Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Author: Briar Starr

  • W Series announces commentary team for Esports Series

    W Series announces commentary team for Esports Series

    As the W Series racing in the real world is still on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series gears up for its all-new sim racing league that will feature 10 races at all kinds of different race tracks.

    Tuesday, the league announced its commentary team for the virtual races. Leading the way in the commentary team is Luke Crane. Crane is a racer experienced in the Esports series. Following crane is 13-time winner in Formula 1, David Coulthard. Lee McKenzie, host of Channel 4 and BBC Channel for W Series will be the presenter and Billy Monger (presently a British Formula 3 driver, E-racer, and a Formula 1 analyst for Channel 4) serves as the racing pundit.

    In order for the virtual races to take place, the series has partnered with Logitech G, the global leader in PC gaming.

    Commentator Luke Crane says, he looks forward to the virtual series.

    “I’m really looking forward to seeing how the W Series drivers’ on-track skills transfer over to the virtual world, and the difference in results between last season’s on-track races and these virtual ones.”

    The 13-time Formula 1 winner, Coulthard is in the same boat as Crane, as he also can’t wait for the league to take off.

    “I’m very excited about the W Series Esports League which, thanks to the huge amount of work done not only by my W Series colleagues but also by our friends at Logitech, Beyond Entertainment and iRacing, ably supported by our broadcast partner Whisper and major sponsor ROKiT Phones, looks set to be an extremely entertaining competition. I can’t wait to watch it – and commentate on it.”

    Lead presenter, Lee McKenzie, was the first to open up the W Series last year when it arrived at Hockenheim, Germany.

    “Having presented W Series’ very successful first on-track season last year [on Channel 4], I’m very much looking forward to presenting the W Series Esports League this year. The fact that it will be contested by the W Series drivers, all of them extremely keen to do well in eRacing in the current absence of on-track racing, will make it very special.”

    The eRacer, Billy Monger, hopes to add his experience that he learned from competing on the sim to the race broadcasts.

    “I very much enjoyed watching the W Series races on TV [Channel 4] last year – I found the racing both impressive and entertaining. I’m a keen eracer and I think the combination of iRacing, Beyond Entertainment and Logitech will make a great platform on which the W Series drivers will be able to race one another hard but fair. So I’m really looking forward to adding my views and analysis to the commentary.”

    With the virtual series scheduled to take off next week, the W Series was originally supposed to have their first race of the 2020 season this past weekend in Russia. That race was postponed due to the ongoing pandemic across the country. While the first race is postponed, there are no new announcements on what the rest of the schedule may be, due to the pandemic which is creating a fluid situation.

    As for the virtual league challenge, the series has not yet made an official announcement on prize money.

    All the races can be seen on the W Series YouTube page.

    10-race virtual challenge schedule

    1. Thursday June 11-Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Italy
    2. Thursday June 18- Circuit of the Americas, United States
    3. Thursday June 25- Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, United Kingdom
    4. Thursday July 2- Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Interlago, Brazil
    5. Thursday July 9- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
    6. Thursday July 16- Watkins Glen International, United States
    7. Thursday July 23- Suzuka International Racing Course, Japan
    8. Thursday July 30- Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia
    9. Thursday August 6- Nurburgring Nordschleife, Germany
    10. Thursday August 13- Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit, United Kingdom

    Drivers scheduled to compete are Ayla Agren, Jamie Chadwick, Sabre Cook, Abbie Eaton, Belen Garcia, Marta Garcia, Jessica Hawkins, Emma Kimilainen, Miki Koyama, Nerea Marti, Sarah Moore, Tasmin Pepper, Vicky Piria, Alice Powell, Gosia Rdest, Naomi Schiff, Irina Sidorkova, Bruna Tomaselli, Beitske Visser, Fabienne Wohlwend, and Caitlin Wood.

    All races are scheduled for 19:00 BST (British Summer Time) or in translation at 7 p.m. and the races in the United States will start at 2 p.m. ET.

    For more information the Esports challenge, visit their website.

  • Interview: Catching up with Nerea Marti

    Interview: Catching up with Nerea Marti

    In this interview, Speedway Media catches up with race car driver, Nerea Marti, who competes in the W Series and has done other forms of Motorsport, including Formula 4, throughout her career.

    Marti discusses a wide range of topics such as the W Series, what she is currently doing during this down period of racing, sim racing, and a language she would like to learn more about.

    SM: Due to this current pandemic, you haven’t been able to get any racing done this year. Are you growing tired of sitting at home and not being able to race?

    NM: “It’s a difficult situation for everyone,” Marti said. “Thanks to CETDM (CENTRO DE TECNIFICACIÓN DEL MOTOR) that sends me a training session, I can keep both physically and mentally 100 percent. Now, W Series provided us a simulator and we can keep with the preseason preparation.

    SM: Is it difficult for a driver like you knowing that you are almost always on the go, but then have to pause and wait not knowing when the next race might be?

    NM: “It’s an uncertainty moment, that we don’t know what happens or when we will go back,” she said. “But, we must be positive and prepared for when the time comes.”

    SM: W Series announced a couple of weeks ago, you (among the other drivers) will be participating in their new sim racing league. How much are you looking forward to that?

    NM: “It’s a great opportunity to be able to train and prepare (for) the tracks which I will compete, and thanks to W Series, this is possible,” Marti said. “I can’t wait for the first race.”

    SM: Do you think by doing sim racing on tracks you compete at in real-life that it will help give you some practice by doing them on the sim?

    NM: “The simulator helps a lot to learn the tracks and have references,” she said. “It helps a great deal.”

    SM: Has this break altered your normal routine than what it normally is? How have you been able to adjust to the different circumstances?

    NM: Normally, I live in Cheste, a village near Valencia, the CETDM program and there, I’m internal from Monday to Friday, combining the studies with training and other elite athletes,” Marti said. “This lockdown, I have continued my training at home, following the information received by my trainer daily.”

