Speedway Digest Staff - Results from #30

Another step for Max Lanza's comeback in the Challenger Trophy

Thursday, Sep 28

Two new podiums for Max Lanza in Germany, even more protagonist of the EuroNASCAR PRO Challenger Trophy. The Italian drider has further shortened the distance from the leadership, entering the Zolder Finals with just 22 points to recover. Excellent weekend also for Roberto Benedetti, who took the second place in the Legend Trophy in Sunday's race.

Max Lanza's weekend started in the best possible way already from the Friday's free practice, when the #88 Camaro ended so close to the overall Top 10 and signed the best chrono of the Challenger Trophy in the second session. Third in the qualifying, Lanza has made consistency his best weapon, bringing home two new podiums and gaining important championship points. "The goal was to shorten the distance and we succeeded, we didn't risk anything and we took a safe result. In Race 2 we could certainly have done better, but a contact brought us back. In Zolder we will have two races and double points, it's like saying that the real gap has halved and the opportunities have doubled. It will be a unique show, an incredible battle!" commented Max Lanza, whose comeback in the championship took him to third place in the Challenger Trophy standings.

In the EuroNASCAR 2 Division, Roberto Benedetti concluded a constantly growing weekend in the best possible way. After signing the eighth best time in the practices, the Rome-native driver brought his #88 Camaro in P4 in Race 1 thanks to a solid overall Top10 overall. In the second race Benedetti improved further, once again entering the Top10 and achieving a solid second place in the Legend Trophy. These results place the Italian driver in fourth place in the Trophy standings, only 5 points away from second place and 35 from the Champion title. Definitely limited gaps considering the double points of the next round.

The Grand Finale of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series is scheduled for the weekend of 16-18 October on the Belgian track of Zolder.

Max Lanza PR

Racing News

BC39 Stoops Pursuit Rescheduled for Friday Night at IMS

Thursday, Sep 28

The annual running of the Driven2SaveLives BC39 Stoops Pursuit has been rescheduled for this Friday, September 29, following the night’s preliminary feature event at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers eligible for the event include all individuals who currently stand inside the top-10 of the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship point standings, plus all of Thursday’s and Friday’s heat race winners and qualifying race winners. Promoters options will start at the rear of the 24-car field.

The Stoops Pursuit race will consist of 25 laps split into five-lap segments with the starting lineup being inverted based on each driver’s hot lap times during Thursday and Friday’s programs. Any car involved in a caution is eliminated. Every five laps, a competition yellow flag will be displayed, and cars with a net loss in position will be called to exit the track.

A checkered flag ends the final segment with the winner earning $1,500 plus $100 for each position gained. All race participants will receive a free right rear tire courtesy of Hoosier.

The BC39 will resume on Thursday night, September 28 at IMS with the first of two preliminary night events featuring a split field with one half of the field competing on Thursday and the other half competing on Friday.

Thursday’s event will have a bit of an earlier start than initially scheduled. The front gates will open at 4pm Eastern followed by practice at 5pm. The regularly scheduled program will begin with hot laps at 6pm and finish off with the first full night of racing action, consisting of heat races, qualifiers and the main events, concluding with a $5,000-to-win, 30-lap feature.

The racing program on Friday, September 29, will resemble much the same as Thursday’s event with hot laps followed by heat races, qualifiers and the main events, concluding with a $5,000-to-win, 30-lap feature.

The BC39 finale, on Saturday, September 30, will have the public gates opening at 4pm with a driver meet and greet scheduled for 4pm in the midway and a public driver’s meeting at the USAC merchandise trailer at 4:45pm. Cars hit the track for practice at 6pm, followed by opening ceremonies at 7pm and the main events, starting with the D-Main, multiple C-Mains, Semi-Feature and the 39-lap Feature event paying $20,039-to-win.

Spectator tickets are also available at www.IMS.com/BC39. Spectators are to enter the Indianapolis Motor Speedway via 30th Street.

The event on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside turn three at IMS will continue to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson and increase awareness of and participation in the Indiana Donor Network and Driven2SaveLives.

Brady Bacon (2018), Zeb Wise (2019), Kyle Larson (2021) and Buddy Kofoid (2022) have captured victories in the first four editions of the BC39. Zeb Wise (2018), Kyle Larson (2019 & 2021) and Dominic Gorden (2022) have won the four previous runnings of the Stoops Pursuit.

USAC PR

NASCAR Cup Series News

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Talladega

Thursday, Sep 28

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 8th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TALKIN' TEXAS: Kyle Larson started 11th in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. In stage two, he scored his fifth stage win of the season and now has 24 playoff points. While battling for the lead with 19 laps to go, Larson was involved in an on-track incident that brought an end to his race. He is now eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series driver point standings, two points above the elimination line with two more races in the Round of 12. Larson’s 99 laps led at Texas moved him to the series lead (897) in that statistical category this season. In addition, his stage win moved him to second all-time with 47 stage wins.

PUSHIN' THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS: In the Round of 16, Larson earned the best average finish all-time in the opening round of the elimination playoffs and the second-best average finish through the first three playoff races all-time (2.33). During the playoffs, the 31-year-old driver has the most laps run in the top five (976) and is second in laps led (273), average running position (6.66) and most laps run in the top 10 (1,130).

THE ROAD TO PHOENIX: The 2021 Cup Series champion is no stranger to navigating the championship road to Phoenix Raceway. Larson has earned a spot in the Cup Series playoffs seven times and won at five of the remaining six playoff tracks. With victories at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix, Talladega Superspeedway is the only track remaining at which the driver of the No. 5 has yet to win.

