In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers starts off with some personal observations and comments, before updating us on the weekend’s NASCAR, F1 and other on-track action.
Business is picking up in the lawsuit against NASCAR filed by the 23XI and Front Row teams. NASCAR has submitted declarations from several team owners and executives, including the big guns – Hendrick, Penske and Gibbs. The latter is particularly interesting, considering one of Gibbs’ drivers is among the car owners suing. Let’s get this distraction over with and move on.
Last Tuesday at Anna Mae’s Restaurant in Milbank, a group – originally five, now two – who met 65 years ago at Ryerson Beach United Church Camp gathered to celebrate their 65th reunion. As we were close to Steckly Racing World Headquarters in Milverton, I dropped in to ask what caused the spectacular spark shower during the APC 300-lapper at Delaware.
Kyle explained it was a broken stabilizer bar they kept trying to tie up – unsuccessfully, and dramatically! He added it was a real handful in the corners. I’d seen him fighting it in Corner 2 several times. Apart from the bar (so used up they left it at the track), the damage was mostly cosmetic, requiring only a new right front fender.
Carson Hocevar was fined $50,000 by NASCAR for unsafe actions around safety personnel while trying to move his car with flat tires at Kansas.
Stellantis (Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Mopar, Opel, Peugeot, Ram Trucks and Vauxhall) has announced longtime NASCAR insider Kevin Kidd as its new North American Motorsports Competition Director. He will oversee the company’s NASCAR (Truck for now) and NHRA operations.
The state of North Carolina has passed the “Protect the Right to Race” law, shielding racetracks from nuisance complaints and protecting the state’s $3.82 billion motorsports industry. Ontario, are you listening? Where was that law when my wife and I spent $850,000 to keep St. Thomas Dragway open?
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The “Mayor of Hinchtown,” James Hinchcliffe – Canadian racer and TV commentator – got the chance to turn laps in a Formula One car at Mugello with the Haas F1 team. Hinch said, “An incredible experience, an incredible machine. Can’t thank everybody at Haas Racing enough. It’s a day I’m going to remember for a long time.” Way cool!
Good news for Canadian IMSA fans: Pfaff Motorsports has announced plans to contest the GTD PRO class next year in their Lamborghini. They’ll start with a Huracan at the Rolex before switching to the all-new Temerario at Sebring. Their distinctive tartan livery will be easy to spot, as always.
While watching the Roval race at Charlotte, I thought about the fantastic Daytona road course. Having attended the Rolex there many times, I believe Daytona would produce a better race – smoother and faster. Just saying!
NASCAR Cup Series: In a surprise, Tyler Reddick (Toyota) grabbed the pole from road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen (Chev) for Sunday’s Charlotte Roval race. Ty Gibbs (Toyota) started third. At the green, Reddick and SVG made contact but kept going, with Reddick holding the lead. Kyle Busch’s tough year continued when he spun and hit the wall in Turn 8.
On Lap 9, Austin Cindric tangled with Justin Haley and spun – no yellow. Stage 1 went to SVG, and Stage 2 to Ryan Blaney (though the AI graphic credited him with Stage 1!). The first caution flew on Lap 58 after Austin Dillon’s crash in Turn 5. SVG dominated the rest of the race, winning by over 16 seconds ahead of Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. A.J. Allmendinger spun and crossed the line backwards, while Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain crashed at the flag, both finishing in reverse under full power. Joey Logano edged Chastain for the final playoff spot. Cody Ware crashed in Turn 7 en route to the checker – again.
In points, Hamlin leads Blaney by two and Larson by four. The final eight include William Byron, Bell, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe and Logano.
Next race – Las Vegas, Sunday, 5:30 p.m. on TSN 5.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Connor Zilisch won the pole for Saturday’s Charlotte Roval race ahead of Justin Allgaier and Connor Mosack (two Connors in the top three!). Canadian Alex Labbé qualified 21st. Of 38 cars, 28 were Chevs, four Fords and six Toyotas.
The race saw plenty of “close contact.” Cautions came on Lap 15 for Harrison Burton and Lap 27 for Josh Williams. Jesse Love won Stage 2. A flat tire for Sage Karam brought out the Lap 63 yellow, setting up NASCAR Overtime. Zilisch took the win over Austin Green and Sammy Smith. Labbé finished 30th. In points, Zilisch leads Allgaier by 33 and Brandon Jones by 53.