    SM: During this lockdown, have you been watching any Netflix or Hulu? If so, what is your favorite TV show right now?

    NM: “I have organized very well the time to take advantage of it to the maximum,” she said. “I have been studying and training a lot and in my free time, watching Netflix without binge-watching. I also speak to my friends via video conference, etc. My favorite TV show is a Spanish one called “La casa de papel.”

    SM: What been the most random or funniest thing that has happened to you during a race?

    NM: I don’t have any random situation,” Marti said. “But, I remember once when I was training with my kart, I felt one bee inside my helmet and I had to stop. I was scared, but it was also funny.”

    SM: Is there a language that you wish you can learn how to speak?

    NM: “I would like to talk as many languages as possible, in order to communicate with many people,” she said. “During this lockdown, I have been improving my English.”

    SM: If you could not be a race car driver anymore, what would your other career choice be and why?

    NM: “I like sport in general, but I have always been surrounded by motorsport,” Marti said. “It is my passion.”

    SM: If you could choose someone to play you in a movie about your life. Who would that person be?

    NM: “I don’t know, but if I have to choose I would say my mom,” she said. “Only because she knows me a lot, although she is not an actress. I think she can speak like me and act like me. I think it would be funny.”

    SM: Is there a song out there that best describes you?

    NM: “I think that I don’t have any song which describes my life, but in this moment, I’m listening to reggaeton, a lot of the times.”

    SM: If you could visit any planet in the solar system, which planet would it be?

    NM: “If I had to choose one planet, I would choose Mars,” Marti said. “I would like to know if there is life.”

    SM: Wrapping it up, what is one accomplishment that you are most proud of?

    NM: “One of my greatest accomplishments has been to drive a Formula (Car),” she said. “It has always been my dream and I am very proud of it.”

    Fans of Nerea can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and check out her website.

    Special thanks to Nerea Marti for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do the interview.

  • Catching up with Xfinity Series driver Kody Vanderwal

    Catching up with Xfinity Series driver Kody Vanderwal

    In this week’s interview, Speedway Media caught up with NASCAR Xfinity Series newcomer and Jimmy Means Racing driver, Kody Vanderwal. Vanderwal made his debut for the No. 52 team this past March at Phoenix International Raceway.

    During the interview, Vanderwal talks about a wide variety of topics such as his first race as a stock car driver. He discussed the most exhilarating race he’s been a part of, what a fan needs to do to get his attention in the garage for an autograph and what planet he would choose to go to if he had a chance.

    SM: What was your first race as a racecar driver? Was it everything you expected?

    KV: “It was a dirt Enduro race in a mostly stock ’72 Monte Carlo when I was 11,” Vanderwal said. “I didn’t really have a clue what I was doing and spun more times then I could count. It was a learning experience.”

    SM: How calm are you during a race? Are you a driver that’s more fired up behind the wheel
    or do you take it easy until the halfway point?

    KV: “That’s probably one of my biggest strong suits behind the wheel, my calm demeanor,” he said. Obviously, with all that adrenaline, it’s impossible not to get a little excited from time to time, but normally, I’m very calm.”

    SM: What the most exhilarating race you’ve ever been a part of? Any come to mind?

    KV: “When me and our small family and friends’ K&N West team won our first race at Tucson Speedway,” Vanderwal said. “Dominated the race and then had to hold off one of the best there is, Derek Thorn, on a green-white-checkered. Definitely was pumped after that one.”

    SM: Which driver did you want to be like growing up as a racer?

    KV: “I was always a Jeff Gordon fan growing up but it was really more my dad and some of the local guys in Colorado that inspired me to start driving,” he said. “The inspiration to make it more than a hobby came later when I realized it was actually possible.”

    SM: You are walking around the garage area. A fan is trying to reach you for an autograph, but for whatever reason, you can’t see them and maybe the garage area is packed with fans. How does a fan grab your attention for an autograph or photo?

    KV: “Well, there aren’t very many Kody’s in the NASCAR garage,” Vanderwal said. “So, all you gotta do is call my name.”

    SM: Has there ever been a random or funny thing that’s happened to you during a race?

    KV: “Racing can always be pretty random,” he said. “I lost brakes once because I ran over somebody’s starter. At the track several years ago, the same car rolled over within 10 feet of me in the same corner two races in a row.”

    SM: Who is one racing icon that you’ve always wanted to meet?

    KV: “Any of them,” Vanderwal said. “I especially love meeting people from the older days and hearing their stories.”

    SM: Are you someone that is superstitious before a race starts? If so, what’s a raceday routine that you follow?

    KV: “Not at all,” he said. “Just kind of go with the flow. The only thing, I try to do before every race is a prayer.”

    SM: What is the first thing you do after you come home from a race? Does it take a while for the adrenaline to wear off?

    KV: “I usually always eat something after a race and then usually, it’s late by the time I get home, so I just go to bed.”

    SM: If you could visit any planet in the solar system. Which planet would you choose?

    KV: “I’m gonna go with Neptune, it looks cool.”

    SM: You are required to go without one social media app for a year. What app would you choose to go without?

    KV: “Probably Facebook,” Vanderwal said. “I really don’t use it very much.”

    SM: Time travel is available and you can go back in time to pick a race to watch in person. What race do you pick if you had the chance to watch it in person?

    KV: “2002 Bristol night race.”

    Vanderwal has made three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2020 with a best finish of 29th at Phoenix back in March. In addition, the Colorado native has made 35 starts in what was previously the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West over the past three years with two wins at Tucson. Also, in the West Series, he has eight top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes, along with one pole and 140 laps led.

    Fans of Kody can follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. In addition, fans can also follow Jimmy Means Racing on Twitter and Facebook.

    Special thanks to Kimberly Gazaway for making the interview happen and special thanks to Kody Vanderwal for taking his time out of his day.

