The Easter long weekend was relatively quiet in terms of racing action, but there were a few events and Dave Mathers was watching them. He also has thoughts on some other news and happenings in the world of motorsports.
Is NASCAR returning to CBS next year? The network that aired the first live Cup race, the 1979 Daytona 500, is reportedly merging with TNT Sports sometime this year. Good news IF it happens. Fox has definitely dropped the ball so far this year, as they have relegated races over to Fox Sports 1 (NOT available in Canada), and the jury is still out on how well Prime will do when they take over at the Charlotte race in May. Then it becomes a mix of TNT Sports and USA, ending with NBC picking up four, count ’em, four races. Actually, only four races listening to Jeff Burton is not a bad thing!!
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Many people have heard about the world-famous Woodward Ave. in Detroit, Michigan. Several books have been written about it. But the very best book I have read about it is called ‘The Legendary Silver Bullet’ by famous motorsport writer Paul Sontrop.
Woodward Avenue is known for being the ‘Motor City’s’ main automotive artery, largely thanks to playing host to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise. Woodward also featured the world’s first mile of concrete highway and earned the reputation for being the hub of Detroit’ muscle car culture.
Not only does Sontrop’s book cover the history of Woodward, but it also tells the story of Jimmy Addison and his nasty ’67 Plymouth GTX Hemi and its domination of the Detroit street scene half a century ago. The assistance he got from Chrysler makes a good read all by itself. It is available on Amazon Canada for $34.77. The photos alone make it a great value.
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The Toyo Tires Spring Rebate is underway. Purchase a set of four Toyo Tires by May 31 and save up to $100! Click HERE for details.
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Lots of chatter has emerged this racing season regarding Cleetus McFarland, with some former racers criticizing his arrival in NASCAR. I couldn’t disagree more. His arrival brings the very spectators that NASCAR is seeking – young ones!!
His huge online presence – nearly five million followers – is something to be celebrated.
Sure, he didn’t come ‘up through the ranks.’ But with the exception of his self-induced spin in the O’Reilly race last Saturday, he has not done badly.
He finished 4th in the ARCA race at the Rock, no small feat.
As well as stock cars, Cleetus just set the quickest run ever in the 10.5 drag racing class, a sub-four-second run in the eighth-mile. Stout. And don’t forget his Crown Vic class – a classic!!!
Be sure to watch InsideTrackNews.com for videos previewing the 2026 Canadian racing season. Inside Track contributor Bryce Turner was busy in the Gulf Racing Fuels Racing Zone at Motorama, conducting and filming interviews with racers and promoters discussing the upcoming campaign. And he’s posting them every day or so.
Recent videos feature Southern Ontario Modified Association (SOMA) head Ken Mercer, Great Lakes Legends boss Blake Outhouse, Chuck Fram (Shannonville Drags and Track Tune), Alex Nagy and Mason Collver (Delaware Speedway / United Racing Series), Ian Hill (Canada Heads Up & Canadian Pro Mod Series) and others.
It was very refreshing to notice that there were no races on Easter Sunday for any of the series we cover here.
NASCAR Cup – Next race – Bristol, Sunday, April 12 at 3 P.M. on TSN 3. (Fox lists TBA from 11 A.M. to 7 P.M.!!!! – more Bass Masters?)
NASCAR O’Reilly Series – Racing at the Rock brings back some fond memories from years ago, back when the Cup cars ran there. Always good, close competition. And from the neat dragstrip right across the road.
Corey Day won the pole over Jesse Love and Parker Retzlaff (all in Chevs). 31 Chevs, 1 Ford, and 6 Toyotas. Canadian Alex Labbe started 30th. Things went smoothly until lap 49, when Blake Lothian spun in corner 2 while running at the back of the pack. Pole-sitter Day won Stage 1. On lap 93, Jeremy Clements looped it in 2 but kept it off the wall to bring out the second race caution. Day also won Stage 2.
