All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief A return to Manor was in the mix for Rio Haryanto, but recent events have put a major hit on a chance for a race seat for the 2017 Formula 1 season. The 23-year-old Indonesian’s main backer Pertamina, a state-owned oil and natural gas corporation, has decided to pull its sponsorship, leaving the country’s first F1 competitor without substantial funding for next season. “This year there will not be a continuation of participation by Pertamina in F1,” spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro said in a statement. “Of courseRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Belardi Auto Racing announced on Friday that is has signed Santiago Urrutia for the 2017 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires campaign. A rookie in 2016, Urrutia finished runner-up in the championship with four wins and seven podiums in 18 starts. The 20-year-old Uruguayan expressed his belief in his new team and the motivation for next year. “We have a really strong crew and I believe that we are going to have one of the greatest teams in the paddock,” said Urrutia, winner of the 2015Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Toro Rosso is looking to rebrand its Renault power unit for the upcoming 2017 Formula 1 season. The Italian-based squad is moving from Ferrari as its main supplier to the French manufacturer next season in an effort to be as similar to its senior team – Red Bull Racing, whom reached an agreement with Renault for 2016 to re-badge the power units under the TAG Heuer name. Franz Tost, team principal for Toro Rosso, recently told Gazzetto dello Sport that his team aims to follow theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Juncos Racing announced that it will bring back Kyle Kaiser for a second Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires campaign in 2017. The 20-year-old joined the team for the 2014 Pro Mazda Championship, finishing sixth in the standings before moving up to Indy Lights in 2015. He enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2016, finishing third in this year’s championship behind Ed Jones and Santiago Urrutia. The Californian becomes an immediate favorite for the title after scoring two wins, three poles and nine podiums. The chance toRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The FIA have unveiled their provisional list of entries for the 2017 Formula 1 season, with four seats currently vacant. Despite several entries being set several weeks ago, the recent retirement of World Champion Nico Rosberg has Mercedes scrambling to fill the seat, while both seats at Manor remain empty along with one at Sauber. Although Toro Rosso will move away from Ferrari power next season, it isn’t known yet which label they  will give the Renault powerunits – likely copying that of its senior team,Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Brian Scott saved one of his best performances for last. The rookie that recently declared retirement once the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season ends, put in a 15th place finish in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday night. The 28-year-old Idaho native started 22nd and bounced in and out of the top 10, and even top 20, for much of the night. However, a series of late restarts affirmed the No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports driver just his thirdRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Roger Penske is on the cusp of history in the 50th anniversary of his organization and three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves is ready to witness it firsthand. The longtime Verizon IndyCar Series veteran was part of a 1-2-3 Team Penske sweep this season, with Simon Pagenaud claiming the title. With a long offseason playing out during NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, the 41-year-old Brazilian has been able to keep up with the progress of fellow Penske driver Joey Logano, who isRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Chevrolet is the only manufacturer Kevin Harvick has ever known in NASCAR, but once the checkered flag waves on the 2016 season this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, so does the long marriage between the two. With the exception of the 1999 Camping World Truck Series season when he drove for Ford, Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 champion, has been exclusive to the bowtie brand for his entire career and has enjoyed numerous wins and championships across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series. However, with Stewart-HaasRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Daniel Suarez is the champion the NASCAR Xfinity Series needed and now that the Ford EcoBoost 300 is in the books that has become a reality. The series has undergone several changes, including the inaugural Chase this season and Sprint Cup driver participation limitations beginning in 2017, but has received little positive impact. However, with the crowning of its new champion, the future has never looked better. Justin Allgaier, Erik Jones and Elliott Sadler joined Suarez in what could easily be considered theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Christopher Bell put in a gritty performance in the Ford EcoBoost 200, overcoming adversity to get within reach of the NASCAR Camping World Series championship in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but fading late en route to a third place finish in the points standings. The 21-year-old Oklahoma native started eighth, but an ill-handling No. 4 Toyota Tundra put the rookie on the backend of the field and playing catch up to the rest of the Championship 4. Continually flirting with theRead More