  • Kevin Siggy/Stoffel Vandoorne take virtual victories in wild races of the At Home Series at virtual New York

    Kevin Siggy/Stoffel Vandoorne take virtual victories in wild races of the At Home Series at virtual New York

    With just two-races left to go, the FIA ABB Formula E Series continued their Race At Home Series on Saturday, by competing at the virtual New York for Round No. 6 of 8.

    Both the Challenge Series and the Driver’s Grid, saw a incident filled race, while the competition was competitive and quite possibly, one of the best races that has taken place in the virtual Race At Home Series.

    Challenge Series

    After dominating last week at Berlin, BMW i Andretti driver, Kevin Siggy had high hopes of continuing his winning ways this week at the virtual New York.

    In order to do so, Siggy among his other competitors, would have to have a decent qualifying starting position. For Siggy, he qualified on pole position with a time of 1:11.040. Lucas Mueller would place second, while Petar Brljak were the top three. Mueller did have the fastest lap for the moment, before Siggy took the top spot away narrowly edging Mueller by 0.125 seconds.

    Coming into Round No. 6, Siggy had a 33 point lead over Brljak.

    As the event went green, almost all the drivers made it through without an incident. However, Jacob Ried in the Venturi Racing entry, made a dive bomb move at the bottom in Turn 5, which caused an incident with a couple of drivers. After doing so, the series officials gave Reid a drive-thru penalty. Reid would continue to have issues throughout the race, as he would be credited with a 20th place finish.

    Meanwhile, Mahindra Racing’s Markus Keller would end up spinning around by himself in one of the turns. Other sim racers, Joshua Rogers and Cem Bolukbasi also had troubles of their own by making contact with each other as well. A few laps later on lap 11, Bolukbasi ended up spinning again.

    Despite these incidents, Siggy continued to pull away from the field with an impressive 10-second lead over second place. Eventually, the BMW i Andretti driver, would pick up another victory to his name in the Challenge Series. When Siggy crossed the finish line as the winner, he was 12-seconds ahead of second place finisher Jan von der Heyde. Siggy led wire-to-wire by leading all 15 laps.

    By scoring the victory, Siggy increased his points lead over Peyo Peev and now leads the way with 53 points.

    “The race was just about managing the pace and securing the extra point for fastest lap,” Siggy said. “I just pushed to the end to see how far I could go and fortunately it all worked out in the end.”

    Driver’s Grid

    As for the driver’s grid, Mercedes-Benz driver, Stoffel Vandoorne set the pace in qualifying by having the fastest lap time of 1:11.158 seconds. Vandoorne was looking for his first victory in the virtual challenge series, despite having four poles.

    Before the race started, Mahindra Racing’s Pascal Wehrlein, had to give up his second place starting position, due to a collision the previous week with Maximilian Günther at Berlin. Therefore, Wehrlein was seen a five race grid penalty and started in the seventh position instead.

    When the lights went out at the virtual New York, contact was made with several drivers in Turn 5. The unluckiest person being involved in the incident was, Günther who had taken over Wehrlein’s starting position in second. After the collision, Günther was sent all the way back to 19th.

    Throughout the virtual event, there was more action seen everywhere in the racing field. On lap 3, Sebastien Buemi casually spun before getting it together after contact with drivers Oliver Turvey and Andre Lotterer. At lap 11, Wehrlein made a big slide with a bump from Oliver Rowland and Neel Jani, who was all over the back of Wehrlein. Like Buemi, Werhlein saved his vehicle from further incident.

    After a close spin by Wehrlein, Rowland and Jani continued to battle for the podiums, making it a thrill to watch between the three drivers. Jani in the TAG Heuer Porsche, actually ended up spinning himself out in Turn 1 on lap 14 of 15.

    While that was going on, this allowed race-leader, Vandoorne to stretch his lead and gap with the lead. The Mercedes-Benz driver would finally score his first checkered flag in the Race At Home Series Challenge, after once again, starting on the pole.

    “It has taken a while before getting here to win a race!,” Vandoorne said. “Today was a perfect result; pole position, race win and also the fastest lap, so it has been a good day in the office. It has been coming for a long time, today we were just faster and did not have any problems. That was kind of 99 percent the job done.”

    With the victory, Vandoorne leads over Wehrlein by one point in the championship points standings heading into the final two races next weekend, including the double points event at Berlin next Sunday.

    By scoring the victory, Stoffel Vandoorne was also awarded the TAG Heuer fastest lap of the race.

    Next weekend will mark the final events of the Race At Home Challenge hosted by the FIA ABB Formula E Series. The driver who ends up winning the championship in the Challenge Series, will get to drive a real life Formula E car on a race weekend. There will be two events slated for the entire weekend. The first on Saturday June 6 at the virtual New York, which will serve as the penultimate race. While, on Sunday June 7, Berlin will be the grand finale of the series, serving as a double header championship points event

    Official Driver Grid Results

    1. Stoffel Vandoorne
    2. Pascal Wehrlein
    3. Oliver Rowland
    4. Antonio Felix da Costa
    5. Neel Jani
    6. Mitch Evans
    7. James Calado
    8. Sebastien Buemi
    9. Oliver Turvey
    10. Andre Lotterer
    11. Ma Qing Hua
    12. Maximilian Günther
    13. Robin Frijns, OUT, Did Not Finish
    14. Alexander Sims, OUT, Did Not Finish
    15. Nyck de Vries, OUT, Did Not Finish
    16. Brendon Hartley, OUT, Did Not Finish
    17. Felipe Massa, OUT, Did Not Finish
    18. Jean-Eric Vergne, OUT, Did Not Finish
    19. Jerome D’ Ambrosio, OUT, Did Not Finish
    20. Edoardo Mortara, OUT, Did Not Finish
    21. Nico Mueller, OUT, Did Not Finish
    22. Lucas di Grassi, OUT, Did Not Finish
    23. Sam Bird, OUT, Did Not Finish

