“Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to get a recap of everything that happened the day before — such as races, practice sessions, memorable social media moments, and more! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
1. Denny Hamlin Clears Up Some Confusion
Denny Hamlin was wearing NBC’s helmet camera during Saturday night’s race at Kentucky Speedway, and some interested race fans noticed something that generated some questions.
After finishing 16th in the race, Hamlin took to Twitter to explain.
Not only was the time on the digital dash a question, but apparently a piece of orange tape caught the attention of some eagle-eyed NASCAR fans as well.
I guess you learn something new everyday!
2. NASCAR Was Off Sunday, But There Was Still Plenty Of Racing
A Saturday night race can sometimes leave NASCAR fans wondering what to do with themselves on Sunday. However, with many other racing series running during this time of year as well, there was plenty to watch.
Most notably, the IndyCar Series competed in the Honda Indy Toronto. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon earned the victory after benefitting from contact with the wall by pole-sitter Josef Newgarden. Dixon led 49 of the 85 laps to score his third victory of 2018 season and extend his points lead over Newgarden.
CGR also fields cars in NASCAR with Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and John Hunter Nemechek in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Larson finished ninth in Saturday night’s race while McMurray finished 17th. Nemechek contended for the win in Friday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race, but had to settle for seventh after he lost power late in the race.
Meanwhile, Formula E raced in New York City, and saw Jean-Eric Vergne take the victory. Vergne, who clinched the championship on Saturday, had to hold off a determined Lucas di Grassi in order to win the race.
The event was the final race with the Gen1 cars and car swaps, bringing an end to the fourth season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
3. Jeff Gordon Wants To Do What Now?
As with many people nowadays, members of the NASCAR community can’t help but pick up their phones and share what is on their minds — even on a rare Sunday off.
And racers can’t help but talk about racing, no matter what time of year it is.
Sunday afternoon, NASCAR Home Tracks tweeted a video of the winning pass in Saturday’s Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto.
NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell responded, saying the event was the best race of the weekend, an interesting comment since all three of NASCAR’s national series raced over the weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
https://twitter.com/odsteve/status/1018650862623870976
The race takes place on the streets of Toronto, and Jeff Gordon came up with an interesting idea.
Could it work? The NASCAR Pinty’s Series shows that it might. But NASCAR is a long way off from adding any venues or replacing any on the current schedule, especially given the five-year agreement NASCAR signed with its racetracks in 2015.
4. Goodwood Festival of Speed Comes To An End
Sunday marked the last day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held at the Goodwood House in England, and there was plenty of NASCAR representation.
Richard Petty, Bobby Labonte, and Mike Skinner were the most notable attendees, with Skinner driving through a very tense moment during the hillclimb. The 61-year-old NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion has still got it!
The Toyota Supra also took a run up the Goodwood Hillclimb. The Supra will be run in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2019 and Goodwood offered a first glimpse of what the sports car is capable of.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Enjoying Both Of His New Roles
Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway marked Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s second week with NASCAR on NBC. And apparently he is doing such a good job that NASCAR on NBC thought it would be a good idea to go without a play-by-play announcer this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
In between races, Earnhardt is also spending as much time as possible with two-month-old daughter Isla Rose and wife Amy.
Meanwhile, Kurt Busch spent some time at the Formula E race on his Sunday off…
… while Clint Bowyer spent some time on the water.
Ahhh … it’s nice to have a laid back Sunday every once in a while, huh?
Five Things You Need To Know Today: July 16, 2018
“Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to get a recap of everything that happened the day before — such as races, practice sessions, memorable social media moments, and more! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
1. Denny Hamlin Clears Up Some Confusion
Denny Hamlin was wearing NBC’s helmet camera during Saturday night’s race at Kentucky Speedway, and some interested race fans noticed something that generated some questions.
After finishing 16th in the race, Hamlin took to Twitter to explain.
Not only was the time on the digital dash a question, but apparently a piece of orange tape caught the attention of some eagle-eyed NASCAR fans as well.
I guess you learn something new everyday!
2. NASCAR Was Off Sunday, But There Was Still Plenty Of Racing
A Saturday night race can sometimes leave NASCAR fans wondering what to do with themselves on Sunday. However, with many other racing series running during this time of year as well, there was plenty to watch.
Most notably, the IndyCar Series competed in the Honda Indy Toronto. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon earned the victory after benefitting from contact with the wall by pole-sitter Josef Newgarden. Dixon led 49 of the 85 laps to score his third victory of 2018 season and extend his points lead over Newgarden.
CGR also fields cars in NASCAR with Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and John Hunter Nemechek in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Larson finished ninth in Saturday night’s race while McMurray finished 17th. Nemechek contended for the win in Friday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race, but had to settle for seventh after he lost power late in the race.
Meanwhile, Formula E raced in New York City, and saw Jean-Eric Vergne take the victory. Vergne, who clinched the championship on Saturday, had to hold off a determined Lucas di Grassi in order to win the race.
The event was the final race with the Gen1 cars and car swaps, bringing an end to the fourth season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
3. Jeff Gordon Wants To Do What Now?
As with many people nowadays, members of the NASCAR community can’t help but pick up their phones and share what is on their minds — even on a rare Sunday off.
And racers can’t help but talk about racing, no matter what time of year it is.
Sunday afternoon, NASCAR Home Tracks tweeted a video of the winning pass in Saturday’s Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto.
NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell responded, saying the event was the best race of the weekend, an interesting comment since all three of NASCAR’s national series raced over the weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
https://twitter.com/odsteve/status/1018650862623870976
The race takes place on the streets of Toronto, and Jeff Gordon came up with an interesting idea.
Could it work? The NASCAR Pinty’s Series shows that it might. But NASCAR is a long way off from adding any venues or replacing any on the current schedule, especially given the five-year agreement NASCAR signed with its racetracks in 2015.
4. Goodwood Festival of Speed Comes To An End
Sunday marked the last day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held at the Goodwood House in England, and there was plenty of NASCAR representation.
Richard Petty, Bobby Labonte, and Mike Skinner were the most notable attendees, with Skinner driving through a very tense moment during the hillclimb. The 61-year-old NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion has still got it!
The Toyota Supra also took a run up the Goodwood Hillclimb. The Supra will be run in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2019 and Goodwood offered a first glimpse of what the sports car is capable of.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Enjoying Both Of His New Roles
Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway marked Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s second week with NASCAR on NBC. And apparently he is doing such a good job that NASCAR on NBC thought it would be a good idea to go without a play-by-play announcer this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
In between races, Earnhardt is also spending as much time as possible with two-month-old daughter Isla Rose and wife Amy.
Meanwhile, Kurt Busch spent some time at the Formula E race on his Sunday off…
… while Clint Bowyer spent some time on the water.
Ahhh … it’s nice to have a laid back Sunday every once in a while, huh?