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: F-1 Domination
Two-time world champion Max Verstappen has won six consecutive Formula 1 races and eight of 10 this season. Including this weekend’s Grand Prix of Hungary, there are 12 races remaining this season. Can Verstappen win them all?
It seems unlikely, but we’d bet he goes 11-for-12.
Qualifying: Thunder Road Races
Interesting goings-on in New England.
SRX canceled its stop at Vermont’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl last night because of the historic flooding in the state. Still, while SRX raced at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway for the second straight week, Thunder Road ran a regular Thursday night show headlined by its late model division.
Hmmmmm?
First Heat: Keep Going Clay
We got to know Clay Millican nearly 20 years ago when he was dominated the IHRA Top Fuel circuit.
One of the nicest and funniest guys in the sport, Millican has had some lean years since his move to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. It’s nice to see him having a solid season this year with a pair of victories after 10 of the 21 events.
Second Heat: Chasing History
Indiana Sprint Week kicks off its 36th edition Friday night at Gas City I-69 Speedway.
The series will run at eight different tracks during a nine-night span. With 51 career USAC sprint car triumphs, four-time series champion Brady Bacon is only one win behind Tom Bigelow for second on the all-time list. Dave Darland is the all-time feature winner with 62 triumphs.
Third Heat: Streak Ender
Engine issues knocked Justin Grant out of action during practice Thursday night at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway.
By not running the USAC Silver Crown Series main event, Grant’s streak of 239 consecutive features started across all three USAC national series (Silver Crown, sprint cars and midgets) was snapped.
Fourth Heat: No Theft Here
We see a lot of folks on social media are criticizing Kyle Larson for “stealing money” from full-time short-track racers.
While we do not agree with everything that Larson has said or done recently, this notion is preposterous. He’s a racer, racing for a living. No one criticized A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt or Mario Andretti when they swooped into town and won a short-track race.
Fact of the matter right now is that, whether it’s NASCAR, dirt-track racing or next season — the Indianapolis 500 — Larson is The Show right now.
C Main: Getting Opportunities
Third-generation racer Matthew Brabham has proven himself a winner in Trans-Am and Indy NXT competition, and yet a premier ride in the IndyCar Series or in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship hasn’t come his way. Many drivers with his lineage, get rides simply on their name alone.
Brabham just landed an Indy NXT drive with Juncos-Hollinger Racing. Maybe that will propel him toward Indy.
B Main: Still A Contender
People continue to count Donny Schatz out as one of the top contenders on the winged sprint car circuit, and the 45-year-old 10-time World of Outlaws champion continues to prove them wrong.
Last summer, he won his 11th Knoxville Nationals and last week Schatz turned in a dominant performance to win his sixth Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. He may not win as frequently as he once did, but for big races, he’s still among those to beat.
Feature: NASCAR On The Road
While traditionalists may have scoffed when NASCAR began adding road races to its Cup Series schedule, it’s really paying dividends these days.
Shane van Gisbergen scored a surprise victory in the Chicago Street Race and will return to the series in August at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he’ll be joined by fellow Supercars ace Brodie Kostecki, Formula 1 champion Jenson Button and world-renowned sports car racer Kamui Kobayashi.
Parting Shot: Battle Royale
David Gravel won his ninth World of Outlaws feature of the season Thursday at Pennsylvania’s BAPS Motor Speedway and owns a six-point lead over Brad Sweet heading into a doubleheader weekend at Williams Grove Speedway.
Keep your eyes on this one, folks.