    Official Driver’s Grid Points Standings

    1. Stoffel Vandoorne, 105 points
    2. Pascal Wehrlein, 104 points
    3. Maximilian Günther, 73 points
    4. Oliver Rowland, 58 points
    5. Robin Frijns, 48 points
    6. Neel Jani, 35 points
    7. Nico Mueller, 29 points
    8. Edoardo Mortara, 27 points
    9. Antonio Felix da Costa, 26 points
    10. James Calado, 25 points
    11. Oliver Turvey, 22 points
    12. Nick Cassidy, 19 points
    13. Andre Lotterer, 13 points
    14. Mitch Evans, 10 points
    15. Sebastien Buemi, 9 points
    16. Nyck de Vries, 6 points
    17. Felipe Massa, 4 points
    18. Jerome D’ Ambrosio, 2 points
    19. Ma Qing Hua, 2 points
    20. Alexander Sims, 1 point
    21. Jean-Eric Vergne, 0 points
    22. Lucas di Grassi, 0 points
    23. Brendon Hartley, 0 points
    24. Sam Bird, 0 points

    Official Challenge Grid Results

    1. Kevin Siggy
    2. Jan von der Heyde
    3. Joshua Rogers
    4. Cem Bolukbasi
    5. Peyo Peev
    6. Kush Maini
    7. Nuno Pinto
    8. Arjan Veltens
    9. Alisdair Irvine
    10. Petar Brljak
    11. Lucas Mueller
    12. Niek Jacobs
    13. Markus Keller, OUT, Did Not Finish
    14. Ozgur Benzes, OUT, Did Not Finish
    15. Scott Sovik, OUT, Did Not Finish
    16. Ben Hitz, OUT, Did Not Finish
    17. Axel La Flamme, OUT, Did Not Finish
    18. Yifei Ye, OUT, Did Not Finish
    19. Armando Iannaccone, OUT, Did Not Finish
    20. Jacob Reid, OUT, Did Not Finish
    21. Charlie Martin, OUT, Did Not Finish
    22. Noah Reuvers, OUT, Did Not Finish
    23. Mike Channell, OUT, Did Not Finish
    24. Verena Mei, OUT, Did Not Finish

    Official Challenge Grid Standings

    1. Kevin Siggy, 129 points
    2. Peyo Peev 76 points
    3. Lucas Mueller, 73 points
    4. Petar Brljak, 71 points
    5. Joshua Rogers, 60 points
    6. Jan von der Heyde, 50 points
    7. Cem Bolukbasi, 24 points
    8. Nuno Pinto, 23 points
    9. Jacob Reid, 20 points
    10. Niek Jacobs, 16 points
    11. Ben Hitz, 15 points
    12. Oli Pahkala, 12 points
    13. Erhan Jakovski, 10 points
    14. Marius Golombeck, 10 points
    15. Kush Maini, 9 points
    16. Arjan Veltens, 8 points
    17. Remco Majoor, 6 points
    18. Kuba Brzezinski, 6 points
    19. Jim Parisis, 6 points
    20. Markus Keller, 6 points
    21. Alisdair Irvine, 4 points
    22. Noah Reuvers, 1 point
    23. Alex Lynn, 1 point
  • Four Takeaways from the North Carolina Education Lottery 200

    Four Takeaways from the North Carolina Education Lottery 200

    It’s hard to imagine, but Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first time since February at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series was last in action.

    When the entry list was announced, 47 Trucks were entered, the largest-field of Trucks in quite some time. Unfortunately, seven of those got sent home after a random draw that took place a week ago. Just imagine, 47 Trucks racing on the track at the same time, it would have been wild.

    When 40 Trucks took the track for the first time in three months many did not know what to expect. A big pile-up? Some taking it easy? Actually, neither of these took place. It was a similar race to the one at Las Vegas back in February, run cleanly and smoothly, without a lot of cautions.

    However, this type of race was certainly different. Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis and NASCAR Cup Series superstar Kevin Harvick had placed a $100,000 bounty on the all-time wins leader, Kyle Busch. Originally, it was $50,000 before Lemonis stepped in.

    Knowing that Busch is pretty much unstoppable in the Truck Series, it was interesting to see if anyone could beat him. That’s when Cup regulars, Chase Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole, took the opportunity in hopes of beating Busch, albeit, cleanly on the track. And wouldn’t you know it? It came down coincidentally, to Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch, the two drivers that had a run-in with each other last week at the Cup race in Darlington. It’s funny how things work out.

    As it turned out, Elliott would outrun Busch to the finish line by .627 seconds for the third Truck Series victory of his career. It was his first win in the series since three years ago in 2017 at Martinsville Speedway.

    While Elliott fended off Busch for the victory, there were some other notables during the race. So, with that said, here are four takeaways from the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

    1. More Bounty – After Tuesday night’s race, the bounty that will be donated to a coronavirus relief charity of the driver’s choice was so successful that Marcus Lemonis stepped in once again and offered another bounty for the upcoming Atlanta Truck Series race next month. This time, anyone is eligible for the bounty and the award is $25,000 to anyone who wins the race. With the bounty being thrown out, there have been past drivers who have become interested such as former series champion Todd Bodine and former NASCAR driver, Kenny Wallace. While the bounty is most certainly fun, it also definitely brings extra attention to the Truck Series and makes it a great race to watch.

    2. GMS Racing Places Four Trucks In Top Five – It was a strong-night for the GMS Racing team, who had five Trucks entered in the race, including race winner Chase Elliott. At one point or another, you would almost find at least one of those Trucks up near the front, challenging for a stage win or the lead. While Elliott’s Truck was the best among the GMS stable, there was another driver who shined; rookie Zane Smith. Smith put himself up there with leaders Busch and Elliott and other series drivers and actually led 15 laps. It was the first time ever that Smith was able to lead laps in the Truck Series. The California native also had sporadic battles with Kyle Busch near the end, as well. Ultimately, GMS Racing finished first, third, fourth, fifth, and 13th. Not a bad night for the team.

