Stocks, Epic Racewear Modifieds, King of the Hill Spectator Races. Saturday – APC Pro Late Models, OSCAAR Hot Rods, OSCAAR Overkill Enterprises Modifieds, all part of the Canada Day Weekend at Delaware.
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BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY: This Saturday night (June 28) is Rycon Electrical Night at The BOS. The Modified, Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Surprenant Truck Shop Crate Sprints and Street Stocks will be on track. Tickets are $20 for adults. Click HERE for more info from The BOS.
This past Saturday, the Empire Super Sprints (ESS) were the headline feature at The BOS, in addition to a full card of the track’s weekly classes. Jordan Poirier won the ESS feature, holding off several challengers to earn the victory. Click HERE for a full report from the June 21 show.
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UPCOMING RACES:
Ontario Sportsman Series: Sauble Speedway, Saturday.
Ohsweken Speedway: Southern Ontario Sprints, Friday
Buxton Speedway: Regular Racing, Saturday
Full Throttle Motor Speedway: Fan Appreciation Night, Saturday; Enduro, Sunday
Sunset Speedway: Super Late Models, Saturday
Grand Bend Speedway: NASCAR Weekly Series, Saturday, July 5
Grand Bend Motorplex: Points Day, June 28 & 29
St. Thomas Dragway: Pro Street 519 and No Prep, this weekend
Toronto Motorsports Park: Nitro Nationals, this weekend
Can Am Stock/Super Stock: Grand Bend, July 12 & 13
Quick 32, PBSS & 5.50 Super Series: Empire Dragway, July 18 & 19
660 Sportsman Nationals: Grand Bend, October 5. This past weekend, the group behind the 660 Sportsman Nationals put on the inaugural Family Fun Weekend at St. Thomas Dragway. Click HERE for a gallery of images from the event.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series: Napierville, July 17–20
Shannonville Drags: July 18–20
Comments? Email Dave Mathers at motionman@rogers.com or message via Facebook Messenger.
