It’s time for our weekly Friday morning tour around the racing world. From hot laps to the main event, here’s what’s on our mind this week.
Hot Laps: O-For-12
It’s 12 races into the NTT IndyCar Series race and Team Penske has yet to win a race. Will Josef Newgarden, Will Power or Scott McLaughlin get it done this weekend in Toronto?
Qualifying: Also Winless
Ten-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz is winless in his 29th season on the tour and has lacked speed in his Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 throughout the season.
That said Schatz still passes more cars than any other driver on the tour.
First Heat: Lots Of Cars
Entries for the Nov. 6-8 BITNILE.com Open Wheel Showdown at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have reached 216 across five divisions, headlined by 69 cars in the winged sprint car class.
Second Heat: Well Wishes
Tyler Courtney and Kalib Henry were both injured in sprint car crashes this week and will be out of action for a period of time. Here’s wishing them a speedy recovery.
Third Heat: Is Eight Enough?
Eight Kings Royal winners (David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Kyle Larson, Kerry Madsen, Brad Sweet, Brent Marks, Tyler Walker and Tyler Courtney) are entered in Saturday’s 42nd running of the $200,000-to-win event. Will one of them win again, or will there be a new winner?
Fourth Heat: Infomercial?
The FloRacing coverage of High Limit Racing’s Joker’s Jackpot that aired Live on FS1 Thursday night had positive and negative aspects.
Coverage of the on-track happenings was excellent and not that far off from what full network coverage may be.
However, off the track, the broadcast resembled an infomercial for High Limit Racing more than it did objective coverage of a sporting event.
(HHP/Jacy Norgaard photo)
C Main: Growing Up
There are more teenaged professional racers than ever. All of these racers (and their parents) should pay attention to the words of now 35-year-old Joey Logano, who will make his 600th NASCAR Cup Series start on Sunday.
Logano admits he made some mistakes on the way to two championships, but understands he grew up in the public eye.
“I grew up in front of everybody. All of us change over the years as you grow up. Life comes at you and you evolve and keep going with it,” Logano said
B Main: What’s Best?
Nearly everyone in a leadership role in sprint car racing these days talks about being concerned about “what is best for the sport.” Not everyone walks the walk.
As a lifetime fan of sprint car racing and someone who’s seen a lot through nearly 40 years in the sport, I want the race tracks, High Limit Racing, the World of Outlaws, the racers and sprint car racing in general to have a successful and profitable week.
I want good racing, and I want all the stars to show out. I also see nothing wrong with an “us vs. them” mentality between the two national touring series. Bragging rights are a huge part of sports.
I do not understand why anyone involved in the sport, would not embrace this entire week of racing in the Buckeye State, regardless of affiliation, financial stake or loyalty.
Successful events, whether it be High Limit or World of Outlaws, only benefit everyone.
Feature: Carnage
Leading into Kings Royal Week in the state of Ohio, most of the talk was about the amount of money available for sprint car racers to win.
Though, there are still two nights of racing remaining, the much of the discussion has turned to the amount of money spent by race teams over the six nights of competition as carnage and chaos have been the order of the day.
Both the High Limit Racing and World of Outlaws races at Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park, respectively, saw more than the usual share of crashing, with many teams trashing race cars.
The two nights of High Limit action at Eldora Speedway continued that theme with multiple incidents slowing the events and leading many teams to build new cars and others to head home early.
Only 10 cars were running at the end of Thursday’s feature, and the majority of the 14 that dropped out suffered damage in one accident or another.
Kyle Larson walked away with $100,000 on Thursday night and someone will earn $200,000 in Saturday’s Kings Royal, but a lot of teams took big hits with the busy portion of the schedule ahead.
