Spike

It's been a fun past few days... Tuesday at work I came out to a flat tire. My hypothesis is that the lawn crew accidentally shot a screw or bolt into the sidewall because the tire was fine until the mowed and left. On 1st break it was fine, on lunch it was fine, after work flat. In my wife's building they have a portable air pump so they brought that out and was able to get it to hold air long enough for me to get it to a nearby tire shop. Got the call yesterday that the tire is unpatchable because of where the screw/bolt was but they didn't carry the brand tire that was on it so I asked if it still held air and told them I'd pick it up after work since I found another shop that sold the same tire. Well somewhere between the lift and parking lot the object fell out and left a hole and the tire wouldn't hold air anymore. So I finally gave in and told them just give me the cheapest tire they got that they can get on it today since the only options I had to choose from where Chinese knock off brands anyway. Guess I'll ride on that for a month or two and buy a whole new set. Ever since a regional chain out of Detroit took over that locally owned shop last year it has gone into the crapper.
Also yesterday my boss got all defensive when I told him what happened with the tire. Thought to myself I'm not blaming you, just said it was most likely something got shot out of the lawnmower when they were mowing. During the winter when these guys plowed and salted the drive 4 coworkers got flats too so it's not like I'm the first one to complain about them. Heck if I didn't need the money I would call off from work today. 

The Xfinity race Saturday was way more exciting especially the victory lap Shane VanGisbergen did with burnouts and drifting almost the entire Portland track. 
A bit of sad news...Parnelli Jones passed away today. He won the 1963 Indy 500, Baja 1000 twice, 4 NASCAR Cup series races and multiple other disciplines of Motorsports races and championships.

Kyle Larson finally got the waiver so he can continue in the championship hunt.
Austin Cindric won the race Sunday in a surprise twist. Christopher Bell was the dominant car but blew up late in the race. Ryan Blaney would have won if he didn't run out of gas on the last lap. 
Another interesting thing I've noticed about some of the younger drivers this year, they're doing snuff during the race. Austin pulled a snuff pouch out of his lip during his victory speech. He isn't the only one either. 

The Xfinity race Saturday was way more exciting especially the victory lap Shane VanGisbergen did with burnouts and drifting almost the entire Portland track. 
A bit of sad news...Parnelli Jones passed away today. He won the 1963 Indy 500, Baja 1000 twice, 4 NASCAR Cup series races and multiple other disciplines of Motorsports races and championships.

Kyle Larson finally got the waiver so he can continue in the championship hunt.
Austin Cindric won the race Sunday in a surprise twist. Christopher Bell was the dominant car but blew up late in the race. Ryan Blaney would have won if he didn't run out of gas on the last lap. 
Another interesting thing I've noticed about some of the younger drivers this year, they're doing snuff during the race. Austin pulled a snuff pouch out of his lip during his victory speech. He isn't the only one either. 

Kyle Larson finally got the waiver so he can continue in the championship hunt.
Austin Cindric won the race Sunday in a surprise twist. Christopher Bell was the dominant car but blew up late in the race. Ryan Blaney would have won if he didn't run out of gas on the last lap. 
Another interesting thing I've noticed about some of the younger drivers this year, they're doing snuff during the race. Austin pulled a snuff pouch out of his lip during his victory speech. He isn't the only one either. 

Oh yeah Dale Jr said multiple times in his podcasts over the years that to run a competitive cup team requires $20+million a year. I could see Hendrick and Gibbs probably spending close to $150 million a year for each of their 4 teams. Haas was sponsoring one or two of the SHR cars almost every race so he was dumping more money than other teams. 
Floyd Mayweather has backed out of co ownership deal of whatever team it was he joined that ran a partial schedule last year. I could see Michael Jordan jumping ship from 23XI within a year or two if he sees it's not at least breaking even. Currently he's sponsoring either car a few races. 

