Adam Sinclair

Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week.

Adam spent several years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.

Be sure to tune in for his sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.

Contact Adam: Email

Racing News

Jaguar's Mitch Evans Claims Victory at Inaugural Jakarta E-Prix

Saturday, Jun 04

Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) fended off the close attention of Jean-Éric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) and Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) to take his third win of Season 8 at the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix.

The Kiwi made a late-race lunge that caught then-leader Vergne off-guard at Turn 7 on Lap 31 in an opportunistic move from way back. From there, energy management became increasingly critical for the lead duo as they fought between themselves and against searing track temperatures at the Jakarta E-Prix International Circuit in the exotic Ancol Beach resort.

That allowed Mortara to join the party as Evans and Vergne squabbled. Evans had some five minutes plus added time to hold the pair off, with the race anybody's heading into the final turn and his rear tyres fading fast. Evans held on to lead Vergne and Mortara home as all three drivers finished within a second of each other.

António Félix da Costa (DS TECHEETAH) slipped from second at the start to fourth come the chequered flag, with standings leader Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) making three crucial passes through the race to wind up fifth and retain his Drivers' World Championship advantage, albeit a more slender one.

With Vandoorne's closest rivals all finishing on the podium, the Drivers' standings closed-up: now just 12 points split the top four, with Vergne five points back from the Belgian, Mortara two shy of the Frenchman in third and Evans another five back in fourth.

President of Indonesia Joko Widodo and Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan were guests of honour at the race, Formula E’s debut in Indonesia. Grandstand seating was packed with thousands of fans, who cheered loudly as every car sped by throughout the race. More than 60,000 fans in total attended the Jakarta E-Prix and the festival in Ancol.

Before the race, executives from Formula E and the FIA joined the drivers in a moment of silence in memory of José Abed, Honorary Vice President of the FIA and President of the Mexican International Motor Sports Organisation, who passed away on Thursday this week aged 82.

Mercedes-EQ still sit atop the Teams' running on 186 points, 16 ahead of DS TECHEETAH which climbs above ROKiT Venturi Racing in the points table.

Next stop for Round 10 in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the Marrakesh E-Prix on Saturday 2 July.

MITCH EVANS, JAGUAR TCS RACING, #9 said: “That was hard. I was just happy to be in it at the end. We had a tough last race, and this track was similar with the climate being on another level. We put a lot of work into the set-up and the systems, but the team gave me what I need, gave me the goods.

"It was really tight at the end with JEV, I thought I was going to pull away but my tires started going off as soon as I got past him. I was under a bit of heat but we got the job done. This is what we needed.

"We needed a good result today. But obviously it was a new track, new climate, new everything - you don't really know how it is going to go. So I am very happy with the result, we are back in it although we were never really out, but it has put us in a strong position so I'll take that."

JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE, DS TECHEETAH, #25 said: “It was a good race. Hats off to Mitch and Jaguar, they were simply faster today. I need to understand what happened as I had to save a lot more [energy] at some point for temperature reasons, so I need to understand what happened here. Anyway second is good, strong points, so if we carry on like this for the rest of the Championship it is good. I am happy there were no more laps!"

EDOARDO MORTARA, ROKiT VENTURI RACING, #48 said: “We had a good race weekend in Jakarta. The qualifying was already very good, we did an intelligent race, it was very difficult with the temperatures so hot. To manage the tires and the battery was not easy today, but we managed it at the end. I could see that they were fighting at the front and I was kind of part of that fight. I was hoping for some kind of move from JEV to get some free places but unfortunately it didn't come. But I am very extremely happy with another podium.

"We finished with 0.0% energy on the line, and on top of that you need to manage the temperatures at some point - if you exceed a certain number then the power is going down. So that goal is to get that [to no energy) at the finish line, I could see that Mitch had it and I had a little bit more reserved but unfortunately I could not pass him.”

Racing News

Josh Green Procures Podium Finish in Freedom 90 Oval Race

Monday, May 30

Championship contender Josh Green took home a podium finish at this weekend’s Cooper Tires Freedom 90 Indy Pro 2000 Race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park after an impressive run up to the front during the Carb Night Classic.