    3. Clean Race For The Most Part – When you see 40 Trucks on track and add in several rookies, you sometimes think that this is going to be a caution-filled race. Well actually, it wasn’t, at least toward the very end. The first caution that came out for an actual incident was Lap 81 when a multi-truck crash broke loose that was started by Jesse Iwuji. After that incident, there were really only two more cautions for incidents. Speaking of the accident on Lap 81, Iwuji apologized for the incident which took out drivers, Stewart Friesen, Brennan Poole, and Tyler Ankrum.

    4. Ty Majeski Earns Best Career Finish To Date – Overlooked in the finishing order, could very well be Niece Motorsports driver, Ty Majeski. Majeski finished eighth, which was his best finish in the Truck Series in over four starts. The Wisconsin driver finished fifth in Stage 1 before earning a top-10 finish. Now it’s only a matter of time before Majeski scores his first win in the series.


  • NASCAR Gander RV And Outdoors Truck Series Power Rankings – Charlotte

    NASCAR Gander RV And Outdoors Truck Series Power Rankings – Charlotte

    The NASCAR Gander RV And Outdoors Truck Series was back in action Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway for race No. 3 of the 2020 Truck Series season.

    It felt like forever since we had seen the Trucks in action, but once the green flag flew, there was tons of action from start to finish in a race that saw a 40-Truck field for the first time in several years. In fact, you would have to go back to 2004 at Mansfield to see a field of 40 Trucks hit the track.

    We not only saw 40 Trucks in the race, there was also a $100,000 bounty on the line which was set up by Kevin Harvick and Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis. The rules for the bounty stated, if any full-time Cup driver could beat Kyle Busch “cleanly” in a race, they would win the bounty bonus. However, as conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic arose, the rules of the bounty were changed the day of the race. Now, should the winner beat Busch, they would donate the bounty to a charity COVID-19 relief effort.

    As the bounty was on the line, Cup regulars like Chase Eliott, Brennan Poole and John Hunter Nemechek were all entered to compete. While Poole and Nemechek certainly had the opportunity to beat Busch, it was ultimately Elliott who proved the winner over Busch with coincidentally Elliott finishing first and Busch second in the running order.

    While Elliott was class of the field in a GMS Racing truck, other notable regular Truck Series drivers had some decent runs and finishes as well.

    Here are this week’s Power Rankings following the North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

    1. Sheldon Creed – Creed had a quiet fifth-place showing Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The GMS driver started 21st due to a random draw earlier in the week. The 22-year-old ran as high as third, had 80 green flag passes and spent 92 laps in the top-15. While Creed didn’t get to lead any laps or manage to grab a stage point, he brought the No. 2 Chevy Accessories home to a top-five finish. The finish marked his sixth top-five of his Truck Series career.

      Previous Ranking That Followed Las Vegas – Third

      https://twitter.com/sheldoncreed/status/1265489102381735937?
    2. Brett Moffitt – The GMS train continues with Brett Moffitt, who piloted the No. 23 truck home to fourth. Though his story is different compared to others. Right before the world got shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moffitt broke both of his legs and it appeared as though he would have missed a few races, had the NASCAR world kept with its original schedule. But, luck came his way and Moffitt was able to rehab and was cleared to compete. He competed in the two Xfinity races at Darlington and Charlotte and had a solid run in the Truck race. Moffitt was able to lead just two-laps, made 60 quality passes and ran the event around eighth. The Iowa native finished 10th in Stage 1 and sixth in Stage 2, before finishing fourth in the race. It was a nice outing at Charlotte for Moffitt.

      Previous Week Ranking That Followed Las Vegas – Not Ranked

      https://twitter.com/Brett_Moffitt/status/1265488020083531777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22
    3. Austin Hill – Speaking of solid runs, Hill looked to be the fastest Truck in the field early on. The Georgia native started fifth and took the lead from the get-go, led 19 laps early on and led six-laps right before the stage ended. Unfortunately, he got passed by Ross Chastain for the stage win and was second in the first stage. The second stage wasn’t quite as impressive he would finish 10th. Hill noted that he was fighting a loose handling Truck through the middle of the race. He caught a lucky caution near the end and pitted with Kyle Busch and Tanner Gray. However, Hill got stuck in traffic and could not find the clean air that was needed. Ultimately, the Hattori Racing driver finished ninth for his third top-10 of the season, the 24th of his career.

      Previous Week Ranking Following Las Vegas – First

      https://twitter.com/_AustinHill/status/1265483853629710340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22
    4. Matt Crafton – While still on his winless streak dating back to three years now, Matt Crafton was looking for a consistent run after the time off. Like Hill, Crafton was one of the few up front early on. The ThorSport driver finished fourth in both stages. Unfortunately, Crafton’s efforts were cut-short, as he suffered a broken track bar mount on the truck. Due to the issue, he was relegated to a 35th place finish.

      Previous Week Ranking Following Las Vegas – Fifth
    5. Johnny Sauter – Sauter was impressive late in the going, challenging for the lead and perhaps a victory. Throughout the event, the Wisconsin native was unable to finish inside the top-10 for a stage point during both stages, with 68.7% of the laps in the top-15, while having 32 quality passes and 71 green flag passes. At the end of the day, Sauter placed the No. 13 Ford F-150 seventh.

      Previous Week Ranking Following Las Vegas – Second

    Fell Out

    1. Todd Gilliland – Gilliland had a rough Charlotte outing following his return to the track. On Lap 102, the DGR-Crosley driver was caught up in an accident that saw him blow a right-front tire. His night was done early and he was credited with a 37th place finish.

      Previous Week Ranking Following Las Vegas – Fourth

      https://twitter.com/ToddGilliland_/status/1265482682194165764
  • NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings – Charlotte I

    NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings – Charlotte I

    The NASCAR Xfinity Series continued their fluid schedule this week, visiting the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway after last week’s events at Darlington Raceway on Thursday.

    While the theme of no practice and qualifying continued this week, there was most certainly some thrilling race action during the race, especially toward the end of the 300-miler. Thankfully, unlike Sunday night and last Tuesday night, the Xfinity Series did not have to deal with any weather delay.