Clint Bowyer is getting back behind the wheel for the Nashville truck race. Will be in the #7 Spire Motorsports Chevy Silverado.
https://www.jayski.com/2024/05/29/clint-bowyer-to-pilot-spire-motorsports-truck-at-nashville-superspeedway/
Front Row Motorsports did buy one of the SHR charters and will expand to a 3 car team 
https://www.jayski.com/2024/05/29/front-row-motorsports-obtains-third-charter/
I expect at least one of SHR's drivers to go there since I think 2 are contracted to Ford and Ford would want to keep them in a Ford. Josh Berry unfortunately isn't and I think chances of him finding a cup ride next year are very slim. 

I listened to the Dale Jr Dirty Air podcast this week, I see he's turned into a NASCAR corporate man now. Don't think I'll listen to that podcast anymore. Basically said he's sorry for the fans that stuck it out for the rain delay but that's the way it is and always was with them not restarting the race. Also said Kyle Larson shouldn't get a waiver. One thing I did agree with that he said they should just go back to 25th or better in points instead of being at every race in case something like this happens again or someone is having a family emergency they have to tend to.  

Oh yeah Dale Jr said multiple times in his podcasts over the years that to run a competitive cup team requires $20+million a year. I could see Hendrick and Gibbs probably spending close to $150 million a year for each of their 4 teams. Haas was sponsoring one or two of the SHR cars almost every race so he was dumping more money than other teams. 
Floyd Mayweather has backed out of co ownership deal of whatever team it was he joined that ran a partial schedule last year. I could see Michael Jordan jumping ship from 23XI within a year or two if he sees it's not at least breaking even. Currently he's sponsoring either car a few races. 

I listened to the Dale Jr Dirty Air podcast this week, I see he's turned into a NASCAR corporate man now. Don't think I'll listen to that podcast anymore. Basically said he's sorry for the fans that stuck it out for the rain delay but that's the way it is and always was with them not restarting the race. Also said Kyle Larson shouldn't get a waiver. One thing I did agree with that he said they should just go back to 25th or better in points instead of being at every race in case something like this happens again or someone is having a family emergency they have to tend to.  

If Front Row Motorsports is getting a charter that would explain why they let Michael McDowell go since 2 of SHR driver's are contracted to Ford and they will most likely go to FRM, one in the 34 and the other in the new charter team. Apparently the last charter available from SHR is going for $20-30 million depending on who you listen to on Twitter. 

If Front Row Motorsports is getting a charter that would explain why they let Michael McDowell go since 2 of SHR driver's are contracted to Ford and they will most likely go to FRM, one in the 34 and the other in the new charter team. Apparently the last charter available from SHR is going for $20-30 million depending on who you listen to on Twitter. 

Stewart Haas Racing will cease operations at the end of the 2024 season, sell all charters and all NASCAR related vehicles and tooling. According to rumors 3 of the charters are already spoken for; 1 going to 23XI, 1 to Front Row Motorsports and 1 to Trackhouse Racing. 4th one is still available. 
https://www.jayski.com/2024/05/28/stewart-haas-racing-will-shut-down-following-the-2024-season/

A lot of the fans in attendance were pissed to because NASCAR execs kept saying the race will be restarted only to call it even though the track was mostly dried. Heck even the journalists were calling NASCAR out on it. Some people on Reddit are saying Fox had a lot to do with NASCAR calling it because it went over the allotted tv schedule. 

A lot of the fans in attendance were pissed to because NASCAR execs kept saying the race will be restarted only to call it even though the track was mostly dried. Heck even the journalists were calling NASCAR out on it. Some people on Reddit are saying Fox had a lot to do with NASCAR calling it because it went over the allotted tv schedule. 

Stewart Haas Racing will cease operations at the end of the 2024 season, sell all charters and all NASCAR related vehicles and tooling. According to rumors 3 of the charters are already spoken for; 1 going to 23XI, 1 to Front Row Motorsports and 1 to Trackhouse Racing. 4th one is still available. 
https://www.jayski.com/2024/05/28/stewart-haas-racing-will-shut-down-following-the-2024-season/

This is interesting since NASCAR decided to call the race last night even though they could have finished the last 150 laps today. Since they did that Kyle Larson is now out of contention for the championship because he didn't make it in time from the delayed Indy 500 to run any laps in the Coke '450' race last night. NASCAR could give him a waiver which they most likely will do, then again maybe they aren't happy he decided to stay and run the rain delayed Indy 500 instead of the Coke '450'. 

