Opinion Category

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Motorsports telecasts have been a sore subject of mine, more so this year than ever before. Fox Sports’ NASCAR coverage was beyond disappointing, ESPN’s lack of tribute towards the IndyCar Series after 54 years of memories was insulting, and Sky Sports’s Formula One broadcast just doesn’t have that race-day feel like Speed and NBC Sports had for a combined two decades in the United States It’s gotten to the point that I’ve been irritated on what’s become in racing television that I can hardly findRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer JOLIET, Ill. — The finish on Sunday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway is exactly the finish that the sport needs in a day and age when declines in ratings and attendance have become a significant concern. The fans that braved the hot, humid and muggy conditions got their money’s worth as Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson put on a fantastic final lap that resulted in beat-up sheet metal and a respectful handshake between two of the best competitors in the sport today. With 20 laps to goRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Seven rounds have been completed, and all the pre-season predictions has either been spot on or have completely missed the mark. Some teams are either producing expected results like Ferrari and Mercedes while others are struggling to find sheer consistency, notably Force India’s bid of retaining the “Best of the Rest” title known as fourth in the Constructor’s Championship. In this first installment of “Heptagon Viewpoints,” I’ll highlight seven takeaways as the Formula One season has reached the one-third mark. The Emergence of Charles LeclercRead More

By Josh Farmer, Contributing Journalist Racing is a moving target. You might hit close to the bullseye a few times, but often you find yourself collecting points around the dartboard. Enter Texas Motor Speedway, which has been one of the hardest marks for the Verizon IndyCar Series to hit since switching to the Dallara DW-12/V6 Turbocharged engine package 2012. Also, throw in the track’s resurfacing and reconfiguration which saw the banking in  Turns 1 and 2 reduced from 24 to 20 degrees and you have a challenge to nail downRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The fascinating and cruel nature of Bump Day reignited the debate of whether it’s a good idea having cars failing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 compete. It’s simple, if they’re not fast enough or didn’t make the gun, they’re out. Two drivers’ aspirations of drinking the glass of milk and their heads engraved on the Borg-Warner Trophy were dashed Saturday as the charitable lass Pippa Mann and arguably, the face of IndyCar, James Hinchcliffe didn’t make the 33-car grid. Mann was bumped and didn’tRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer I really am a glutton for punishment, I admit it. Much to my own detriment, I read online comments and there was a central one that I saw quite often during the INDYCAR Grand Prix weekend: “Why are there only seven cars in Indy Lights? What happened to Indy Lights?” There were various people calling for outrageous suggestions such as shutting Indy Lights down or merging various championships on the Mazda Road to Indy to avoid this situation. Folks, Indy Lights is going to be fine,Read More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Over the past month, there’s been something different about the NASCAR Xfinity Series – no Cup Series drivers in the field. Has anyone truly missed them? Because I sure haven’t. Without the Cup drivers in the field, we’ve truly gotten to see the Xfinity Series reaching toward its true potential on track. No longer did we see a Cup driver easily taking the win, streaking across the finish line seconds ahead of the nearest Xfinity Series regular. Instead, those that call the Xfinity Series homeRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The hot rumor that got NASCAR fans talking became a reality Wednesday as Roush Fenway Raceway announced that 2003 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth will share duties with Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 Advocare Ford Fusion, beginning at Kansas Speedway May 12th. At 46-years-old, Kenseth’s return sparked an encouraging thought about drivers past 45 being successful after what looked like his forced sabbatical diminished that possibility last season. When the announcement was made that Erik Jones was replacing Kenseth in theRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor, IndyCar Contributor BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – For the first time this weekend, I was finally able to step foot inside an IndyCar paddock. Not only would it mark my inaugural open wheel race to cover as a credentialed media member, but it would also be my first time to see an IndyCar race in person…ever. I have seen plenty of races on television, but as I’ve learned over the years of covering NASCAR races, seeing it in person can change your whole perspective. After a weekendRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer (New)Garden of Eden There are a few places in the Verizon IndyCar Series that some would consider paradise. For the sport’s oldest supporters, no location compares to victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. West Coast fans often point to the prestigious Long Beach street circuit. Some prefer the history of tracks like Road America, while others like the sheer excitement of ovals like Texas Motor Speedway. For Roger Penske, though? Recently it’s been wherever Josef Newgarden is found. The Tennessean joined Team Penske as the sport’s hottest free agent goingRead More