“Summer’s Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to catch up on the most recent, relevant, and need-to-know news and information in the sport! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
- Fernando Alonso is leaving F1 and now everyone — including NASCAR — wants him to race for them
Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso announced that he is leaving the sport at the end of 2018, and it has been widely speculated that he may be looking at the IndyCar Series for 2019.
The 37-year-old driver skipped the Monaco Grand Prix in 2017 to run the Indianapolis 500, driving for McLaren-Honda-Andretti. He led 27 laps before his engine expired with 21 laps remaining.
However, with Alonso saying in a statement that “new and exciting challenges are around the corner”, this has NASCAR and other series extending an invitation.
Alonso has expressed interest in testing a NASCAR stock car at some point, though didn’t seem to think that racing in NASCAR was part of his long-term plans.
He also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in January, finishing 38th with his co-drivers after leading two laps and encountering many issues during the race.
It’s unlikely we’ll see Alonso in an official NASCAR race anytime soon, but you can’t blame NASCAR for trying.
2. NASCAR unveils trophies for regular season champions
In an effort to award season-long dominance and make the regular season a little more interesting, NASCAR announced in 2017 that the points leader at the end of the regular series will be awarded 15 additional Playoff points in all three of NASCAR’s national series.
Now, the distinction of being the regular season champion doesn’t just come with extra Playoff points and bragging rights …
… it will now also come with a trophy.
Each series trophy includes one spire for each regular season race on the schedule: 26 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series, and 16 for the Camping World Truck Series. Each trophy is two feet tall and weighs about 35 pounds. The name of a regular season track will be engraved on each spire.
Both the Cup Series and XFINITY Series will have their regular season come to a close at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 8th (XFINITY) and 9th (Cup), while the Truck Series’ regular season is ending this Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The current points leaders are Kyle Busch (Cup), Christopher Bell (XFINITY), and Johnny Sauter (Trucks).
- Paint scheme for Bill Elliott’s return at Road America revealed
It came as quite a shock to the NASCAR world when GMS Racing announced that 62-year-old Bill Elliott — who hasn’t raced in a NASCAR national series event since 2012 — will be competing for them in the XFINITY Series race at Road America on August 25th.
However, it certainly is happening, as the race team unveiled paint scheme that Elliott will be running on Tuesday.
And even though he won’t be part of the Darlington throwback weekend, the paint scheme certainly is nostalgic for those who remember seeing Elliott race in his prime.
The paint scheme is similar to that which Elliott won with in the 1994 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, while driving for Junior Johnson.
Just because Elliott has been away from NASCAR for several years, though, doesn’t mean he hasn’t been behind the wheel. He competed in the SVRA “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am race in June, the Trans Am Series at Road Atlanta in March, and the Trans Am Series TA2 race at Mid-Ohio earlier this month (though it was short-lived).
Bill’s son Chase won his first career Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International — a road course — a couple of weeks ago, so perhaps the teacher shall become the student when it comes time to race at Road America.
4. Another slew of Darlington throwback schemes revealed
With the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway only a couple of weeks away, several teams are finally announcing their throwback paint schemes in preparation for a weekend that celebrates NASCAR’s past.
First off, Brad Keselowski announced his throwback scheme on NASCAR Race Hub, a scheme that is very near and dear to Rusty Wallace’s heart …
Spencer Gallagher will be driving a paint scheme in the XFINITY Series that honors the late Davey Allison …
Chris Buescher will have a throwback scheme as well, but instead of throwing back to a particular car or driver, his sponsor is getting in on the fun …
Derrike Cope will have a throwback scheme featuring Bojangles’…
And Kasey Kahne will be throwing back to one of his best career seasons…
The Bojangles’ Southern 500 is Sunday, September 2nd at 6:00PM ET on NBCSN.
- Wendy Venturini is returning to the track this weekend
After being struck by a car while out for a run in Novato, California on June 23rd and suffering multiple injuries — including a skull fracture and a concussion — Wendy Venturini appeared on “Tradin’ Paint” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to announce that she will be back in action with the Performance Racing Network for this weekend’s races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Venturini said on the show. “It’s been a long two months and I’m not 100 percent, but I’m getting closer and closer and this is step back into real life and real world stuff. So I think it will help in my recovery.”
Venturini has worked as a reporter in NASCAR for many years. This season, she has served as a pit reporter and booth analyst for PRN. She sustained the injuries in California on a weekend where she was supposed to serve as a pit reporter for PRN’s broadcast of the race at Sonoma Raceway.
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If you would like to receive “Five Things” in your inbox, or just connect with me, you may send me an e-mail at [email protected].