TURNING TO TALLADEGA: This weekend, the Elk Grove, California, driver returns to Talladega. In his 17 Cup Series starts at the 2.66-mile track, Larson has led 53 laps, with 40 of those circuits out front coming in his last three runs there. His best finish at a drafting track came at Talladega in April 2022 when he earned a fourth-place result.

IN 2023: This season, Larson leads the way in top-five finishes (13) and is in a five-way tie for the third-most top-10s (15). He’s also third in average running position (11.38) and laps run in the top five (3,160). In addition, he has the second-most laps run in the top 10 (4,653). Larson ranks second-best on restarts, based on data from Racing Insights.

FAST TIMES ON PIT ROAD: The No. 5 HendrickCars.com pit crew now has the second-fastest average four-tire pit stop time of the season at 11.110 seconds. The group has two of the nine fastest four-tire pit stops this year. The team’s five-man pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: This Sunday’s race at Talladega marks the 14th home race for the HendrickCars.com team this season. The Birmingham/Hoover, Alabama area is home to three Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Respectively, the No. 5 driver and crew can be found in their white firesuits this weekend. For every HendrickCars.com home race this season (15 total), there is a unique hat released the week of the race and only available for sale on the trackside merchandise haulers or available to win on HendrickCars.com. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available to the public. This week’s Alabama-themed hat will be revealed Thursday and can be seen here.

WIN A CHEVROLET COLORADO Z71: Want to drive Larson’s 2023 Chevrolet Colorado truck? One lucky winner will win his ride. Fans can donate now to enter a drawing for a chance to take home the Z71 Crew Cab 4WD package with custom features and styling. This special sweepstakes raises funding for the Kyle Larson Foundation’s “DRIVE FOR 5” campaign that supports youth, families and communities in need. The campaign is nearing its fundraising goal of $500,000. Click here to check out this sweet custom ride and enter to win today. The drawing closes on Sunday, Dec. 3, and the winner will be chosen on Monday, Dec. 11.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 17th

No. 9 LLumar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RELIVING THE MOMENT: Chase Elliott heads to Talladega Superspeedway as the defending winner of the fall NASCAR Cup Series race. The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 led a total of 10 laps that day. He finished third in the first stage and won stage two before ultimately taking the lead again on the final lap to capture his 18th career Cup Series win. It was Elliott’s fifth victory of the season and his second series win on the high banks of Talladega, making it the fourth track at which he has earned multiple Cup victories. The win locked him into the Round of 8 in the Cup Series playoffs. Elliott eventually went on to advance to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive season, ultimately finishing fourth in the series standings.

WORTH FIGHTING FOR: Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, the No. 9 team made headway in its quest for the owner championship. After entering the Round of 12 at Texas in the 12th position, Elliott and the No. 9 group earned points in each stage, propelling them to ninth in the owner playoff standings. They are now just two points below the elimination line with two races remaining before the owner playoff field is narrowed down to eight.

CUT TO THE CHASE: Elliott has a history of being strong on drafting-style tracks in the Cup Series. Across his last 16 Cup starts on tracks of that type (Atlanta Motor Speedway since 2022, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega), the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has two victories – second only to teammate William Byron – and two runner-up finishes, which are tied for second-most. His impressive six top-five finishes and average finish of 11.25 in that span are tops in each category. The 27-year-old driver’s 10 top-10 results and five stage wins are tied for best in the series, while Elliott’s 269 laps led are the third-best mark across those 16 races. In his Cup Series career, he has three wins on drafting-style tracks: Talladega in 2019 and 2022 and Atlanta in 2022.

‘DEGA NUMBERS: This weekend, Elliott will make his 16th Talladega Cup Series start. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native has two victories on the 2.66-mile superspeedway – most recently last October – and has collected five top-five finishes and seven top-10s across his 15 starts at the track. Elliott has the best average finish (14.07) at Talladega among active full-time drivers, which is also fourth-best on the all-time list of drivers with at least six Cup starts at the Alabama track. In the spring race, Elliott won the first stage and finished second in stage two, leading 18 laps en route to a 12th-place finish.

PART OF THE LEGACY: Hendrick Motorsports achieved its 300th Cup Series victory last weekend. Elliott is one of 20 drivers to score wins for the organization. His 18 Cup victories are the third-most by a driver for Hendrick Motorsports – trailing only NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson. While on the topic of milestones, Elliott is only 11 circuits away from 5,000 laps led in his Cup Series career. His 4,989 laps pacing the field are third-best among all Hendrick Motorsports drivers, behind only Gordon and Johnson.

FOUR TIRES FAST: The No. 9 pit crew had the fastest four-tire pit stop of the race last weekend at Texas with a time of 9.409 seconds. The over-the-wall squad currently holds the eighth-best average four-tire pit stop time of 11.306 seconds. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

LLUMAR RETURNS: LLumar, a brand of automotive window tint and paint protection film manufactured by Eastman Performance Films, LLC, will have its colors carried on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Talladega. It’s the third of four races that the brand is serving as a primary partner during the 2023 season. Following this Sunday’s race, LLumar will be back onboard Elliott’s No. 9 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 15. Earlier this season, Elliott drove the LLumar Throwback Chevrolet to a third-place finish at Darlington Raceway and a fourth-place result at Daytona. In June, it was announced that LLumar extended its sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott and the No. 9 team through 2026. Get a look at the 2023 No. 9 LLumar Chevy here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 1st

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TEXAS-SIZED WIN: After qualifying 18th at Texas Motor Speedway for last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, William Byron and the No. 24 team went to work making up track position. Utilizing pit strategy, Byron finished stage one in fourth to secure stage points. As the race went on, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native continued to improve and ultimately found himself in a prime position with under 10 laps to go. Restarting third with six laps remaining, Byron made a three-wide pass to take the lead and never looked back. Sunday’s victory was his first in both the playoffs and at Texas. It also marked his 10th win at the highest level of racing and his series-best sixth of the 2023 season. On top of those accomplishments, Byron's triumph secured the 300th win for Hendrick Motorsports.

