HARRISBURG, N.C. — It’s been a long, long time since we sat down and penned a wish list for Santa Claus.
The items on that handwritten scroll have long since faded from memory, but very well could have included a tire for my Honda 50 minibike, a Magnavox Odessey 300 home video game or a Schwinn Orange Krate bicycle.
Now, some five decades later, let’s give this wish-list thing another try. But instead of material items we’re hoping to find under the tree on Christmas morning, here are several things we’re wishing for during the new racing season.
■ Driver-and-car combination that can beat Max Verstappen. Formula 1 is riding a wave of popularity but it needs competition. It is not heathy when the same driver wins 19 of the 22 races. Eventually, the fans will begin to look elsewhere for their motorsports entertainment.
■ New life for Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. We’re sick and tired of reading about the politics as the numerous parties that have a stake in this project jockey for position. Give Marcus Smith and his team the green light and let them go to work. It won’t take long to breathe new life into yet another historic NASCAR race track.
■ Unity in the sprint car universe. There will be winners and there will be losers with two top-level sprint car series touring the nation next year. Initially, the fans will be confused and promoters can only hope the ticket-buyers quickly figure out who is racing with which series. Unlike previous challenges to the World of Outlaws, social media and streaming video will play significant roles in this showdown.
■ F-1 ride for Pato’ O’Ward. We became a fan of O’Ward during his time in IndyCar and was disappointed when McLaren moved him to the role of Formula 1 reserve driver. We understand it’s the next step in the process, but being named a reserve driver is akin to being placed in the witness protection program.
■ Indy 500 success for Kyle Larson. While we are extremely disappointed with his role in the High Limit Racing sprint car tour, we’re anxiously awaiting Larson’s Indy 500 debut in May. For more than a decade the motorsports community has marveled at his ability to drive a race car — any race car — and we will finally get to see him perform on the sport’s biggest stage.
■ Green light for Andretti Global. Andretti Global and its technical partner GM apparently have one more administrative hurdle to clear before being granted the opportunity to build and field a two-car Formula 1 team. The FIA has approved the team’s request to compete and a decision is pending from Liberty Media, the company responsible for exercising Formula 1’s commercial rights. The existing teams oppose the expansion, but they have only a voice, not a vote on the final decision.
■ John Force’s final pass. Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force will turn 75 on May 4, and the season ahead should be his last. Sell some T-shirts, sign some autographs, win a couple races and then have one hell of a party. As one of drag racing’s most popular figures, Force can have an even bigger impact on his race team — and the sport — by finally hanging up his helmet.
■ Terrific battle at the Brickyard. The Brickyard 400 is back as the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the iconic 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 21. With Roger Penske now in charge, we’re hoping he can bring back the magic of the race’s early years. In fact, the inaugural Brickyard 400 on Saturday, Aug. 6, 1994, was a milestone moment in NASCAR history. It attracted a reported crowd of 350,000 and launched an era of unprecedented growth for stock car racing’s premier series.
■ New World of Outlaws champion. Sprint car teams were still picking sides as this was being written, but we expect the World of Outlaws to have a new series champion come November. Our money is on David Gravel, but Gio Scelzi and Logan Schuchart will make him work for it.
■ And, finally, happy holidays. This last entry on our list could very well be the only one that actually comes to fruition, as we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