    There was a familiar face in the field as there was in last week’s race at Darlington. And that name was Kyle Busch, who tops the all-time wins list. Busch was sporting an Appalachian State University scheme to honor the class of 2020.

    Busch started 18th thanks to a random draw but the Las Vegas native did not take long to get to the front, as he won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. He ultimately took home the checkered flag, the 97th of his Xfinity Series career, after leading a race-high of 94 laps.

    Despite the fact that Busch put on another clinic, there were other regular Xfinity Series drivers who flew under the radar in the Alsco 300 at Charlotte.

    Here are this week’s Power Rankings following the sixth event of the 2020 season.

    1. Ross Chastain – Chastain had a great advantage of starting on the pole, due to the random draw that took place earlier in the week. And while random draws can be lucky or unlucky, Chastain managed to use that draw to his advantage. He led the first 31 laps and had an opportunity to win both stages before being passed by Kyle Busch late in the stage, as Chastain would end up one spot short by finishing second in both stages. Troubles would arise late in the race as the Kaulig driver was penalized and caught up in an incident, and slapped the wall. However, Chastain rebounded to a fourth-place finish after leading 68 laps.

      https://twitter.com/NASCAR_Xfinity/status/1265113941778235392

    2. Austin Cindric – Cindric came very close to scoring his first Xfinity Series oval win Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He started sixth, finished fifth in Stage 1 and fourth in Stage 2. A late-race caution ensued with less than five to go that allowed Cindric to have a shot at the win. Unfortunately, the Team Penske driver fell short and finished third for his fourth top-five of the season. Cindric did manage to lead 30-laps in the event.

      https://twitter.com/AustinCindric/status/1265120989807087617
    3. Daniel Hemric – While Hemric is a part-time driver in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, he has certainly made the most of each opportunity in every race he has competed in this season. Previously, Darlington was Hemric’s best finish of the 2020 season, where he finished sixth in the outing. At Charlotte, he started 12th, finished ninth in Stage 1 and seventh in Stage 2. Hemric was never able to get out front to lead any laps, but had a late surge in the end and briefly challenged Busch for the win. He came home second in the running order, the first-time since Kansas two years ago.

      https://twitter.com/XfinityRacing/status/1265118109729304576
    4. Brandon Brown – Speaking of someone who flew under the radar, Team-Owner and driver, Brandon Brown was quiet all night but was there went it counted the most. While he unfortunately did not secure any stage points, Brown had 27 quality passes and spent 111 laps in the top-15. Despite that being down from the previous week at Darlington (120-laps), Brown solidly earned a top-10 finish by finishing eighth, his third top-10 in his Xfinity Series career. Needless to say, Brown was pumped about the finish.

      https://twitter.com/brandonbrown_68/status/1265116691924684800?
    5. Michael Annett – Annett’s 2020 Xfinity Series season has been a mixed bag of results so far, opening Daytona by finishing 11th and seventh at Las Vegas, but had three finishes outside the top-10, including a 25th-place finish last week at Darlington. Coming into Charlotte, the Des Moines, Iowa driver was hoping for a rebound after last week’s dismal outing. The No. 1 Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet rolled off in the ninth position, unable to score any stage finishes, but finished seventh for his second top-10 of the 2020 season, the 65th of his career.


  • Rookie Spotlight – Raphael Lessard

    Rookie Spotlight – Raphael Lessard

    When the NASCAR Truck Series hit the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time in three months, there were several new names that were either making their first start at the track and drivers that shined and had a respectable outing.

    One of those that stood out was NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series driver, Kyle Busch Motorsports rookie, Raphael Lessard. While Lessard is still new to the Truck Series with only eight starts in the series, he already has two top-10 finishes in his NASCAR career, which came in the five races in which he competed last year.

    When Lessard arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he had no prior starts or at track experience to lean on. Therefore, he most likely would have to lean on his Team-Owner Kyle Busch for advice, or gain experience on the simulator like so many other rookies do.

    Lessard started 20th due to the draw, ran a consistent race and stayed out of trouble for most of the night. He was unable to score any stage points, finishing 17th in Stage 1 and 13th in Stage 2. Despite fighting a loose truck, Lessard found himself at the front for a short while near the end of the race and was actually able to lead his first laps in NASCAR by leading two laps. Ultimately, Lessard wound up earning a top-15 finish by finishing 15th in his first Charlotte outing.

    Following the third Truck race of 2020, Lessard averaged 41 green-flag passes, 25 quality passes, and spent 66.4 percent of the time in the top-15.

  • Interview: Locked-Down with Mitch Evans

    Interview: Locked-Down with Mitch Evans

    In continuation of Speedway Media’s column titled “Locked-Down,” we caught up with ABB FIA Formula E and Pansonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans. While some sporting leagues are back, the Formula E Series and its drivers continue to wait out the COVID-19 pandemic.

    During this edition of “Locked-Down,” Evans talks about what he has been up to during this break from racing, the sim-races he has competed in, what he misses about being at the track and what he plans on doing once quarantine is lifted.

    SM: It has been a while since you have been on track. How have you been during this downtime? What have you done to keep yourself busy?

    ME: “I’ve been well thank you,” Evans said. “I’ve stayed in Europe, in Monaco, in this lockdown period rather than going home to New Zealand. The restrictions have started to lift now which is good. I’ve been working on my coffee art with my espresso machine, as I’m really into my coffee, and I’ve also been trying to learn French. We’ve been competing in the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge each weekend, which has kept me pretty busy. It’s been nice to have a routine, but I definitely can’t wait to get back racing when it’s safe to do so.”

    SM: Sim-racing has really taken off by storm the last few weeks and you, yourself have been participating in the “Stay At Home Challenge” hosted by hosted by Formula E. Have you kind of exceeded your expectations in sim-racing by participating in the virtual series?