WHAT’S IN A NUMBER?: With his win at Texas, Byron continues to extend the history of the No. 24. The iconic car number is now third on the all-time list with 103 Cup Series wins, trailing only the No. 43 (200 wins) and the No. 11 (231 wins). Byron’s six wins in the No. 24 in the 2023 season are also tied for the sixth-most wins in a single season with the number. Team vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon accounts for 93 wins in the No. 24.

NEXT GEN DUO: Since the introduction of the Next Gen Cup Series car in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have now collected eight wins together. Not only is that the most by a driver but it is also the most by a crew chief in the same time period – two more than anyone else.

KEEP IT ROLLIN’: Heading into the second race in the Round of 12, Byron’s win locked him into the next round of the playoffs and he continues to lead the driver point standings. After 30 races, Byron leads the series in wins (six) and stage wins (eight). His 883 laps led are a single-season career-best for the 25-year-old driver and rank second on the year to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (897). Byron’s 11 top-five finishes are the third-most in the sport’s top division, while his 16 top-10s are tied for the most. In addition, Byron ranks second in both average running position (10.40) and laps run in the top five (3,252) while he ranks third in laps run in the top 10 (4,639).

DRAFT DAY: When it comes to tracks that involve drafting, Byron is normally running up front. He has three wins on these types of tracks – his first Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway in August 2020 and at the re-configured Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 2022 and in July of this season. The two Atlanta wins came with the Next Gen car, which ties Byron with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the most drafting wins by a driver in the Next Gen car. Since the start of the 2022 season, he also has led the most laps (214) at drafting tracks of any driver.

TALLADEGA TELL-ALL: Byron will be making his 12th Cup Series start at the 2.66-mile oval when the No. 24 team hits the track Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. In his previous 11 starts, Byron has led 96 laps and earned a track-best finish of second coming in April 2021. In addition to that runner-up finish, Byron has two stage wins at Talladega, including winning stage two in the spring 2022 race.

DIGGIN’ DEGA: When the Cup Series heads to the Alabama-based track this weekend, it will mark Fugle’s sixth race at the venue as a Cup Series crew chief. In his first five Cup Series starts, Fugle and the No. 24 team have a track-best result of second in the spring race of the 2021 season. Aside from those five races, the Livonia, New York, native has eight other national series starts at the 2.66-mile track already under his belt with seven of those coming in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In those Truck Series races, Fugle has accumulated three top-five finishes and five top-10s. One of those previous starts was with Byron, in 2016, where the duo started eighth and raced to a 10th-place result.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 30 races in the 2023 season, the No. 24 pit crew remains in the top spot with the fastest average four-tire pit stop time of 10.988 seconds. The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

AT IT AGAIN WITH AXALTA: For the fifth time in the 2023 season, Axalta will be back onboard Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This is Axalta’s 31st year of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports. The company has been a primary partner for two of Byron’s wins this year – the May victory at Darlington Raceway and the July triumph at Atlanta.

WELCOME HP: On Wednesday, Hendrick Motorsports announced its expanded partnership with HP Inc. While HP Inc. joined Hendrick Motorsports in October 2022, the new agreement includes primary sponsorship with Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet for the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL race next weekend plus two primary races with the team each season from 2024-2026. HP takes pride in providing innovative, high-performance solutions that empower high-performance and data-driven teams. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 Z HP Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 20th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

DOWNRIGHT FAST IN ‘DEGA: While Alex Bowman shows speed at every drafting-style track that the NASCAR Cup Series competes at, he has yet to get to victory lane. His best superspeedway finish in his Cup Series career came at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2019. In that race, Bowman finished second in both stages and led seven circuits en route to his runner-up finish behind teammate Chase Elliott. The 30-year-old driver is one of four active drivers along with his teammate, William Byron, to finish second but not yet win at the Alabama venue. In 15 starts at Talladega, Bowman has one top-five finish and four top-10s. This spring, he finished second in the opening stage before a 13th-place result.

DOING WELL IN THE DRAFT: Bowman has two top-10 finishes on drafting tracks in 2023. In the season-opening DAYTONA 500, he finished fifth and backed that up with a sixth-place run in the summer race at the “World Center of Racing.”

THAT’S MY CREW CHIEF: Blake Harris, the crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Racing team, will make his fourth start atop the pit box at Talladega this Sunday. In two races at this track in 2022, Harris led the No. 34 team to one top-five finish and two top-10s, finishing eighth in April and third in October. In Harris’ first superspeedway race with Bowman – the 2023 DAYTONA 500 – the duo won the pole and finished fifth.

SET FOR THE RESTART: The Tucson, Arizona, native ranks as the fifth-best driver on restarts in 2023, according to data from Racing Insights. That mark is the second-best among the Hendrick Motorsports quartet, as teammate Kyle Larson is second in this statistical category.