After a rain delay on Thursday which caused back to back practice and qualifying sessions for the competitors, Green qualified his #3 car sixth in his single car qualifying run, setting him up for a challenge to catch up to the leaders in the 90-lap race the following day.

Green rose to the challenge and collected two positions on the opening lap of the race, moving him up to fourth position right at the start. After about 25 laps of racing, Green’s car was consistently .2 seconds faster than the leaders, allowing him to close the gap to the third place car of Enaam Ahmed lap after lap. On lap 54, Green successfully made the pass for third in Turns 1 and 2 before a yellow flag came out for an incident just ahead of him.

On the Lap 56 restart, Green took a peek for P2 but stayed patient for the right opportunity to make the pass. While fighting for second place, Green was suddenly called to serve a late penalty on Lap 66 and give up third position for allegedly passing under the yellow flag. He obliged and quickly regained third position under the green but was then told to surrender the position once again after his first relinquishment was deemed unsatisfactory. Despite the setback, Green still finished third and earned valuable championship points, putting him fifth overall in the points leaving the weekend.

Josh Green with his 3rd place trophy / ?:: Dmytro Crawford

#3 Josh Green // Indy Pro 2000

SessionGuardian / Zimperium / Lionfish Tech Advisors / Mark Green / JHG Investments

“I’m extremely proud of everyone under the tent this weekend,” said Green. “We didn’t start off where we wanted to by any means and struggled to find our way in the practice sessions. When qualifying rolled around, we maximized our package and got a solid P6. Peter and the team worked hard overnight to figure out where we could find what we needed to have a strong race car, and they executed that near perfectly. We got off to a strong race start and slowly worked our way forward to get both Turn 3’s and my first podium at the oval! It takes a team, and every weekend we continue to rise to the challenge. Never say die!”

This weekend marked Jonathan Browne’s debut into oval racing, and although facing a challenging schedule with limited time to practice, the Irishman gained confidence with every session and did an excellent job becoming acclimated to the track and racing conditions to give a great performance in the Freedom 90.

Starting 13^th for the race, Browne took the green flag and settled in for the 90-lap contest. Browne steadily gained two positions as the laps ticked on, and with less than 20 laps to go, he broke into the top ten after passing the #4 car of Braden Eves. With lap times that were fast enough to put him in the top six, Browne spent the remaining few laps catching up with the field and ultimately finished P10 in his first oval event.

Jonathan Browne drives his #2 Indy Pro 2000 around IRP

#2 Jonathan Browne // Indy Pro 2000

Human Centred Movement / CRPS Awareness

“It was not the easiest of days for me,” said Browne. “I struggled with a couple things in practice which followed into qualifying, leaving us to start at the back for the race. After a difficult start, I was able to climb back up from 14th to 10th with the pace to be in the top seven by the end. I’m really happy with the steps the team made giving Josh and I a really good car in the race, so a big thank you to all of them. I’m looking forward to getting back at a road course again next!”

“Indianapolis Raceway Park is certainly one of the most challenging ovals we go to,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “It’s high stress on the team and on the drivers with the physical demands of running against the wall lap after lap. I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished with the Indy Pro 2000 team this weekend. We had a rough start, but the drivers and team stuck together to work tirelessly to improve every time we went on track. Fortunately, we had time post qualifying to work on the car to improve it for the race.”

“Josh drove an amazing race and was consistently one of the fastest on track,” continued Dempsey. “Unfortunately, his chances for a win were taken away from him with a bad call from race control. He did a great job to stay calm and maximize our result, ending up P3 and taking home some good points for the championship. For Jonathan, it turned into a ‘tick the box’ weekend where his main focus was to get the experience in oval racing. He did a good job, and now we can refocus on the road course of Road America in a couple of weeks.”

COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP

Following a very condensed schedule due to rain delays on Thursday, Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship driver Spike Kohlbecker had a good qualifying session, putting his car P1 after his single car run and eventually coming away with an eighth place starting position once the remaining cars completed their laps. Teammate and rookie Christian Weir also had a strong showing in qualifying, appearing P2 after his run and ultimately ending up P11 for the start of the Cooper Tires Freedom 75 USF2000 Race.