    ME: “Yes – the Race at Home Challenge, hosted by ABB Formula E, in support of UNICEF has been great to be involved in,” Evans said. “Formula E kindly provided us with simulators and we’ve been competing for points every weekend. I, unfortunately, haven’t had a great deal of luck so far in the races but I’ve qualified in good positions each week. Last weekend, I scored my first set of virtual points on the Berlin track. Sim racing is very different to driving a real race car and not something I’ve had much experience in before, but I have a lot of respect for the professional sim drivers as this is extremely competitive.”

    SM: On a scale of 1-10, how good of a sim racer do you think you are compared to the rest of the field? And, do you feel like it is helping you keep yourself prepared on tracks that you race at in real-life?

    ME: “I’d say, I’m probably a 6 out of 10 – with 10 being good,” he said. “I feel that I’m pretty average within the pack of drivers. On a good day, I’m starting on the grid in around seventh. It’s hard to say if it’s helping me at the moment, as the sim can teach you bad habits too, so you have to be careful of that. It’s probably not helping in terms of track performance for when we go back racing, but it is keeping the awareness of Formula E out there while we can’t race in real life. The Race at Home challenge is a great way to stay competitive too and interacting with Formula E, and the other drivers, has been good fun.”

    SM: Shifting to real racing, the 2019-20 season started out with a 10th place finish at Riyadh. Up until the hiatus, your performance has gradually improved, especially with getting a win at Mexico City. Can you talk about what this season has been like so far for you compared to last season?

    ME: “This season has been great so far,” Evans said. “In Santiago, I was feeling pretty good after qualifying P1 and my second Super Pole visit this season, but unfortunately we couldn’t convert this during the race. We faced some challenges, however, the main objective was points and podiums, and we’ve achieved this. We then went on to win the race in Mexico City, which was amazing – the result was a huge testament to the team and their hard work. It was great to show the pace the Jaguar I-TYPE 4 has, not just over one lap, but a whole race.”

    “In Marrakesh I had a really great race. I managed to gain 18 places to finish P6 from the back of the grid and achieve fastest lap, so I will take that result with open arms. After an unfortunate qualifying the priority in the race was damage limitation during the E-Prix and we did exactly that.  I’m now second in the driver standings and can’t wait to get back racing.”

    SM: With the season halted due to the virus, has this downtime altered your expectations at all? Would it be disappointing to you should this season never get restarted? 

    ME: “I’d definitely be disappointed if we didn’t go racing again as I’m currently fighting for the Season Six Championship title,” he said. “We need more races for this season to complete the Championship, but we can only go racing again when it’s safe for us, the team, the partners and the fans to do so. At Panasonic Jaguar Racing, we have a really quick package this year and I want to show that pace again on the track.”

    SM: When the racing season is in full bloom, it seems as though you are almost always on the go. Was it ever difficult for you knowing that you would not be racing for a while, despite being on the go? 

    ME: “Yes that’s correct,” Evans said. “I’m often on the go and I’m used to travelling to different cities and countries around the world each month, so it’s difficult to stay in one place for a while. Having said that, I’m getting the chance to have a routine every day and create a new normal which is quite nice too.”

    SM: If the season resumes, do you have any tracks that you have your eye on that you can think you can perform well at? 

    ME: “Rome is a particularly good track for us and it’s where I got my first win last season,” Evans said. “It’s a real shame that we won’t be going there this season but I look forward to going back there next year. At the moment, if there is an opportunity for us to go racing, I don’t really mind which track, country or city it’s hosted in.”

    SM: These current situations can prove to be a little difficult for everyone. How have you been able to stay positive?

    ME: “It’s not been easy and I definitely go through waves,” he said. “Sometimes I feel really good and then there are other times where I feel more agitated. Especially as it’s mid-season, it’s been quite tough. At the moment, I’m just staying optimistic and hoping that we will be able to go back racing and finish the Championship. I have to keep open minded, as I know it’s nothing we can control right now. We were in good form before the lockdown period, so I want to keep that energy there. So when we go back racing we can hit the ground running.”

    SM: Are you a driver that goes back and watches old races? If so, have you done that during this break? If so, which ones have you enjoyed watching?

    ME: “I do like to go back and watch previous races – normally the ones I’ve done quite well in as it gives you great motivation and good buzz,” Evans said. “Reminding yourself of the feeling of winning is amazing, but also those races where I’ve done quite well – Pole position for example.  It brings back emotions and feelings, which is very powerful and important. It’s also good to go back and look at races where you haven’t done so well, but I don’t like to dwell on those too much. Once you’ve re-watched the race and learnt from the mistake you can move on from that. In this time where we have big gaps between races, it’s good to get that motivational feeling again.”

    SM: What is one thing you miss about being at the track? 

    ME: “To narrow it down to one thing is really quite difficult, as there are so many things I miss about being at the track and you appreciate that in this current situation,” he said. “Driving the car and feeling the car is the main thing that I wish I could do right now. I also really miss the team environment, going away to different cities and countries which in turn brings different cultures. The Jaguar Racing team are 100 per cent behind me and we’ve worked so hard to try and come away with the most amount of points, so it’s a shame that we can’t do that right now. There are many things I miss, but hopefully we’ll be back racing when it’s safe for everyone to do so.”

    SM: Wrapping it up, what are you going to do when you are done quarantining and what do you hope to accomplish in Formula E this season, if racing resumes? 

    ME: “This season we’re hungry for more points, podiums and wins and that’s what I hope to achieve,” Evans said. “We’re in a really strong position at the moment, so I hope I can keep that momentum going forward.”

    Fans of Mitch Evans can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

    Currently, in Evans FIA Formula E career, he has made a total of 42 starts, earned two career wins (Rome, Mexico City), six podiums, two poles, and a best points finish of fifth in the championship standings that occurred in 2018.

    Special thanks to Jaguar Racing’s Adrian Atkinson and Emily Hogg for making the interview happen.