FUELING FUTURES: Ally will host its annual Fueling Futures event on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The primary partner of the No. 48 team has created four individual “pit stops” for students from Charlotte's Garinger High School and Harding University High School, providing a behind-the-scenes look at various job opportunities within the racing industry, including engineering, marketing, financial education and pit crew. After completing each pit stop, the group will come together for a Q&A with Bowman. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will also be available to the media that day. To RSVP to attend the event, members of the media can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details.

SAVE THEM ALL: Bowman and primary partner Ally are teaming up this year to bring back the Best Friends Animal Society donation effort. This week, the duo will make charitable contributions to Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue, which serves the local community in Hoover, Alabama. Bowman and Ally will donate $4,800 to Best Friends and Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue. Ally will increase its donation to $10,000 if the No. 48 team wins on Sunday.    
 
SHINING BRIGHT IN THE DAYTIME: During Sunday’s race at Talladega, the No. 48 Ally Chevy will adorn its “day” scheme. This scheme hosts a white base with bright plum, grapefruit and seafoam stripes down the sides. Check out all the angles of the ride here. 

HENDRICK

MOTORSPORTS /

2023

All-Time

Talladega

Races

30

1,339

79

Wins

9*

300*

14*

Poles

6

245*

13*

Top 5

36*

1,226*

63*

Top 10

56*

2,101*

97*

Laps Led

1,958

79,275*

3,048*

Stage Wins

14

93

5*

*Most **Most (tie)

300 WINS REACHED: With William Byron's win at Texas Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports has become the first team to reach 300 NASCAR Cup Series victories. Twenty drivers have combined to reach this total across 31 different racetracks. With nine points-paying victories in 2023, the team has posted its 36th multi-win season in the Cup Series while maintaining a streak of at least two per season for the past 30 years. To see a full breakdown of the win total by driver, track, car number and more, click here.

PLAYOFF LOWDOWN: For the 10th straight season, Hendrick Motorsports has at least two drivers in the Round of 12. Byron and Kyle Larson remain in the playoff field. In addition, the Nos. 5, 9 and 24 teams are battling for the owner championship. Byron's victory at Texas locks him into the Round of 8 and marks the 10th straight season that the organization has had at least one driver in the Round of 8.

CHAMPIONSHIP COUNT: The Rick Hendrick-owned team has a series-best 14 Cup Series championships. NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee Jimmie Johnson accounts for half of those with seven (2006-10, 2013 and 2016). NASCAR Hall of Famer and team vice chairman Jeff Gordon racked up four titles (1995, 1997-98 and 2001). NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte (1996), Chase Elliott (2020) and Larson (2021) each have one championship for the team. Nine of those titles have come in the playoff era (2004-present).

GOOD SIGN: In six of the last seven occurrences where a Hendrick Motorsports driver has won at least six races, that driver has gone on to win the title (Johnson in 2007-10 and 2013 and Larson in 2021). Byron now has half a dozen wins in the 2023 season.

RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 57 wins in the playoffs, which is 21 more than the closest team. Johnson has the most with 29 victories. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott and Larson top the board with seven wins apiece in the playoffs followed by Byron and Alex Bowman with one.

VICTORY FORMATION: Gordon’s six wins at Talladega Superspeedway top the board for the organization followed by Johnson and Elliott’s two triumphs each. Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ken Schrader and Brian Vickers each have one victory at Talladega while driving for the organization. The seven drivers to win at this track are the most for one team.

DRAFTING DARLINGS: The Concord, North Carolina-based team has 32 wins on drafting tracks, which is the highest total in the series. The drafting tracks on the circuit are 2.66-mile Talladega, 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway and 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway (since its reprofiling for the 2022 season). In addition to its 14 victories at Talladega, the team has 15 wins at Daytona and three triumphs at Atlanta.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Byron and Elliott are tied for the most wins (two) on drafting tracks in the Next Gen car. Byron was victorious at Atlanta in March 2022 and July 2023. Elliott scored wins at Atlanta in July 2022 and Talladega in October 2022. Those victories have all occurred in the last 10 races on drafting tracks.

STUDYING THE TRENDS: In each of the last eight 2023 Cup Series races, Hendrick Motorsports has had a driver finish in the top five. Those top fives came at Michigan International Speedway (Larson), the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Elliott and Bowman), Watkins Glen International (Byron), Daytona (Elliott), Darlington Raceway (Larson and Byron), Kansas Speedway (Larson), Bristol Motor Speedway (Larson) and Texas (Byron).

TWO MORE XFINITY RACES ADDED: Hendrick Motorsports will enter two additional 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season with its No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro. Veteran road racer Boris Said will drive in the Oct. 7 Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL event while Rajah Caruth will be in the seat at the season-ending race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 4. Both will be sponsored by HendrickCars.com. The No. 17 entry has made five starts in the Xfinity Series this year, with a combined three top-five finishes, four top-10s and one pole position.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Talladega Superspeedway: "I’m just trying to do good every weekend. Texas (Motor Speedway) didn’t pan out the way the No. 5 team necessarily wanted, but our race cars have been crazy fast. I’m just trying to get through Talladega with some decent track position and hopefully, we can get a win at Talladega (Superspeedway)."

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how the No. 5 team approaches superspeedway races: "We’ve had a very similar strategy at all of the superspeedway races this year. We’re trying to do what’s right as far as keeping our car upfront. Obviously, we try to avoid trouble the best we can, which can certainly be tough to do at these plate races. I feel like we always have fast cars and Kyle (Larson) always does a great job at trying to get our car upfront and in position. You certainly have to execute a good race. If we do all the things that we can control right and put ourselves in position, with a healthy dose of luck, hopefully, we’ll have a good finish coming our way soon."