On race day, Weir showed excellent pace in the pre-race practice, topping the session with a best time of 22.5566 seconds. With only .5 seconds separating the entire USF2000 field, the competition was fierce in the 75-lap contest.

Kohlbecker put up a good fight for P7, going side by side with the #19 car of Simon Sikes from Laps 10-13 and settling back into eighth before trying again for the move later on. With 12 laps to go, Kohlbecker once again put the pressure on Sikes but ended up losing the position to the #92 car of Billy Frazer and finishing the race with his #33 car in P9.

Spike Kohlbecker in his #33 USF2000 car

#33 Spike Kohlbecker // USF2000

Ignite Autosport / Margay Racing / TierPoint / PSL / RSolution / TrueTitle / Ruckus Racing / Messmer Cares / Alvear / Cfx

“Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is such a cool track,” said Kohlbecker. “It’s probably the hardest two turns I will ever drive, but I had so much fun racing on the oval. I’m also excited to be back on some road courses again! Up next is Road America which is one of the fastest tracks we race at. I’m looking forward to it!”

In his first ever oval race, 15-year-old Weir held his own against some tough competition. At just over the halfway point, Weir had closed the gap to the #11 car of Dylan Christie and gave it all he had to take over P10. After a well fought battle, Weir brought the #32 car home in P11 at the end of the 75-lap race.

Christian Weir in his #32 USF2000 car

#32 Christian Weir // USF2000

ProFlo / Ferguson / eComfort.com

“We had a tough weekend,” said Weir. “We had some extreme pace and were able to be fastest in some of the practice sessions, but bad luck struck at the wrong time and ended up ruining our qualifying. With not much happening in the race, we ended up finishing where we started. But it is good to have my first oval in the books, and we can learn from our experiences this weekend and grow from here on.”

“On our USF2000 side, we had flashes of pace throughout the weekend with both drivers,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “Unfortunately, when it counted to be there, we were not. This left us in a tough position starting the race P8 and P11 for one of the hardest tracks in the country to overtake on. I feel that Spike raced really well and fought for every position out there, he just wasn’t in a position to pass Sikes early in the race. I feel if we passed him, it would have released Spike to catch the cars ahead.”

“For Christian, it took a while to get comfortable in the race with regards to being more aggressive to position the cars in the right areas, ultimately leaving him p11,” continued Dempsey. “Moving forward, we need to get stronger as a team. Our performances need to improve, and hopefully we can start that at Road America.”

The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires resumes its championship at the fan favorite Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 10-12 for Rounds 9 and 10.

INDY PRO 2000 RACE RESULTS // ROUND 8

INDY PRO 2000 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

USF2000 RACE RESULTS // ROUND 8

USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

Racing News

Dyson Wins Third in a Row at Lime Rock Park, CD Racing Earns 1-2 Finish

Monday, May 30

Chris Dyson had another successful weekend in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, winning the Lime Rock Park Memorial Day Classic in the TA class for the third year in a row. Dyson captured his fifth Motul Pole Award of the season and led from green flag to checkers at his home track, earning his fourth-consecutive win and fifth race victory of the season. With his teammate Matthew Brabham finishing close behind, Dyson’s CD Racing team earned a 1-2 finish, while Dyson’s father, Rob Dyson, presided over the race as Grand Marshal.

Starting from the top spot, Dyson, who won in Trans Am’s last two visits to Lime Rock in 2019 and 2021, jumped ahead of the field in his No. 20 ALTWELL Ford Mustang when the green flag waved, which is where he remained for the entirety of the caution-free race. After the start, Dyson was closely followed by the No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette of Amy Ruman, who battled hard against Dyson’s CD Racing teammate Matthew Brabham’s No. 21 allgram Mustang. Brabham made the pass on Ruman after eight laps, and held the second spot for the remainder of the race. Ruman fought hard to maintain the third position, racing skillfully against the No. 7 Franklin Road Apparel Camaro of Ken Thwaits, but Thwaits made the pass on lap 22, claiming the final step of the podium with a third-place finish and leaving Ruman to finish fourth.