At the halfway mark, it was Ryan Sieg ahead of William Sawalich and Brandon Jones. At lap 166, Anthony Alfredo looped it off 4 from a flat tire that destroyed his right front fender. Yellow. And, of course, cautions breed cautions!! Right after the restart, Jeremy Clements and Sieg got together in 1, sending Clements up into the wall and then down the track without hitting any other cars. And then IT happened. The much-discussed and criticized Cleetus McFarland spun in 4. Caution!! At the flag, it was Sawalich over Jones and Justin Allgaier. Labbe finished 18th. And, of course, the AI Live Timing Timeline guy proudly announced that ‘Checkered Flag Waves at Martinsville’!! ‘William Sawalich captures the victory in the 250-lap event at Martinsville Speedway.’ Psst – that was last week!!!!
In the points (I miss the Live Points feature that used to be included on Live Timing), Allgaier continues to lead with a big margin – 126 over Love and 131 over Sheldon Creed.
Next race – Bristol, Saturday at 7.30 P.M. on USA.
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks – 38 trucks took time trials to get into the 36-truck field. Jake Garcia (Ford) took the pole over Tanner Gray and Kaden Honeycutt (both in Toyotas). Canadian Cole Butcher (Ford) qualified a VERY stout 4th, while fellow Canuck Stewart Friesen (Toyota) started 19th. 14 Chevs, 9 Fords, 8 Toyotas, and 5 Rams. Corey Heim picked up the win in the caution-free Stage 1.
On lap 60, Adam Andretti spun and hit the inside wall on the back straight. Heim also won Stage 2. At the halfway mark of the race, Heim leads Gio Ruggiero and Ty Majeski. On lap 165, Christian Eckes bumped Michael Christopher, who went down off the track but kept it off the wall in 2. The second race caution. At the flag, it was Heim over Honeycutt and Layne Riggs. Friesen finished 5th, while Butcher ended up 11th. I doubt Honeycutt will be sending Christmas cards to Tanner Gray this year. Gray, a lap down, actually cost Honeycutt the win by blocking him on the last lap.
In the points, Heim is tied with Honeycutt, with Riggs 3rd, 11 points back. Friesen sits 9th, and Butcher is 16th.
Next race – Bristol, Friday – tape-delayed to Saturday at 4.30 P.M. on CTV Speed.
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Formula One – Next race – Miami, May 3. (Bahrain and Saudi Arabia ‘delayed’ due to Iran war).
IndyCar – Next race – Long Beach, Sunday, April 19.
IMSA – Next race – Long Beach, April 18.
24 Hours of Le Mans – Sat, Jun 14 & Sun, Jun 15.
NHRA – Next race – Pomona, Sunday.
IHRA – Next race – Virginia Motorsports Park, Saturday.
NASCAR Canada Series – Next race – Mosport, Sunday, May 17.
APC Series – Next race – Delaware, Saturday, May 9.
Ontario Sportsman Series – Next race – Delaware, May 15,
Delaware Speedway – Next race – May 8.
Ohsweken Speedway – Next race – Friday, May 15.
Flamboro Speedway – Next race – Saturday, May 2.
Buxton Speedway – Next race – Saturday, May 2.
Full Throttle Motor Speedway – Next race – Saturday, May 9.
Grand Bend Speedway – Next race – Saturday, June 6.
Grand Bend Dragway – Next race – Saturday and Sunday, May 30 & 31.
St. Thomas Dragway – Next race – Saturday, May 9.
Toronto Motorsports Park – Next race – Saturday, April 18.
Can Am Stock/Super Stock – Next race – Cayuga, May 17.
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series – Next race – Cayuga, May 17.
Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) and 5.50 Super Series – Next race – schedule not released yet.
Shannonville Drags – Next race – June 8.
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.
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Wheels 4 Wishes, in support of Make-A-Wish® Canada, is in its 36th year and is a highly anticipated day for our wish children and their families. Event founders, Jeff Pabst and Dave Lacey, have organized this fundraiser since the inaugural event, and have seen first-hand the positive impact on children and their families. To donate or to learn more about a special event taking place April 26 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, click HERE.