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the key to racing at Talladega: "Talladega (Superspeedway) is just about some good timing and good fortune. I mean, you can certainly make better or worse decisions at certain times. I do think there is a bit of a method to the madness. You see certain drivers that run really well there. They might not get it right all the time, but they get it right more than others. That being said, there must be a way to better your odds at least. A lot of it is just feel and what you're seeing, what you're feeling with what everybody else around you is doing. A big thing with plate racing is just staying on offense. You see those that are on offense that are really good pushers. Those guys tend to find themselves at the front of those races more than not. That’s a hard thing to do because you have to have your car driving like you want it to. You’ve got to be able to have the opportunity to push and make pace that way. The people who have the ability to be on offense are going to find themselves in a good spot more times than not.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team's outlook for Talladega: "We want to win. We want to try to qualify a little better to get a little bit of a pit selection. It’s been hurting us a little bit in recent speedway races. So, we're working on that. We’ve had a pretty good race setup there for the last couple races, so looking forward to building on that. And certainly, I think Hendrick Motorsports’ speedway game has been pretty good. The collaboration between the team cars has been really good, so I'm looking forward to building on that. The Chevrolets, in general, have worked well together. I think we have an opportunity to win and do good. We've had really solid runs here lately. The finish at Texas (Motor Speedway) was super disappointing, but I think we were in position to win there, which was great. We want to do the same thing again this week. Try to put ourselves in position when it matters and see what happens.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how he approaches the rest of the Round of 12: "Our focus has changed some now for this round of the playoffs. We now can go to Talladega (Superspeedway) and focus on helping our teammates, the Nos. 5 and 9. We just need to make our way up front and find our teammates to help them get to the next round as well. If we have an opportunity to get playoff points in the process, great, but our priority will be to help our teammates. Same thing at the (Charlotte Motor Speedway) ROVAL. We can’t help as much there, but we can possibly get more playoff points to help for the next round. Otherwise, we’re focused on Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) and working towards that round."

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what it means to get Hendrick Motorsports' 300th win: "You think about the last few weeks with 500 engine shop wins across the top three series and then to get 300 Cup Series wins, those are some amazing accomplishments for Hendrick Motorsports. Mr. Hendrick is such a great leader and he is so good to all of us. He cares and he is so passionate about the sport. The fact that we (No. 24 team) were able to do it was huge. From day one when I got to Hendrick Motorsports, you walk by tables and meeting rooms that have picture books with all the photos of the wins and milestones. To be able to get him to 300 wins and to be the car that did it is huge. We get to sign our name next to that forever."

Fugle on the mindset of the No. 24 team: "I didn’t realize that people thought we were struggling. We think we can win any race. Whether it’s practice, qualifying or the race. We have the car, the driver and the pit crew to win any session. Sometimes we get off here and there but we have the capability. If you give us a shot, we have the knowledge and the speed to win every session. There’s not a race we can’t win. We’re going to keep growing, though, to be a little bit more consistent in the top five. But we’re in the Round of 8, we have 41 playoff points and we can start getting ready for Las Vegas (Motor Speedway). Take that however you want to take it but we’re going to keep working hard."

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his mindset heading to Talladega this weekend: "We had a good No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the spring race at Talladega (Superspeedway) and I think Blake (Harris) and I learned a lot about what I need in my set up to help us for this weekend. Our crew has done a lot of work looking at SMT data and leaning on our teammates at Hendrick Motorsports. I feel like we are very prepared to go compete this weekend. Blake and I have talked a ton this week and we already know that having a clean race car at the end is super important. We are going to do our best to unload in Alabama as close as we can get to having the car right, make some good adjustments and try to go execute a clean race. Hopefully, that will be enough to be competitive."

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what it will take to win at Talladega: "I think Talladega (Superspeedway) has a lot of different challenges. Obviously, having a fast No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is important, but trying to give Alex (Bowman) a car that can handle well in traffic will also be key. We have good superspeedway notes and feel confident we can be in contention if we stay out of trouble. We have great teammates to work with throughout the race and it will take all of us to pull off a win this weekend."

HMS PR

NASCAR Truck Series News

Jake Drew excited for first plate race at Talladega

Thursday, Sep 28

Anything Can Happen… The most unpredictable and nerve-racking event of the season at Talladega Superspeedway will be another completely new challenge for the young driver out of Fullerton California. This will be Drew's first time on a restrictor plate style track where the racing is always intense and unpredictable. Drew will look to gain some valuable experience while trying to contend for the win at the the historic 2.66 mile superspeedway.

Drew History ... The 2021 season was Drew’s first season in the ARCA Menards Series West in the Sunrise Racing No. 9 car. In 2021, Drew recorded three poles, four top fives, and seven top tens. The season ended just shy of the championship that was ultimately decided in a tiebreaker. Drew returned in 2022 to the No. 6 Sunrise Racing car with Bruncati. Drew led the team to four poles, four wins, nine top fives, and 10 top tens in Bruncati’s farewell ARCA Menards Series West season, which captured him the 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Championship.

Season to Date … Drew has four starts on the season with his first coming at Nashville Superspeedway where he would finish 12th on the night. His second start, and first with Hattori Racing Enterprises, would net him a 17th place finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Kansas Speedway would be his third start, Drew would get stage points and his career best finish of 10th at the Kansas Lottery 200. His fourth start would come at Bristol Motor Speedway where he would cross the line in the 20th position.

Chassis Selection … Chassis No. 016 will make it’s first start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season at Talladega Superspeedway. This Toyota Tundra TRD Pro made it's last start at Talladega last year, where Chase Purdywould run around the top-15 most of the day. When the checkered flag flew, Purdy would cross the line in the seventh position.