“This place just means so much to me, it’s overwhelming,” said Dyson as he emerged from his car. “This place meant the world to me growing up, coming out here with my family and watching my dad race. It really planted the seed of my love for this sport. Now, to come back here and have success, a 20-year career, I’m very fortunate. I have a sense of perspective that I obviously didn’t have as a kid, but I have the same sense of love for this place. Winning on Memorial Day never gets old. And it being Memorial Day, we’ve got to be mindful of why we’re celebrating today and honor those who have given their lives so we can come out here and enjoy our freedoms.”

Randy Hale in the No. 31 Hale Propeller Corvette was the winner in the XGT class, finishing fifth overall.

“It was hot, but a lot of fun,” said Hale on the podium. “This is my home track, and it’s the most beautiful track in the world. It’s where you used to be able to come and sit on the grass and have lunch with Paul Newman. The Hale Propeller car was just unbelievable to drive today, and I’m so grateful to have my family here with me.”

The GT and SGT classes saw lots of excitement, with the winners decided in the closing laps. Billy Griffin in the No. 14 Griffin Auto Care/Sheehan’s Towing Ford Mustang and Michael Saia in the No. 13 Rapid Performance Management/Rapid Wraps/Motul Porsche GT3 Cup 99 battled it out in the GT class, swapping positions the entire race. In the end, it was Griffin who came out on top, and he was also awarded the ChillOut Keep Cool Move of the Race.

“This is my first time here, and it’s such a beautiful place,” said Griffin. “The car was hooked up pretty good. I’d like to thank my crew, my wife, my family. The car was awesome, the competition was awesome, and I had a lot of fun racing against everybody. It took a long time to get around them, but I was patient, put my head down, and made it work.”

In SGT, Danny Lowry in the No. 42 BridgeHaul Porsche GT3 Cup and Jason Berkeley in the No. 67 Falls Village Inn Corvette also had an exciting race, with Berkeley having the advantage in the beginning of the event. Unfortunately, mechanical problems for Berkeley paved the way for Lowry to take over the lead and win the class.

“It was a blast,” said Lowry. “This was my first time up here at Lime Rock, and I was about as lost as a duck in a desert for a while. I got behind by about 20 seconds, then I had to pedal hard to catch up once I figured out how the heck to drive the track. I really enjoyed Lime Rock. Beautiful track, beautiful area, and I love these fans. I was really happy to come out and drive for them.”

The broadcast of today’s race, presented by Franklin Road Apparel, will air on CBS Sports Network on Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation on Saturday, June 4 at 12:00 a.m. ET.

TA returns to the track June 23-26 with the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Full race results can be found here.

Racing News

Juan Pablo Montoya: My money is on Max Verstappen to win the Monaco GP

Sunday, May 29

With F1 gearing up for the Monaco Grand Prix, VegasInsider had a chat with the 2003 Monaco GP winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, who gave his pick to win on this Sunday:

My money is on Max to win the Monaco Grand Prix

“My money is on Max."

“If I were to say who’s going to be better there, I would guess that probably Max would be better than Charles. Especially in the race."

"Maybe on a one lap Ferrari could put a lap together, but on the race, my money would be on Max to win it.”

"You know, it would be nice for Charles and for the F1 championship to get closer with a Ferrari win. But you got to say that Red Bull is more complete as a team.”

“They execute better, they do a better job with everything.”

Qualifying in Monaco is everything

“Monaco is difficult. Because qualifying in Monaco is everything.”

“If you’re sitting behind somebody, you’re just sitting behind them. Unless you do something with strategy, everything is very difficult and the way F1 is at the moment, you don’t refuel, every lap the car gets quicker. So, you get quicker, you get quicker, you get quicker and you make a stop.”

“The undercut is normally the biggest thing, unless you go a lot longer and play a different game. But track position is everything, so if you can come out of them, even if you are a second slower, you’re gonna beat them."

My advice to the grid is that 'practice is everything'

“Do the laps. Practice is everything (when asked to advise the current grid about Monaco)."

"You gotta do the laps and you really got to put in the line in qualifying cause track position is everything.”

Montoya was speaking to VegasInsider, and you can find the entire interview here.

