The resurgent International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced that starting next year, their National Events will be run only on the 1/8-mile. I fully support that decision for a couple of reasons. The Pro cars have been going WAY too fast and it is just a matter of time before one of them takes flight. The shorter distance is easier on the cars, motors, transmissions, brakes and rear ends. Money saved could mean more entries.
But I have to strongly disagree with their decision to rename all their properties as Darana Motorsports Parks. Very, very hard for fans to identify which track they are talking about. From a marketing point of view, it is a failure, at least in my opinion. Also this week, IHRA announced the creation of an asphalt oval racing series! Didn’t see that coming!
Well, I must admit that my opinion about the ongoing NASCAR/Front Row & 23XI lawsuit has definitely changed after the release of some head-scratching emails from “high level executives” regarding the SRX Racing Series. Wow.
Legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham has announced that the IROC Series will be returning next year. More details to come.
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The United Racing Series APC Pro Late Model Series has announced its 2026 racing schedule with eight events on the schedule. The tour starts and ends at Delaware Speedway (May 16 and September 26) with another mid-season race happening at the London, Ontario-area half-mile on June 27.
The tour also has dates at Flamboro (May 30 and July 11), Peterborough (June 13), and Sauble (August 1 and August 22). Additional series news, regarding race lengths and sponsorships, will be released in the coming months. No mention of the URS Dayco Super Stock Series.
In a real head-scratcher, NASCAR mega-team owner Rick Hendrick has been criticized because one of his dealerships sold 25 Chevrolet Tahoes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be used in their immigration crackdown operations. It seems that some “liberals” were offended by the sale? Really? He’s a businessman, not a politician.
I must say that Las Vegas has the very best optics of any of the current circuits thanks to its gazillion neon lights. The ever-changing Sphere was mind-blowing and we’ll probably visit it sometime after about February 2029!!! I’m not quite sure what that “pink Cadillac” was all about, driving the podium winners over to the actual podium on the other side of the track in front of the Bellagio Casino. Was it a Lego car or what?
Formula One – to put it mildly, Las Vegas was interesting, VERY interesting. More on that later. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) topped the charts in FP1 while Lando Norris (McLaren) was quickest in FP2. George Russell (Mercedes) led FP3 while Norris grabbed the pole over Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Carlos Sainz (Williams, yup, Williams). Free Practice 2 was stopped for what turned out to be a repeat of the problem from 2023 – a loose manhole cover. But, and this is a BIG but, Race Control never announced what the red flag was for. Normally they post a pop-up with the reason. The announcers had no idea why the red had been shown.
Qualifying was run on a very wet track and for a while Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) topped the charts with a 2:00 run. He ended up starting 12th. Speaking of Aston, their new reserve driver was introduced and he is Jak Crawford from Charlotte, North Carolina – the epicenter of NASCAR!! In Q1, Alex Albon (Williams) spanked the wall hard, severely damaging his car. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) started dead last. I found it interesting to notice that pit road went in the opposite direction from what is normal at most other circuits.
Norris blew the start big time. He cut across to block Max, overcooked the first corner and went off the racing surface. Both Max and Russell were able to get around him as he dropped back to third place. Meanwhile, back in the pack, there were some “close encounters of the worst kind” and some damage ensued. A virtual safety car was launched to allow for debris to be picked up from the track. Stroll and Franco Colapinto were both early dropouts from the race. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was “noted” for starting too soon (he red-lighted?). Another virtual safety car was deployed on lap 14 for more debris on the track from an encounter between Albon and Hamilton. Albon was deemed responsible for the incident and was issued a five-second penalty by the stewards. At the halfway mark, it was Verstappen over Leclerc and Russell.
At the flag it was the resurgent Verstappen over Norris and Russell. Russell’s teammate Kimi Antonelli finished fourth but lost the spot to Oscar Piastri (McLaren) due to a time penalty. Lando’s admission in the podium interview that he had f’d it up was very refreshing.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Norris leads Piastri by 30 and Verstappen by 42.
In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren leads Mercedes by “only” 363 and Red Bull by 395.
WHOAH!!!!! Both McLarens were disqualified in post-race tech inspection. The reason? Their “planks,” the boards on the bottom of the cars, were excessively worn down. The team explained that unanticipated “porpoising” occurred during the race that hadn’t been noticed in practice and qualifying. This results in Verstappen moving up into a tie with Piastri in the points, only 24 back of Norris. Can Max make up the gap and win another championship? This was be good for a full week of online controversy!!!
Next race – Qatar, Sunday at 10:55 a.m. on TSN 4.
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NHRA – for the second year in a row, the NHRA Finals at Pomona were cancelled due to the weather: rain, more rain, and even more rain. The decision was controversial, but the reality is that there was no other acceptable way to get the race in. Sadly, next year’s race is on the same date. Third time a charm? As a result of the cancellation, the points from the completed race at Las Vegas became final.
Top Fuel – Doug Kalitta is the 2025 champion. Canadian Dan Mercer ended up 10th in points.
Funny Car – Austin Prock, driving for John Force Racing, is the champion. Canadian Spencer Hyde finished 9th in points and was the 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year.
Pro Mod – JR Gray is the champion.
Pro Stock – Dallas Glenn was the champion. The Canadian father-and-son team of Eric and Matt Latino finished 7th and 14th in the points.
Pro Stock Bike – Richard Gadson is the champion.
Top Alcohol Dragster – Canadian Shawn Cowie is the champion.
Top Alcohol Funny Car – Sean Bellemeur is the champion.
Buxton Speedway – the Buxton Blizzard, Saturday, January 3, 2026. BE THERE!!!
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.