Tune In … The Loves RV Stop 250 at Talladega Superspeedway will kick off with qualifying on Saturday at 9:30 am ET on FS2, followed by NASCAR RaceDay at 12 pm ET (FS1). Green flag action on Saturday afternoon will kick off at 1:00 pm ET (FS1). Stay connected with the No. 61 Toyota Tsusho team by following @Hattori_Racing on Twitter, @hattoriracing on Instagram, and Hattori Racing Enterprises on Facebook.

Jake Drew Quote on Talladega Superspeedway:

“Talladega is going to be a entirely new challenge that I look forward to this weekend. These drafting tracks are very unique and there are multiple strategies at hand that change by the second. I know the guys have put together a great truck and with spotter TJ (Majors) coaching me through the afternoon, I feel we can be up front and contend. Just being around the front with a few laps to go is going to be the key. As we have seen with a lot of these plate races is guys getting antsy and making mistakes causing a bunch of carnage".

HRE PR

NASCAR Truck Series News

Talladega always a wild card for Ankrum

Thursday, Sep 28

Plate Racing … Talladega Superspeedway has a knack for providing many drivers breakthrough performances in its history spanning more than half a decade, and a wide-open opportunity awaits for Tyler Ankrum on Saturday afternoon. The driver of the No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro produced a strong performance in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), the only prior superspeedway event this year, when he led his first laps of the seaon and was in contention for the victory before rain shortened the event.

Ankrum and HRE at Talladega ... Ankrum took quickly to the intensity of Talladega by earning a seventh-place finish during his debut in 2019 after qualifying second. He returns for his fifth 'Dega appearance behind the wheel of the No. 16 which has a stout superspeedway history. Austin Hill wheeled the 16 machine to a sixth place finish in the 2020 event at Talladega Superspeedway, the best finish in company history at the 2.66 mile race track. Ankrum will look to better that by five positions on Saturday.

Season to Date … Through 20 of 23 events for the 2023 schedule, Ankrum and the No. 16 LiUNA! team occupy the 15th position in the drivers championship standings. Ankrum’s season-best result came 17 races ago at Circuit of the Americas (fourth) and he has posted six finishes of tenth or better in the 2023 season. Currently, Ankrum has one top five, and six top-10's for the 2023 season.

Chassis Selection … Chassis No. 012 will make it’s second start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season at Talladega Superspeedway. This Toyota Tundra TRD Pro made it's last start at Daytona International Superspeedway, where Ankrum would run around the top-10 most of the day. Ankrum would lead 15 laps in the No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on the day and have to settle for a seventh place finish with the race ending early due to rain.

Tune In … The Loves RV Stop 250 at Talladega Superspeedway will kick off with qualifying on Saturday at 9:30 am ET on FS2, followed by NASCAR RaceDay at 12 pm ET (FS1). Green flag action on Saturday afternoon will kick off at 1:00 pm ET (FS1). Stay connected with the No. 16 LiUNA! team by following @Hattori_Racing on Twitter, @hattoriracing on Instagram, and Hattori Racing Enterprises on Facebook.

Tyler Ankrum Quote on Talladega:

“There are a lot of opinions on superspeedway racing, but the fact is there’s a trophy out there and a great opportunity for our LiUNA! team this weekend. We had a great Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Daytona earlier this year and I felt like we were one of the trucks to beat that night. We had a truck that would lead really well, but it also worked really good in the draft. All the guys and gals at HRE put so much effort into these trucks to make sure we have a fast piece. Survival is going to be a major key on Saturday, so if we can make it to the final 10-15 laps, I think we’ll have a great shot at it.”

HRE PR

Speedway News

Queen eyeing redemption in October 7 CARS Tour event at South Boston Speedway

Thursday, Sep 28

Brenden Queen is looking for redemption in the Autos By Nelson 250 presented by Virginia Is For Racing Lovers CARS Tour event on Saturday night, October 7 at South Boston Speedway.

The Chesapeake, Virginia resident had a strong performance but came up one position shy of winning the 200-lap race at South Boston Speedway in July that served as the opening race of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown.

“I’m excited to get back to South Boston Speedway,” Queen said. “I want to get some redemption for the ‘200.’ We had a really good car and came up one spot short in the end. South Boston Speedway is one of the tracks I want to knock off the bucket list of tracks I want to win at, and I feel like we’re going to have a good shot at it with Lee Pulliam Performance.”

Queen was happy with the team’s performance in the July race at South Boston Speedway that included winning the pole for the event, and it gives him confidence entering the 125-lap Solid Rock Carriers CARS Late Model Stock Tour race that will headline the AutosByNelson.com 250 presented by Virginia Is For Lovers on Saturday night, October 7 at South Boston Speedway.

“I had told myself all that week it (South Boston Speedway) was probably not my best track, not because I wasn’t good there, just because I hadn’t run good there,” Queen noted. “To win the pole that night was a statement with Lee Pulliam. I knew I had a shot to win driving for Lee because he always ran good there, but to finally go there and get the job done gave me a lot of confidence, especially for coming back there.”

Queen is having a stellar season driving for the Alton, Virginia-based Lee Pulliam Performance team. He has four poles, two wins, nine Top-5 finishes, and 12 Top-10 finishes in 13 starts with no DNFs.

“I feel like we’re going to have a really good shot to get another win on the season,” Queen remarked. “We’re trying to finish the season strong, and it (the October 7 race at South Boston Speedway) would definitely be a good night to get a win for Lee right there in his back yard. It would be really good for all of the LPP fans in that area that will be there for the race.”