Racing News

Trackhouse Entertainment Group Announces PROJECT91, Program Created To Bring Global Racing Stars To NASCAR

Sunday, May 29

Trackhouse Entertainment Group today announced the creation of PROJECT91, a program designed to expand its international reach by fielding a NASCAR Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers.

Trackhouse’s PROJECT91 will enter the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at least once during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season with plans to expand the program in the future.

Trackhouse Racing – a division of Trackhouse Entertainment Group - fields the No. 99 and the No. 1 Chevrolets with drivers Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain in the NASCAR Cup Series.

With PROJECT91, Trackhouse will become the destination for global superstars from other racing disciplines eager to compete in America’s most popular form of motorsports.

“PROJECT91’s mission is to activate the intersection point of NASCAR racing and global motorsport culture,” said Marks, whose Trackhouse Racing team has won twice during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.

“I truly believe the NexGen car represents an opportunity for NASCAR to enter the global professional motorsport conversation. We now have a race vehicle with international technological relevance where world-class drivers from other disciplines can compete at NASCAR’s highest level without the steep learning curve that the previous generation cars required.

“Vehicle advancements used in other forms of motorsports, such as, diffusers, independent rear suspension, the sequential gearbox, and other more common components, have resulted in a platform much less reliant on intimate proprietary stock car knowledge, which has historically made any transition to NASCAR difficult.

Racing News

Memo-rable Moment - Gidley’s Return to Victory Lane

Sunday, May 29

By Holly Cain

IMSA Wire Service

Memo Gidley has long been a racing favorite – respected by rivals, cheered by fans, looked up to by teammates. A celebrated sports car driver for decades, Gidley has shown himself a winner and a diverse competitor.

Yet for all his driving skills and character assets, the 51-year-old says he now brings something even more cherished to the IMSA grid: perspective.

Even after significant injuries suffered in a major accident in the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona – followed by a multiyear recovery – Gidley’s will never wavered. And now, eight years since the accident and nearly 17 years since his lone IMSA top-tier series race victory (2005 at Mexico City), Gidley took his place atop an IMSA podium once more at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 15 in the IMSA Prototype Challenge race.

Gidley savored that special moment – the competition, the accomplishment, his own perseverance.

“It was amazing, almost overwhelming,’’ Gidley says of the win he shared with Alexander Koreiba in the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) race at Mid-Ohio. “It was just so nice. I’ve just had a great love of racing and great support of fans, and then after what happened in 2014 – and you know everyone, almost including myself, assumed at the time that was about it. There was just so much to get back from to be where I was or to get back out there and drive again.

“I just love racing so much and just love being around the people that are involved. I’m always one to push my body and be prepared, but it was difficult.

“So, to get back out there and to get a win in IMSA again, it was just awesome and everybody else was just so happy I was able to make it happen.’’

Gidley set the tone for the Mid-Ohio weekend, winning the pole in the No. 23 AL Autosport with JDC MotorSports Duqueine D08. He built a comfortable advantage in the first half of the 90-minute race and turned the car over to Koreiba, who earned their first victory of the season by more than 41 seconds.

The seat in the No. 23 Duqueine is the first fulltime ride in 10 years for Gidley, who established himself as a well-rounded racer competing in the IndyCar ranks as well as an accomplished sports car driver.

In that decade of time, Gidley says he worked first to strengthen his body as he healed from a broken back and significant injuries to his lower extremities. Simultaneously, he strengthened his spirit. Both were equally important to his recovery. When he felt healed enough to get behind the wheel again, he first chose a go-kart.

“Just to get back out there really wasn’t good enough for me, just to be out there doing it,’’ Gidley recalls of the early efforts to return. “I wanted to feel like I was achieving what I thought I could.

“For me, when I first took my go-kart out three years after my accident, I went to a track where nobody’s around because I didn’t want to drive and feel like I couldn’t do it and then have to tell people I wasn’t going to be able do it.

“I wanted to make sure everything was good. And since that point, I’ve just known if I worked hard enough, I’d get back there. It’s more difficult, because as you get older, things get a little more difficult. And I think that’s another reason – now that I’m in my 50s, it seems like it inspires people that are out there getting older. Get out there and chase after your dreams even as you get older.”