Next race – Las Vegas, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on USA and CW.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Points leader Corey Heim (Toyota) won the Charlotte Roval pole ahead of Layne Riggs (Ford) and Brent Crews (Toyota). Kaden Honeycutt (Toyota), subbing for injured Canadian Stewart Friesen, started fifth. Of 36 starters, 18 were Chevs, 10 Fords and eight Toyotas – no Rams yet.
The tape-delayed broadcast made Live Timing tricky. On Lap 1, Grant Enfinger spun Riggs, who collected Heim. No yellow. Debris brought out the caution two laps later. Honeycutt won both the first and second stages. With three to go, teammate Toni Breidinger stopped on track, setting up NASCAR Overtime. Heim charged back from his early spin to win over Crews and Giovanni Ruggiero. Honeycutt fell to 14th after a last-lap spin.
Heim leads Tyler and Daniel Ankrum by 71 points.
Next race – Talladega, Friday, October 17.
Formula One: The series stopped at the pristine Singapore circuit. In P1, George Russell stuffed his Mercedes into the tires, bringing out a red flag. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) topped P1; teammate Lance Stroll was 18th. Liam Lawson went off in P2 but made pit road. Later, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) clipped Lando Norris (McLaren) exiting the pits. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) led P2; Stroll improved to sixth. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) topped P3. Russell took pole over Verstappen and points leader Piastri. Stroll started 17th. Both Williams cars were disqualified after rear-wing measurements failed inspection.
At the start, Norris and Piastri collided, bending Piastri’s front wing. At halfway, Russell led Verstappen and Norris, with Stroll ninth. Russell held on to win over Verstappen and Norris; Stroll finished 13th.
In Drivers’ points, Piastri leads Norris by 22 and Verstappen by 63. Stroll sits 12th. In Constructors’, McLaren leads Mercedes 650–325 and Ferrari by 352. Red Bull is fourth. Didn’t they let someone go recently?
Next race – COTA, Sunday, October 19.
IMSA: Next race – Road Atlanta, Saturday noon on NBC (3 hours), Sunday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. tape-delayed on REV TV.
NHRA: Next race – Texas, Sunday, 2–4 p.m. on Fox Sports Racing.
CASC-OR: This past weekend, CASC-OR held its year-ending Celebration of Motorsport event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Inside Track’s Bryce Turner and Steve Traczyk were on hand. Click HERE for results, photos and videos interviews from the weekend.
APC Series: The two OSCAAR classes wrapped up their seasons at Flamboro Speedway on Saturday. In Hot Rods, Kyle Steckly and Tyler Hawn won the heats, and Dan Archibald won the feature over Steve Book and Hawn. In Mods, Steve Trendell and Ryan Dick won the heats, with Jason Keen taking the feature over Dale Reinhardt, Trendell, Bren McLean and Dick.
Delaware Speedway: Chamber of Commerce weather greeted a large crowd for the Pumpkin Smasher Bone Stock Championship, the season finale. Darren Glavin, Justin Collver and Paul Fothergill won the heats; Mitch Rawlings won the B Main. Jo Lawrence claimed the 35-lap Championship feature over Charlie Verhoeven, Collver, Fothergill and Colin Willems. Verhoeven is the 2025 Bone Stock Champion (pending tech). Rayse Meyer won the Pumpkin Smasher 35 – his first feature – over Bill Brekelmans, Jordan Morris, Donavin Clark and Torrey Robinson.
Flamboro Speedway: Flamboro Speedway held its annual Frostoberfest weekend. Watch InsideTrackNews.com for a full gallery of images and a report in the coming days. In the Super Late Model feature, J.R. Fitzpatrick bested Brandon Passer and T.J. Edwards. Next race – Halloween Enduro 300, Saturday.
Brockville Ontario Speedway: Click HERE for a preview of the season ending Fall Nationals at The BOS. The event takes place October 17 & 18.
Ohsweken Speedway: Next event – November 21, Champions Banquet.
Peterborough Speedway: Next race – Autumn Colours Classic, Friday through Sunday.
Buxton Speedway: Next race – Late Model Shootout, Friday and Saturday.
St. Thomas Dragway: Next race – Test & Tune, next weekend.
Toronto Motorsports Park: Next race – Take It to the Track, this weekend.
Comments: Dave Mathers at motionman@rogers.com or via Facebook Messenger.