Queen says the team has the momentum to shine over the stretch run of the season’s final three races.

“We just came off of a win September 9 at New River All American Speedway in the last CARS Tour race,” he pointed out. “I feel like momentum is huge in this sport and I feel like we’ve got a lot of it. We’re determined to finish the year off strong. If we win the last three races, we will have five CARS Tour wins, and we have four poles going into it. There is a lot of potential left, and we want to prove a lot by winning five races this year.”

Standing second in the series point standings and trailing leader Carson Kvapil by 34 points, Queen sees the upcoming race at South Boston Speedway as something of a “must win” situation.

“We’ve got to get the pole, we’ve got to lead the most laps, and we need to win,” Queen explained. “We’re not really concerned about points. We just want to win the race. I always say if we win the race and if it (winning the championship) is meant to be it will happen. You can’t rely on something happening. You’ve got to do the things you can control, and if we can control our destiny with wins that is what we’ll have to do.”

The 125-lap race for the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Late Model Stock Tour will be the highlight race of the Autos By Nelson 250 presented by Virginia Is For Racing Lovers at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night, October 7.

In addition to the highly competitive lineup of CARS Tour regulars former NASCAR driver and racing personality Kenny Wallace will be making his CARS Tour debut at South Boston Speedway driving a number 36 entry out of the R&S Racecars stable based at Cluster Springs, Virginia.

In addition, fans will see a 100-lap race for the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Pro Late Model Tour and a 25-lap race for the touring Virginia Mini-Cup Racing Association.

Advance adult general admission tickets for the Autos By Nelson 250 presented by Virginia Is For Racing Lovers CARS Tour event are priced at $17 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

Tickets at the gate on race day on October 7 will be $20 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $17 each at the gate on race day.

The October 7 race day schedule has practice for the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car and Pro Late Model series being held from 11 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Practice and qualifying for the Virginia Mini-Cup series is set from 3:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.

All speedway spectator gates will open at 3:45 p.m. CARS Tour qualifying starts at 4:15 p.m. A driver autograph session on the frontstretch is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. Driver introductions and pre-race ceremonies start at 6:30 p.m. The first race will get the green flag at 7 p.m.

The latest news and updates about the AutosByNelson.com 250 presented by Virginia Is For Lovers CARS Tour event and other South Boston Speedway events can be found on the speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com, and the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.

SBS PR

Racing News

Charlie Mellilo Joins Executive Team at World Racing Group

Thursday, Sep 28

World Racing Group expanded its executive team by adding Charlie Mellilo as its Chief Media and Marketing Officer.

Most recently, Charlie led Global Client Services for Endeavor Streaming, the direct-to-consumer technology division of Endeavor. In his new role, Charlie will oversee all areas of content creation, production, distribution and marketing for all World Racing Group properties, including the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, the Super DIRTcar Series, as well as its direct-to-consumer platform DIRTVision.

About his new role, Charlie said, “World Racing Group is the pinnacle of the sport of dirt racing. The team is amazing, and I am very excited to join the organization.” He added, “They have created an amazing business that is positioned for tremendous growth. I am excited to help usher in that new stage.”

“Charlie is a proven leader and a true innovator in the sports media space, and we are thrilled to have him join the organization. We know he will help elevate our business, help us continue our evolution, and further strengthen our position as the leader in dirt racing,” said World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter.

Charlie joined Endeavor in 2018 through its acquisition of NeuLion. During his time at NeuLion and Endeavor, Charlie was responsible for the launch of numerous well-known services including UFC Fight Pass, Rogers Sportsnet NOW, and Univision NOW. He also worked with the NBA, NFL, WWE, ESPN, Sky New Zealand and many other premier sports properties on numerous direct-to-consumer services.

WRG PR

Racing News

Winchester 400 Weekend Hourly Schedule Released

Thursday, Sep 28

ASA STARS National Tour/ASA CRA Super Series and Winchester Speedway officials have released the detailed hourly schedule for the 52nd Winchester 400 Presented by Vore’s Welding and Steel weekend.

While racing will start Friday night with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and Vore’s Compact Touring Series championship features, the ASA STARS National Tour will not see the track until Saturday morning. Super Late Models will get two one-hour sessions at 11:30am ET and 1:00 before Go Fas Pole Qualifying for the Winchester 400 at 4:15. The CRA Late Model Sportsman and Street Stocks, Midwest Modified Tour and Thunder Roadsters will have their championship races on Saturday night.

The ASA STARS National Tour driver’s meeting on Sunday will be at 10:15am, with an autograph session set for 12:30. Pre-race ceremonies will begin at 1:30, with the Winchester 400 set to go green at 2:00. The entire weekend will be broadcasted live on RacingAmerica.TV, while Sunday’s Winchester 400 will also be live on MidwestTour.TV and TrackTV.com

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCHEDULE

The ASA STARS National Tour heads to Winchester Speedway on Sunday, October 15 for the Winchester 400 Presented by Vore’s Welding and Steel. The race will also serve as the season finale for the ASA/CRA Super Series. Tickets can be purchased by calling the track office at (765)584-9701 during office hours.

The ASA STARS National Tour opened the ten race, six-state schedule at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL on March 11. Jesse Love is the most recent winner, claiming the victory in Glass City 200 on September 16.

For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).