Gidley is adamant that, in some ways, the recovery and strict rehab he put himself through may have made him the ultimate candidate for this fulltime job competing in IMSA. He’s done various races in other series – usually no more than one or two a year leading into 2022 – but being in such prime physical shape has given him the confidence to take on the Prototype Challenge’s full schedule.

“Even though I was only doing that super-limited schedule, I was still at the go-kart track and still am, at least once a week,’’ Gidley says. “I’m still at the gym every day. I’m still on my mountain bike four days a week, I’m still swimming laps three days a week, so all that sort of stuff I’m still doing.”

And as his turn at Mid-Ohio showed – he’s reaping the benefits with the regimen of physical preparedness. And his great desire to return to competition. And win.

“As you get older, you just realize how lucky you are, and also I definitely realized how many people – over the racing I’ve done – have helped to get me where I am,’’ Gidley said. “You really appreciate that.

“I think when you’re younger, you kind of forget some of that stuff and are just trying to get up (the racing ladder) as quickly as possible. But getting on the podium … we’re racing cars, so you have to realize it’s a pretty cool thing to do as a hobby or as a profession. And you just have to go out there and have fun, appreciate what you’re doing and do the best you can.’’

Gidley becomes animated speaking about his young co-driver Koreiba, 25, and the great vibe on the team. He says he is both helping Koreiba and learning from him. And the AL/JDC team, he says, is made up not only of quality, top-shelf engineers and leaders, but “good people.’’

It’s all provided the kind of comeback story that motivates the mind as much as it warms the heart.

“Maybe I wish I wasn’t an example because maybe that means I wouldn’t have had that crash in 2014,’’ Gidley concedes. “I was thinking about that this morning. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve enjoyed this experience after 2014, even though it was really difficult for a number of years. Especially now, how appreciative everyone is that I’m actually out there, and I’m appreciating being out there and able to do it.

“My whole deal now is about living your prime now,’’ he continues. “A lot of people think your prime is when you’re 20 or you’re 30 – and from then it goes downhill. I’ll tell you it does get a lot harder. The days I spend in the gym preparing, it’s harder to maintain and get to the strength you want to, but you’ve got to just go for it.

“You can’t get sidetracked and think it’s not going to happen. It’s cool I can kind of inspire people to just get out there and do what they enjoy: live their life, do what they enjoy and do it well.’’

Combined with their third-place finish at the Daytona International Speedway season opener in January, Gidley and Koreiba are just 20 points out of the Prototype Challenge standings lead. The series returns to action July 3 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Racing News

Keystone Light debuts Tallest Boy

Sunday, May 29

Racing fans now have the chance to get the ultimate fan experience - plus 160 gallons worth of beer courtesy of Keystone Light.

As you know, this last weekend was big racing weekend in Texas with a wild finish, but also a BIG weekend for beer. Keystone Light debuted their official Tallest Boy – a giant 6’3 beer can of Keystone Light - in honor of racing rookie and Tall Boy himself Austin Cindric at Texas Live! Cindric, who came in third in a surprising finish, is now helping America take home a 160 gallons of beer and a racing trip of a lifetime to North Carolina.

One lucky winner will win a trip for themselves and a friend 21+ to North Carolina, hosted by Keystone Light and Team Penske including:

A hang out with the Tall Boy of racing - Austin Cindric
VIP access to an October Charlotte Race
An inside look at Team Penske from the garages to the track and more.
And cash for enough beer to fill Keystone’s Tallest Boy Can (160 gallons to be exact).

To enter, 21+ fans can follow and tag @KeystoneLightOfficial on Instagram or follow @KeystoneLightUS on Twitter and comment using #Sweeps and while tagging their race-watching buddy for a chance to win.

Racing News

Cadence Shifts into High Gear with McLaren Formula 1

Sunday, May 29

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDNS) today announced that it has become an Official Technology Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team. Through the multi-year partnership, McLaren has access to Cadence Fidelity CFD Software, which provides innovative aerodynamic prediction tools that can help accelerate the team’s path toward victory.

