MOORESVILLE, N.C. — After a weekend on holiday, which caused us to miss our weekly column last week, it’s time for a Friday morning tour around the racing world. From hot laps to the main event, here’s what’s on our mind.
Hot Laps: Three Names
Jack Hewitt, Kyle Larson and Logan Seavey. Good company.
Qualifying: The Points
It’s been nearly 30 years since I first wrote this phrase in National Speed Sport News, but it’s dumb to show the points “if the race finished now.” It’s not going to finish now!
First Heat: Reversed Fortune
It happens time and time again in motorsports.
A driver or team can go weeks, months or even years without winning and when they turn the corner a winning streak ensues. One of the latest examples is Top Fuel racer Doug Kalitta.
The former USAC sprint car champion went more than 1,000 days without winning, and has won the last two NHRA national events and leads the standings with four races remaining. Kalitta has never won the Top Fuel title.
Second Heat: Tradition Returns?
With Thursday’s announcement that the NASCAR All-Star Race will remain at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway next May and that the Brickyard 400 will return to the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it appears next year’s NASCAR Cup Series schedule may have a steady dose of tradition when it is released in the coming future.
It also appears races may be released one event at a time.
Third Heat: Posse Vs. Outlaws
The 61st running of the Champion Racing Oil National Open — one of our favorite races — is set for this weekend at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway.
Defending winner Lance Dewease triumphed last week at the half-mile track, but will have to contend with World of Outlaws travelers the likes of Carson Macedo, David Gravel, Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz if he’s to take home the $75,000 top prize.
Fourth Heat: Watchful Eye
Don’t be surprised if longtime open-wheel racer Davey Hamilton and partner Larry Triguero are involved with a frontline, full-time traveling winged sprint car team next season.
Dash: Bet On It!
What’s the over/under on the number of cars involved in crashes in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway?
I have 23, what’s your guess?
C Main: The Milwaukee Mile
Like many in the racing world, we were elated to see The Milwaukee Mile return to the NTT Indy Car Series schedule with a doubleheader Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. As a bit of a traditionalist, it always felt like no Indy car season was complete with a race at Milwaukee.
Mario Andretti posted his support of the event on social media.
“So excited to see The Milwaukee Mile back on the IndyCar schedule for 2024 and as a doubleheader no less,” Andretti wrote. “My favorite short oval as a driver for the ability to overtake, and what a great track for spectator viewing. Let’s bring it back to its glory days.”
B Main: Texas Torpedo
But with the high note of The Milwaukee Mile returning to the IndyCar Series schedule, there’s the loss of a race Texas Motor Speedway, which has been a mainstay for the series since the track opened in 1997.
Some of the most exciting races in series history came at the 1.5-mile track.
Feature: Midget Madness
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 is in full swing with the first of two qualifying nights in the books at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We love that the event continues to grow in size and prestige, and it’s certainly fitting that one of the country’s signature short-track events be held on the grounds of its most historic race track.
If you haven’t been reading the entertaining features produced by SPEED SPORT’s Grace Woelbing and Pat Sullivan, we suggest you start by checking out the pieces on Logan Seavey and Weston Gorham.