ASA STARS PR

NASCAR Truck Series News

Eckes' Title Road Leads to Talladega Superspeedway

Thursday, Sep 28

Path to the Title Leads To 'Dega … Christian Eckes has his ultimate destination in sight as he returns to Talladega Superspeedway for his third start at the world’s largest speedway. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST is one step away from reaching the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) championship race at Phoenix Raceway. He has been dynamic through the first four races of the NCTS playoffs, with finishes of third or better in each race. His electric performances have placed him second in the championship standings with a 29-point cushion on the cut line with two races remaining in the “Round of 8”.

Reaching Elite Status … If the best regular season of his career wasn’t enough, Eckes has cemented himself as one of the tour's elite competitors with his playoff performance thus far. He’s peaking at the right time of year with an average finish of 2.0 in four playoff races thanks to finishes of second, third, first, and second. The last four races have been the best stretch of Eckes’ 88-race NCTS career and he’ll look to extend his elite streak on Saturday at Talladega. He began the season by leading a race-high 19 laps at Daytona International Speedway in February and captured a stage win and finished third. In 2022, Eckes finished fifth at Talladega and is the only driver to have and active streak of three consecutive top-five superspeedway finishes.

Season to Date … Eckes has constructed a title-worthy season through 20 races with three wins, a career high nine top-five’s and 12 top-10 finishes. He’s also tallied six stage wins, tied for the most in the series, and has lowered his average finish to 10.8, third-best among full-time drivers. After leading 150 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway, Eckes eclipsed his previous career high for laps led in a season, having now paced the field for 307 circuits this year. Eckes can punch his ticket into the NCTS title race with a victory on Saturday, or by leaving Talladega with a 61-point cushion on the cut line.

Tune In … Coverage from ‘Dega beings on Saturday morning with qualifying at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 2. NASCAR Raceday airs at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 followed by the green flag at 1:00 p.m. ET. Stay connected with the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmrnascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.

Christian Eckes Quote:

On the unpredictable nature of Talladega:

“Superspeedways are always unpredictable and wild, but we have a great NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet for this weekend. I felt like we had one of, if not the fastest truck, at Daytona earlier this year, so that gives us a lot of confidence going into the weekend. There’s a lot out of your control at the superspeedways, but we’re well prepared and going to try and put ourselves in a position to win the race and score points. We’re in a great position after Bristol and that gives us a little more security this weekend. We’re really close to our next goal of advancing to Phoenix, and that’s our focus this weekend.”

HRE PR

Racing News

Ferrari Brings Welcomed Switch Up for F1 Fans

Thursday, Sep 28

Red Bull Stumbles, Ferrari Shines

The 2023 F1 season has been a tale of dominance by Red Bull Racing, spearheaded by the sensational Max Verstappen. However, at the Singapore GP, the seemingly unbeatable RB19 showed a chink in its armour and it was Ferrari's Carlos Sainz who seized the moment and clinched a crucial victory, giving the opposition hope in a season that seemed like it could be one of its worst in recent history.

Sainz's nearly flawless performance at the iconic Marina Bay Street Circuit saw him lead from gun to tape, providing a welcome contrast for viewers from the customary Red Bull dominance week in and week out and also serving as a reminder of what F1 is really all about. The race concluded with McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton hot on Sainz's tail, while the final lap witnessed George Russell’s dramatic crash that ultimately cost him a place on the podium.

Ferrari’s improvement this season is largely attributable to its improved strategic planning and its follow-through into overall race execution. In recent years, their strategy team has been questionable and often cost them victories, but the Singapore GP showcased a different Ferrari, one that meticulously planned its race strategy and executed it flawlessly.

The team’s plan was clear: Ensure a win for Carlos Sainz no matter what!

While the Singapore Grand Prix might not signify a shift in the season's pattern, it certainly re-injected excitement into the championship race, as it marked the first time Red Bull had been defeated since the penultimate race of the previous season in Brazil. This development adds an added layer of intrigue for punters since there is enough proof to suggest that the dominant Red Bull can be beaten, and upsets generally translate to long-odds landing. If you’re looking for the latest odds and in-depth F1 news, Wincomparator offers comprehensive live F1 coverage that includes everything F1-related and beyond. Moreover, you can explore the list of trusted betting sites with a detailed review on Wincomparator, allowing you to make informed choices on where to place bets for your favourite motorsport events.

Ferrari's 2023 season started with a shock as their car failed to meet expectations. It lacked pace, had unpredictable handling, and often overstressed its tires. However, consistent upgrades throughout the season gradually improved the car's performance, particularly on specific circuits with particular corner characteristics. The team's management of its SF-23 car improved, and the vehicle's setup issues were addressed. Of course, Sainz's resurgence after the summer break, notably at Monza, helped the situation greatly and marked something of a turning point.

Looking ahead, Suzuka poses a unique blend of challenges that will test Ferrari’s progress to the limit. A mix of tight and twisty corners will demand high downforce, which is something that has been a particularly weak point of the SF-23, and the race will serve as a yardstick of the Italian’s ability to compete on a diverse range of tracks. Leclerc and Sainz's performance at Suzuka will reveal whether Ferrari can sustain its competitive streak moving forward while the team's major goal is to solidify its position and gather valuable insights for the upcoming 2024 season. While it might be too early to proclaim Ferrari a regular pole contender at every track, their recent progress has raised hopes of challenging Red Bull's dominance more consistently.

The 2023 Formula 1 season is far from over, and while Red Bull remains a formidable force, Ferrari's resurgence has injected excitement into the championship, and the Japanese Grand Prix and subsequent races will provide a clearer picture of whether Ferrari's resurgence is sustainable or a false dawn.