In racing, shaving off a fraction of a second per lap can make all the difference when it comes to a podium finish. McLaren will use the Cadence Fidelity CFD Software, a comprehensive suite of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions, to investigate airflow. The team will also leverage Cadence’s computational software expertise to tackle design projects that require advanced compute power and precision.

“We’re delighted to welcome Cadence to the McLaren Racing family. Cadence is a technology leader that prioritizes innovation. Its CFD and advanced electronic technologies will be crucial assets for our design operations. We look forward to a fast-paced collaboration that supports our constant drive to boost our on-track performance. The Monaco Grand Prix is a fantastic event to launch our partnership, and we’re excited that Cadence will join our brand across multiple race series this weekend by running on the Arrow McLaren SP cars for the Indy 500,” said Matt Dennington, director of partnerships, McLaren Racing.

“As part of the McLaren Racing family, we’re bringing our Fidelity CFD Software to the team and supporting the team in its ongoing pursuit of boosting performance. We will collaborate with McLaren to continually push and innovate. We’re looking forward to the multi-year partnership and achieving milestones together that put the team on the road to victory,” said KT Moore, vice president, Corporate Marketing, Cadence.

The Fidelity CFD software supports the Cadence Intelligent System Design strategy, enabling disruptive system innovation. To learn more about Fidelity CFD, visit www.cadence.com/go/fidelitycfdf1.

Racing News

Ligier Automotive Renews Partnership with FR Americas and F4 U.S. Championships

Sunday, May 29

Ligier Automotive and Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) have announced an extension of their partnership to support the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda (FR Americas) and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.) into 2023 and beyond. The multi-year agreement focuses on the future of both series, with enhancements like a new chassis for F4 U.S. competition and new engines for both FR Americas and F4 U.S.

“I am thrilled to announce the continuation of our partnership with Ligier Automotive,” said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH, the commercial rights holder to FR Americas and F4 U.S. “Since we announced PMH’s involvement with the championships in 2020, Ligier has been a key partner, which is further highlighted by the integral role they are taking on to support the championships’ future. I can’t wait to see the new Ligier JS F422 on track in 2024, and I’m excited to have our young drivers further protected with all the safety enhancements present on that chassis.”

The new agreement solidifies Ligier Automotive as the official chassis manufacturer for both FR Americas and F4 U.S., with the existing Ligier JS F3 and Ligier JS F4, respectively. It also paves the way for the debut of the highly-anticipated Ligier JS F422 in F4 U.S. competition in 2024. The second generation of the Ligier F4 will be lighter, longer and feature enhanced safety innovations, including the Halo driver impact system.

The 2024 championship season will also feature the premiere of the Ligier Storm, a 1.65-liter, V4 engine that will be utilized in both the FR Americas and F4 U.S. Championships. Currently in development, the engine is being tested by Ligier Automotive’s team of engineers, as well as test driver and 2021 FR Americas Vice Champion, Joshua Car.

“With so many manufacturers focusing on electric, we needed a power solution for both FR Americas and F4 U.S., and I’m proud for Ligier Automotive to be that solution,” said Max Crawford, CEO of Ligier Automotive North America. “We’ve put a lot of work into the new Ligier Storm engine, and we’re excited to see it power the FR Americas and F4 U.S. Championships beginning in 2024. Likewise, since the mid-2010s, we’ve produced more than 150 Ligier JS F4 and JS F3 chassis at Ligier facilities, and we’re excited to bring the JS F422 to life and watch it on the track in 2024. Ligier has always had a passion for motorsport, innovation and development, and this is the perfect culmination of all three.”

The FIA-certified and SCCA Pro Racing-sanctioned FR Americas and F4 U.S. Championships will next visit Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Rounds 7-9 of their 18-round championship seasons. With the event scheduled for June 23-26, tickets are now available at SpeedTour.net. A live stream of the weekend will also be available at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV.

Speedway News

NHRA ready to get loud on Father's Day weekend

Sunday, May 29

Back in its traditional and popular spot on Father’s Day Weekend, the NHRA Camping World Series is set to return to one of the ultimate destinations in drag racing for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at picturesque Bristol Dragway on June 17-19.