You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
Summer’s Five Things: What You Need To Know For August 15, 2018
“Summer’s Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to catch up on the most recent, relevant, and need-to-know news and information in the sport! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso announced that he is leaving the sport at the end of 2018, and it has been widely speculated that he may be looking at the IndyCar Series for 2019.
The 37-year-old driver skipped the Monaco Grand Prix in 2017 to run the Indianapolis 500, driving for McLaren-Honda-Andretti. He led 27 laps before his engine expired with 21 laps remaining.
However, with Alonso saying in a statement that “new and exciting challenges are around the corner”, this has NASCAR and other series extending an invitation.
Alonso has expressed interest in testing a NASCAR stock car at some point, though didn’t seem to think that racing in NASCAR was part of his long-term plans.
He also competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in January, finishing 38th with his co-drivers after leading two laps and encountering many issues during the race.
It’s unlikely we’ll see Alonso in an official NASCAR race anytime soon, but you can’t blame NASCAR for trying.
2. NASCAR unveils trophies for regular season champions
In an effort to award season-long dominance and make the regular season a little more interesting, NASCAR announced in 2017 that the points leader at the end of the regular series will be awarded 15 additional Playoff points in all three of NASCAR’s national series.
Now, the distinction of being the regular season champion doesn’t just come with extra Playoff points and bragging rights …
… it will now also come with a trophy.
Each series trophy includes one spire for each regular season race on the schedule: 26 for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series, and 16 for the Camping World Truck Series. Each trophy is two feet tall and weighs about 35 pounds. The name of a regular season track will be engraved on each spire.
Both the Cup Series and XFINITY Series will have their regular season come to a close at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 8th (XFINITY) and 9th (Cup), while the Truck Series’ regular season is ending this Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The current points leaders are Kyle Busch (Cup), Christopher Bell (XFINITY), and Johnny Sauter (Trucks).
It came as quite a shock to the NASCAR world when GMS Racing announced that 62-year-old Bill Elliott — who hasn’t raced in a NASCAR national series event since 2012 — will be competing for them in the XFINITY Series race at Road America on August 25th.
However, it certainly is happening, as the race team unveiled paint scheme that Elliott will be running on Tuesday.
And even though he won’t be part of the Darlington throwback weekend, the paint scheme certainly is nostalgic for those who remember seeing Elliott race in his prime.
The paint scheme is similar to that which Elliott won with in the 1994 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, while driving for Junior Johnson.
Just because Elliott has been away from NASCAR for several years, though, doesn’t mean he hasn’t been behind the wheel. He competed in the SVRA “Indy Legends” Charity Pro-Am race in June, the Trans Am Series at Road Atlanta in March, and the Trans Am Series TA2 race at Mid-Ohio earlier this month (though it was short-lived).
Bill’s son Chase won his first career Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International — a road course — a couple of weeks ago, so perhaps the teacher shall become the student when it comes time to race at Road America.
4. Another slew of Darlington throwback schemes revealed
With the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway only a couple of weeks away, several teams are finally announcing their throwback paint schemes in preparation for a weekend that celebrates NASCAR’s past.
First off, Brad Keselowski announced his throwback scheme on NASCAR Race Hub, a scheme that is very near and dear to Rusty Wallace’s heart …
Spencer Gallagher will be driving a paint scheme in the XFINITY Series that honors the late Davey Allison …
Chris Buescher will have a throwback scheme as well, but instead of throwing back to a particular car or driver, his sponsor is getting in on the fun …
Derrike Cope will have a throwback scheme featuring Bojangles’…
And Kasey Kahne will be throwing back to one of his best career seasons…
The Bojangles’ Southern 500 is Sunday, September 2nd at 6:00PM ET on NBCSN.
After being struck by a car while out for a run in Novato, California on June 23rd and suffering multiple injuries — including a skull fracture and a concussion — Wendy Venturini appeared on “Tradin’ Paint” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to announce that she will be back in action with the Performance Racing Network for this weekend’s races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Venturini said on the show. “It’s been a long two months and I’m not 100 percent, but I’m getting closer and closer and this is step back into real life and real world stuff. So I think it will help in my recovery.”
Venturini has worked as a reporter in NASCAR for many years. This season, she has served as a pit reporter and booth analyst for PRN. She sustained the injuries in California on a weekend where she was supposed to serve as a pit reporter for PRN’s broadcast of the race at Sonoma Raceway.
~~
If you would like to receive “Five Things” in your inbox, or just connect with me, you may send me an e-mail at [email protected].
You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.