  • Chase Elliott takes Gander Truck Series win at Charlotte, claims bounty

    Chase Elliott takes Gander Truck Series win at Charlotte, claims bounty

    After 95-days, the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series were back in action Tuesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Not only did the Truck Series return to action, but it also marked the first time in series history, that a bounty was issued to any Cup driver that could beat Kyle Busch.

    GMS driver and Cup veteran, Chase Elliott was able to fend off the All-time win-list leader Kyle Busch to win the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He not only won the race but also claimed the $100,000 bounty that was offered by Kevin Harvick and Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis to any full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver who could beat Busch in the series.

    “He was a little better than I was there at the end,” Elliott said after the race. “I got tight. I don’t think we adjusted enough on that last pit stop (on Lap 89). I was a little scared. I really didn’t know exactly what I needed or what these things did as time went on.

    “Luckily, the right-front (tire) stayed on it long enough to get to the end. And I think he (Busch) burned out his stuff pretty hard trying to get to me. It was a lot of fun. To be able to come out and outrun him, and him finish second — I’d much rather him finish second than wreck or something, so I feel like I did something right.”

    Stage 1: Lap 1 – Lap 30

    Before the green-flag dropped a random draw was held earlier this week. As a result of the draw, ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes sat on the pole with Tyler Ankrum on the outside. The stages were broken into 30/30/74 to make up the 134-lap race.

    A short green-flag run was seen before a competition caution flew on Lap 15 due to no practice or qualifying. Hattori Racing’s Austin Hill had led the field up until that point. A few drivers including Busch, Tanner Gray, Johnny Sauter, Christian Eckes and a few others pitted. Both Busch and Sauter reported that their splitter was hitting the ground. Under the yellow, Spencer Davis and Austin Wayne Self were penalized for speeding, while Timmy Hill was penalized for too many crewmen over the wall.

    Once the stage went back to green with 10 to go, Ross Chastain took the lead from Austin Hill. From there, Chastain went on to take the stage win.

    Hill, Zane Smith, Matt Crafton, Ty Majeski, Elliott, Todd Gilliland, Ben Rhodes, Tyler Ankrum, and Brett Moffitt completed the top-10 stage finishers.

    Under the stage caution, Timmy Hill was nabbed for speeding and Tanner Gray was caught with too many men over the wall. Before the stage finish, Busch’s right-rear tire was going down.

    Stage 2: Lap 37 – Lap 60

    When Stage 2 began, we saw new leaders at the front with Zane Smith and Canadian Raphael Lessard on the front row. It didn’t take long though for Elliott to get to the lead who was in the top position at Lap 44. Surprisingly, this stage went caution-free but there were a few drivers who had issues. Reaume Brother’s Jesse Iwuji was black-flagged by NASCAR for not maintaining minimum speed and Bryan Dauzat was also penalized for the same issue.

    Elliott went on to claim Stage 2 as Rhodes, Nemechek, Crafton, Busch, Moffitt, Smith, Gilliland, Chastain, and Austin Hill completed the top-10.

    Stage 3: Lap 68 – Lap 134

    In the final stage, Busch did not lead a single-lap in the race until Lap 69.

    Also during the final-stage, Todd Gilliland in the No. 38 had an issue with a tire rub and hit the wall off Turn 4 receiving damage to the left front. Later, Iwuji continued to have problems as he was involved in a wreck with Stewart Friesen and Brennan Poole.

    Once the event went back green with 48 to go, another caution was flown as Natalie Decker and Poole were involved in a wreck in Turns 3 and 4. Several laps later Garrett Smithley spun around with 39 to go after caution was called for debris. The last caution of the night would come out for Gilliland as he once again hit the wall off Turn 4.

    Before that last caution, however, Crafton would come down pit road for a problem with the No. 88 Truck. It was later reported that the track bar mount had broken. While he was able to get back out, Crafton couldn’t go much higher than 35th in the running order.

    After the final restart with 26 to go, Elliott would be back in the lead and was looking for his first Truck Series victory since Martinsville of 2017. It wasn’t easy as Busch was trying all he could to duke it out for the victory.

    Ultimately, Elliott fended off Busch’s late-race charge and won by .627 seconds to claim the $100,000 bounty.

    Elliott led three-times for 47 laps en-route to the third Truck Series victory of his career.

    There were seven cautions for 37 laps and 19 lead changes among 10 different drivers.

    Official Results

    1. Chase Elliott, won Stage 2, led 47 laps
    2. Kyle Busch, led 25 laps
    3. Zane Smith, led 15 laps
    4. Brett Moffitt, led 2 laps
    5. Sheldon Creed
    6. John Hunter Nemechek
    7. Johnny Sauter
    8. Ty Majeski
    9. Austin Hill, led 26 laps
    10. Ben Rhodes
    11. Ross Chastain, won Stage 1
    12. Grant Enfinger
    13. Tyler Ankrum
    14. Christian Eckes
    15. Raphael Lessard
    16. Derek Kraus
    17. Tate Fogleman
    18. Codie Rohrbaugh
    19. Austin Wayne Self
    20. Tanner Gray
    21. Jesse Little
    22. Timmy Hill
    23. Angela Ruch, 1 lap down
    24. Korbin Forrister, 1 lap down
    25. Spencer Boyd, 1 lap down
    26. Jennifer Jo Cobb, 1 lap down
    27. Natalie Decker, 2 laps down
    28. Bayley Currey, 2 laps down
    29. Clay Greenfield, 4 laps down
    30. Stewart Friesen, 4 laps down
    31. Jordan Anderson, 4 laps down
    32. Cory Roper, 5 laps down
    33. T.J. Bell, 7-laps down
    34. Bryan Dauzat, 14 laps down
    35. Matt Crafton, 27 laps down
    36. Garrett Smithley, OUT, Rear-End
    37. Todd Gilliland, OUT, Crash
    38. Brennan Poole, OUT, Damage Vehicle Policy
    39. Jesse Iwuji, OUT, Crash
    40. Spencer Davis, OUT, Transmission

    Up Next: The next time the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series will be on-track is Saturday, June 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway live on Fox Sports 1.