Tuesday is when the news will be official about what is happening at SHR. My guess is they sell 2 charters and become a 2 car team again keeping the 4 and 14. 

Today's Monaco Grand Prix ended up as a pretty dull procession. Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc took pole position at his home race, with championship leader Max Verstappen only able to qualify sixth. Max's team mate, Sergio Perez, was knocked out in the first qualifying session, but started in 16th after the two Haas cars were moved to the back of the grid due to a technical penalty.

The two Haas cars and the Red Bull of Perez were all involved in a crash on the first lap which brought out a red flag. Alpine's Esteban Ocon was also out on the first lap after a collision with his team mate, Pierre Gasly.

Since the red flag allowed all the teams to make their mandatory tire change, most of the race was just about tire management as none of the leaders needed to build a gap for a pit stop. Further down the field there were a few gaps and pit stops, but for the first time I can remember, the top ten finished in the same order they started. Charles Leclerc won his first Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari with his team mate Carlos Sainz Jr in third. Splitting them was McLaren's Oscar Piastri in second. Off of the podium were McLaren's Lando Norris in fourth, Mercedes' George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in fifth and seventh, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in sixth.

Carlos Sainz Jr was probably the luckiest driver after a small coming together at the start took him out with a puncture on the first lap, but he was allowed to take the restart in third (his original starting position).

Monaco is a unique track on the F1 calendar with its tight, historic street circuit, but pit stops, crashes and weather usually give us a more exiting race. Let's hope that the Canadian Grand Prix in two weeks will give us more entertainment and maybe even another different winner.

You can watch the highlights here.

Here's what happened after the race
https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-ricky-stenhouse-jr-throws-punch-at-kyle-busch-after-all-star-race-020311803.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id&ncid=crm_19908-1202929-20240520-0&bt_user_id=yhCWo3FGfrJ9QqLbPmiuI%2BjiySqJlfFuJ9qZz4ZIYk4bcDu6dggfGuylwfR97WrS&bt_ts=1716209451292
I bet there might be a few people missing the next race or two for this. 
Joey Logano won the All Star race leading all but one lap. Here's the results 
1. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
2. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
4. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
6. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
7. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
8. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9. Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
10. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
11. Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
12. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
15. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
16. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
17. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
18. A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet Kaulig Racing
19. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
20. DNF Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

I was listening to the Dale Jr podcast today about the race and fight. Dale said Kyle has this smirk he gives when "apologizing" that... He trailed off but the other guy on the podcast said makes you want to punch Kyle in the face  . I've seen the replays and Kyle should have let it go after giving Ricky the one shot on the track, he didn't need to hit him a 2nd time in the same turn. 
Now if Ricky follows through with his threat NASCAR will have no choice but to park him.

...In the Sky
 
Teresa was Dale Earnhardt Sr's wife who took over DEI racing after his death and refused to give Dale jr controlling interest of DEI. She tried trademarking the #8 to earn money off of Dale jr's merchandise but NASCAR told her she doesn't own, and will never own, the number. No team owns the numbers NASCAR does and leases them out.

Ricky Stenhouse didn't last long in the all Star race , 2 laps in and Kyle Busch gave him payback for being ran up the track into the wall.
Kyle Larson qualified 5th for the Indy 500 next Sunday.

On Dirty Mo Media's Door Bumper Clear podcast they talked about some Cup series garage rumors. Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse are rumored to be in talks to merge for 2025. Stewart Haas Racing is rumored to dissolve and sell everything, I could see this happening. Gene Haas is spending $$$$$$$$ on F1. Tony Stewart is busy as a team owner and driver in NHRA. That happening would give Andretti Motorsports an easy in road to NASCAR. They were thinking about it a few years ago but the deal fell through. And with the rumor of Cadillac coming to the cup series that would work since F1 voted to not let Andretti Cadillac play in their sandbox.