The mid-summer heat has arrived, and so have the events that will help determine series champions. From an IndyCar Series doubleheader in Iowa to NASCAR’s annual Pocono visit, NHRA’s Western Swing and the annual Indiana Sprint Week, it’s go-time for the title challengers.
Here’s what to watch for.
The Great Triangle
The Pocono mountains will play host to their annual NASCAR invasion with all three NASCAR national touring series visiting the 2.5-mile tri-angular shaped race track in Long Pond, Pa.
The Craftsman Truck Series and Xfinity Series will each race on Saturday, while the NASCAR Cup Series gets into the groove on Sunday afternoon for the 21st races of the season. Chase Elliott, who is winless this season, won at Pocono last July.
Double Duty
Alex Palou takes a 117-point lead into this weekend’s HyVee IndyCar Series doubleheader at Iowa Speedway. With two races in two days on the seven-eighths-mile track, it could provide the turning point in the season that has been dominated by Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing operation. Joseph Newgarden and Pato O’Ward were last year’s winners.
Western Swing
Round two of NHRA’s traditional mid-season Western Swing takes the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series to Pacific Raceways in Seattle, Wash. Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), who won the Western Swing opener at Bandimere Speedway, and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) lead the standings.
Hoosier Hustle
A busy week of USAC racing in the Hoosier State kicked off Wednesday night with the Rich Vogler Classic for the USAC Silver Crown Series at Winchester Speedway.
After a one-day break, the 36th annual NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National championship kicks off Friday night at Gas City I-69 Speedway. Action continues Saturday at Kokomo Speedway, Sunday at Lawrenceburg Speedway and Monday at Circle City Raceway. A day off on July 25 leads into the final four nights of Sprint Week competition.
Posse vs. The Outlaws
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series makes its third visit of the season to Central Pennsylvania, kicking off with a Wednesday night show at BAPS Motor Speedway, where the series last raced 31 years ago.
From there, action moves to Williams Grove Speedway for two nights of action in the Champion Racing Oil Summer Nationals Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s finale pays $20,000 to win. Brad Sweet won at Williams Grove in May.
David Gravel led Sweet by a mere two points entering the three-race week.
All Stars Plains
The All Star Circuit of Champions kicked off a busy week of traveling America, with Tuesday’s running of the Don Martin Memorial at Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway. The event was scheduled to pay $25,000 to the winner.
From there the series headed to the Midwest for events at Iowa’s 34 Raceway, Spoon River Speedway in Illinois and Red Hill Raceway in Illinois.
Lucas LM at Huset’s
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will invade Huset’s Speedway July 20-22 for the Silver Dollar Nationals, which will be run at the track for the first time. Thursday will showcase a full $12,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series program. Friday will be the qualifying heats to set the stage for Saturday’s huge finale. Saturday’s main event will pay $53,000 to the winner.
Action kicks off Wednesday at the three-eighths-mile track with the Tri-State Late Models headlining the program.
Moto Madness
Jett Lawrence will be looking for his eighth consecutive moto sweep in Pro Motocross Championship action Saturday at Washougoul National in Washington, while Jared Mees will look to continue his American Flat Track hot streak as the series visits New Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway.