In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers talks IndyCar, some Hollywood-related racing rumours and updates readers on a busy weekend of racing.
IndyCar has expressed interest in expanding its schedule going forward. Discussions have included some tracks it has raced on in the past – can you say Richmond – as well as facilities in Japan and Brazil. The future looks good for the series.
Rumours out of Hollywood have leaked concerning a prequel film based on the Ocean series, so popular last century. Curiously named Oceans, it covers the parents of series star Danny Ocean, played by Bradley Cooper and Margot Robbie. That part is kind of cool. BUT the REALLY neat thing about the film, you ask? It’s based on the Oceans planning a heist right around the time of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, when lots and lots and lots of very RICH people were in the municipality. Veddy, veddy interesting, don’t you think?
Two NASCAR ‘enfants terribles’ traded barbs over the weekend at Kansas Speedway. Denny Hamlin, NOT a crowd favourite, suggested that Kyle Busch, a former crowd non‑favourite, doesn’t know how to get speed out of the Next Gen car! Kyle, in return, invited Denny to switch cars and prove he could go faster than Kyle in the RCR entry. Challenge issued! Two ‘banty roosters chirping’? Perhaps – but really good for the sport.
A bit of a head‑scratcher emerged from the IMSA race at Long Beach. Apparently the #5 Porsche GTP car was able to race 88 pounds lighter than the two Penske Porsche numbers 6 and 7 P cars. Huh?
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NASCAR Cup
Runaway points leader Tyler Reddick won the pole for Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway ahead of Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs (ALL in Toyotas!!). 37 cars: 17 Chevs, 10 Fords and 10 Toyotas. Surprisingly, considering Saturday’s O’Reilly race, Stage 1 ran clean and green, with Hamlin taking the stage win.
At the halfway mark (lap 134) it was Kyle Larson over Chase Elliott and Hamlin. BUT NASCAR’s Live Timing Timeline AI Guy’s math appeared a little flawed – “NASCAR RACE UPDATE – LAP 160 of 267: Kyle Larson leads at the halfway point”? A work in progress, perhaps?
Kyle Larson captured the caution‑free Stage 2. With five laps to go, leader Reddick scrubbed the wall but kept it going.
With two laps remaining, perennial back marker Cody Ware spun in Turn 4, bringing out the first caution of the race. Wow. Green/white/checker!!!
Those final two laps were uber‑exciting, with Reddick finally getting around Larson for the win. Chase Briscoe finished third after getting around Hamlin, who scrubbed the wall on the last lap.
In the points, Reddick is in a different time zone, now 105 points ahead of Denny Hamlin and 120 clear of Ryan Blaney.
Next Race – Talladega, Sunday at 3 P.M. on TSN 5 and Fox.
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NASCAR O’Reilly Series
Carson Kvapil took the pole Saturday at Kansas Speedway over William Byron and Justin Allgaier (shockingly, all in Chevs!!!). Not sure how that worked, as practice and qualifying were rained out. On points? Kvapil sits 5th and Allgaier 1st.
The field featured 30 Chevs, 6 Toyotas and 1 lonely Ford. All 37 qualifiers started. The fun began two laps in when Josh Bilicki got crossed up on corner exit and spun. Shortly after, pole sitter Kvapil spun and went upside down after tumbling down the back straight. He landed roof‑down but climbed out unhurt. Parker Retzlaff sustained damage as well. Red flag!!
A competition caution came out at the end of lap 21 to check tires, given the lack of practice or qualifying. The yellow returned on lap 36 when Austin Hill got loose exiting corner 4, after being squeezed by Jesse Love, and was then tagged by William Sawalich.
It may be time to summon the Live Timing Timeline AI Guy to the NASCAR trailer. Why? Quote: “CAUTION FLAG waves at Michigan on lap 37”!!! Michigan?
Brandon Jones took the Stage 1 win. On lap 63, Anthony Alfredo blew a tire and smacked the front‑stretch wall. Yellow. Jones also won Stage 2. At lap 100, Sammy Smith got sideways exiting corner 4 after a little ‘help’ from Corey Day, collecting Day and Ryan Sieg. Yellow again.
It was amusing to see two Hendrick Chevs ‘trading paint’ – Byron and Day. At the flag it was Taylor Gray over Sheldon Creed and Allgaier.
Allgaier extends his points lead to 131 over Creed, and by 149 over Jesse Love.
Next Race – Talladega, Saturday at 4 P.M. on USA and CW
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NASCAR Craftsman Trucks
Next Race – Texas, Friday, May 1
Formula One
Next Race – Miami, May 3
(Bahrain and Saudi Arabia “delayed” due to Iran war)
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IndyCar
The series dropped into beautiful Long Beach on the weekend. F1 last raced there in 1978, with IndyCar returning in 1993. Gorgeous surroundings, with the Queen Mary in the background.
Felix Rosenqvist (Honda power) earned the pole over Pato O’Ward (Chev power) and Alex Palou (Honda power). 25 cars. Another sloppy initial start? Passing before the line?
