As America emerged from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, the motorsports industry came roaring back, reaching high gear midway through the 2021 season and continuing to gain momentum once crowd restrictions were lifted.
On the track, the sport marveled at a once-in-a-generation talent who proved to be at the top of his game; dirt, short-track racing enjoyed a surge in popularity as competitors claimed record purses; and a nine-time world motorcycle champion called it a career.
Building upon unique and innovative methods developed during the days of limited grandstand capacity, the motorsports industry flourished and is poised to achieve even greater heights in the new year.
Continuing a SPEED SPORT tradition that dates back nearly four decades, here are 10 stories that had a significant impact on the sport during the course of the season:
ONE FOR THE AGES
Fired from his ride at Chip Ganassi Racing and suspended by NASCAR after using a racial slur in April 2020, Kyle Larson capitalized on his second chance by having a season for the history books.
Hired by Rick Hendrick to drive Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, Larson responded by winning 10 of the 36 races en route to the Cup Series championship. He also banked $1 million for topping the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.
The 29-year-old racer from Elk Grove, Calif., won five of the 10 playoff events, including the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.
On the dirt-track side, Larson had 19 wins through the Nov. 20 — 11 in a winged sprint car, five in a midget and three in a dirt late model. That list included the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal and Chili Bowl Nationals.
HELIO JOINS ELITE CLUB
On May 30, Helio Castroneves earned membership in open-wheel racing’s most exclusive and prestigious club when he won the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth time.
The 46-year-old Brazilian drove a brilliant race in the No. 06 Honda-powered entry for Meyer Shank Racing to take his place alongside fellow four-time Indy winners A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
Castroneves started sixth and led 20 of the 200 laps. He made the winning pass on lap 198 and beat Alex Palou to the checkered flag by .493 seconds. The milestone victory ignited a frontstretch celebration that had the fans chanting, “Helio! Helio! Helio!”
“What a great moment,” Castroneves said. “Amazing to follow in this group with Al Unser Sr., A.J. Foyt and my hero Rick Mears. Super honored to be in this group.”
COVID-19 restrictions limited the crowd to approximately 135,000 fans.
BUBBA MAKES HISTORY
Driving for a first-year team owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, 27-year-old Bubba Wallace made history on Oct. 4 when he won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway.
Wallace became only the second African American driver to win at NASCAR’s top level, joining Wendell Scott who claimed his victory on Dec. 1, 1963, at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla.
“I never think about those things, but when you say it like that, it obviously brings a lot of emotion and joy to my family, fans and friends,” Wallace said. “It’s pretty damn cool. I’m just proud to be a winner in the Cup Series.”
The native of Mobile, Ala., started 15th and assumed command on lap 113. He was leading on lap 117 when the race was stopped — and eventually called official — due to rain.
DIRT RACING GAINS MOMENTUM
As spectator restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic faded away, dirt-track racing surged in popularity with several major events drawing record crowds.
For example, the 60th edition of the Knoxville Nationals was run in front of sold-out grandstands at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, and the six marquee events at Eldora Speedway saw unprecedented numbers of fans flock to the Ohio dirt track.
“This year, we have a lot of new fans that have never been to a race before,” said Brian Carter, CEO of World Racing Group, dirt-track racing’s premier sanctioning body. “It’s one of those times you have one chance to make a first impression.”
In addition, the new SRX Series ran two of its six events on dirt tracks, and the NASCAR Cup Series raced on dirt for the first time since 1970, with Joey Logano winning at a clay-covered Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
ROSSI RETIRES
Motorcycle racing legend and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi hung up his helmet and leathers at the end of the MotoGP season.
Rossi, 42, had been part of the Motorcycle Grand Prix scene for 25 years. The beloved Italian established a legend that comes along only once every couple of generations. Nine world championships (seven in the premier class), 115 wins and 235 podiums, and being the only competitor to win titles in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP categories, mean Rossi’s name will forever be showcased in the history books.
“Unfortunately, this will be my last half season as a MotoGP rider,” Rossi said in August. “And it’s difficult, it’s a very sad moment because it’s difficult to say it and know that next year I will not race with a motorcycle. I’ve done that for I think more or less 30 years.”
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