The race in Bristol is the ninth of 22 races during the 2022 season and marks the first time all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series classes have appeared together at Thunder Valley during the same weekend. Pro Stock Motorcycle debuted last year to rave reviews at the fan-favorite facility located in the Tennessee mountains, while Pro Stock is back at Bristol for the first time since 2018.

Combined with the incredible action from the 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines in Top Fuel and Funny Car, qualifying under the lights on Friday and a special fireworks show, two qualifying sessions on Saturday, autograph sessions, Sunday eliminations and more, it promises to be a Father’s Day Weekend to remember.

All the top stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be on hand to try and pick up a win on Father’s Day as the 2022 season approaches the halfway mark. Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins last year in Bristol, while this year’s race will be broadcast on FOX broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 (FS1).

Salinas has felt perfectly at home at Bristol in recent seasons in Top Fuel, advancing to the final round at the last three events and winning the last two. He’ll look to keep that going in 2022 in Thunder Valley and the championship contender already has a pair of wins this year. But, like everyone in the class, he’s trying to track down points leader Brittany Force, who has been incredible to open the year, winning three races and setting multiple track records. The Top Fuel class is filled with talent, though, including star drivers Steve Torrence, the four-time defending world champ, Pomona winner Justin Ashley, Austin Prock, Clay Millican, Leah Pruett, and Antron Brown.

Alexis DeJoria picked up a big-time Funny Car win a year ago, qualifying No. 1 and driving past J.R. Todd in the final round. It gave DeJoria her first win since returning to the sport since 2017 and another great Bristol memory. She’ll look to get her 2022 season on track over Father’s Day weekend, especially with points leader Matt Hagan and Robert Hight dominating the early part of the season. The duo has combined for five wins thus far, including three by Hight, while the star-studded class also features 16-time world champ John Force, Bob Tasca III, Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps, whose five wins at Bristol leads all Funny Car drivers.

Pro Stock will make its first appearance at Thunder Valley since 2018 and the last time a current driver in the category won in Bristol came in 2015 when Erica Enders picked up the victory. Enders, a four-time world champion, has had a terrific start to the 2022 campaign, picking up three wins thus far and enjoying the points lead in the loaded class. But plenty of top competitors will try to get the win at Bristol, including defending world champion Greg Anderson, who is seeking his 100th career win, Aaron Stanfield, who has a pair of wins this season, standout rookie Camrie Caruso, 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year Dallas Glenn, Kyle Koretsky and Mason McGaha.

Pro Stock Motorcycle made its official debut at Bristol last year and put on an impressive show, with Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer facing off in a thrilling final round. In the end, it was Sampey who prevailed to become the first winner in the two-wheeled category at the facility. She’s been close to a win in 2022, but she’ll try to close the job in Bristol and make a leap in the points standings as well. Everyone is chasing Steve Johnson at the moment, as the veteran already has two wins this year. Others to watch include defending world champ Matt Smith, Eddie Krawiec, Angie Smith, Joey Gladstone, and Jimmy Underdahl.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown category. After nitro qualifying on Friday, fans will also be treated to a spectacular fireworks show. On Saturday, a special autograph session featuring NHRA stars will take place at 6 p.m. ET at the Guest Welcome Village, while fans can also attend Nitro School on Saturday prior to the second round of qualifying to learn more about how the cars operate and reach their thrilling speeds.

Bristol Dragway will host the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk at 11 a.m. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Bristol. This unique opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family. The new Pep Boys midway display will include tire change challenges, oil change challenges, a slot car track and much more, adding even more excitement to the midway.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 17 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 18 at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 19. Television coverage includes live qualifying action on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, 11 p.m. on Saturday, and then live eliminations action at 3 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, call 866-415-4158 or visit www.bristoldragway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

(Courtesy of NHRA Communications)

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Adam Sinclair

Josh Green with his 3rd place trophy / ?:: Dmytro Crawford

Jonathan Browne drives his #2 Indy Pro 2000 around IRP

COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP

Spike Kohlbecker in his #33 USF2000 car

Christian Weir in his #32 USF2000 car

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