At halfway it was Rosenqvist over Palou and Kyle Kirkwood. Lap 57 brought the first yellow for a large piece of carbon fibre on the track. The rest of the race ran caution‑free, and Palou took the win over Rosenqvist and Scott Dixon. Just one caution – similar to the Kansas Cup race. Well done.
In the points, Palou passed Kirkwood to take the lead by 17, while David Malukas sits third, 63 back.
Next Race – Indy Road Course, Saturday, May 9.
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IMSA
The Acura of van der Zande/Yelloly captured the GTP pole over the Eng/Wittmann BMW and the Taylor/Deletraz Cadillac. In GTD, the Lexus of Hawksworth/Montecalvo topped qualifying ahead of the Filippi/Wickens Corvette (yes, THAT Robert Wickens!!) and the Formal/Hindman Lamborghini.
But wait – there’s more. In post‑qualifying tech (apparently very different from pre‑qualifying tech), the Lexus was DQ’d for a minimum ground‑clearance violation, handing the pole to the Corvette. The field consisted of 11 P cars and 17 GTD cars.
Without question, the most awkward race intro I’ve ever seen. The TV producers must have hired the summer interns early. Random IndyCar crash footage from Pocono, a driver swap with no context, and a pit reporter no one could hear. Then the announcer rambled on about the Penske Porsches. Wow. Tiny Talent Week?
Less than two minutes in, the DragonSpeed Corvette backed into the wall, bringing out the first yellow. At the 40‑minute mark (of a 100‑minute race), the second‑place starting BMW of Philipp Eng stuffed it into the tire barrier, triggering a full‑course caution.
At halfway, the pole‑sitting Acura led GTP and the pole‑sitting Lexus led GTD. Minutes later, the Aston Martin P car of Roman De Angelis hit the tire wall after contact with Sheldon van der Linde’s BMW. With 25 minutes remaining, Ricky Taylor overcooked corner 6 exit and slapped the wall in his Cadillac. Inside 10 minutes to go, Corey Lewis hit debris in the GTD Mustang and began shedding parts. Full‑course yellow.
The finish went clean, with the Acura P car taking the win over the Vesti/Aitken Cadillac and the Vanthoor/Estre Penske Porsche. In GTD, the Lexus of Telitz/Pedersen won over the Gallagher/Foley BMW and the Franco/Costa Ferrari.
Next Race – Laguna Seca, Sunday, May 10
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24 Hours of Le Mans
June 14–15
NHRA – Pomona
NOTE – a little ‘driver error’/‘senior moment’ in last week’s report. Low qualifiers were listed, but elimination results were omitted due to a failure to “save.” Full NHRA and IHRA results and points are included this week. Apologies.
Top Fuel – Doug Kalitta won the Top Fuel Challenge, defeating crowd favourite Maddi Gordon with a 3.747 at 333.66. Leah Pruett topped qualifying at 3.724 (329.75). Tony Stewart defeated Justin Ashley in the final with a 3.683 at 332.51. Six upsets and four smokers. Kalitta leads Shawn Langdon by four points.
Funny Car – Matt Hagan won the Funny Car Challenge over Paul Lee with a 3.940 at 329.58. J.R. Todd topped qualifying with a 3.896 at 335.32. Canadian Spencer Hyde qualified 13th. Hagan doubled up by defeating Ron Capps in the final with a 3.876 at 330.39. Three upsets and nine smokers. Hagan and Capps are tied for the lead.
Pro Stock – Dallas Glenn won the Pro Stock Challenge over Aaron Stanfield. Greg Anderson topped qualifying at 6.516. Canadians Eric and Matt Latino qualified 7th and 9th. Anderson defeated Glenn in the final. Glenn leads by 31 points.
Next Race – Charlotte, Sunday at 7 on Fox Sports Racing
IHRA – Virginia Motorsports Park
Top Fuel – Gary Pritchett topped qualifying. Scott Palmer defeated him in the final. Two upsets and one smoker. Pritchett leads by 28.
Funny Car – Del Worsham was quickest in qualifying. Dale Creasy defeated him in the final. Two upsets and two smokers. Creasy leads by 69.
Pro Mod – Randy Weatherford topped qualifying. Tony Wilson defeated Jason Harris in the final. Harris leads Peter Norton by 47.
Outlaw Pro Mod – Mike Decker Jr. topped qualifying. Bubba Stanton took the win in the final. Four upsets and three smokers. Randy Weatherhead leads by nine.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock – Matt Giangrande topped qualifying. Johnny Pluchino won the final. Six upsets and three smokers.
Pro Stock (Factory Stock) – Tony Scott topped the field. Final round not posted. Scott leads Jason Diectsch by 77.
Next Race – Montgomery, AL, Saturday, May 9
Upcoming Events
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 and Sunday
Can Am Stock/Super Stock: Next Race – Cayuga, May 17
John Scotti NHRA Canadian Championship Series: Next Race – Cayuga, May 17
Shannonville Drags: Next Race – June 8
Any comments can be sent to Dave Mathers via email at motionman@rogers.com or by Facebook Messenger.