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Motorsports

Gluck: Indy 500 showdown shows F1 flying too close to the motorsports sun

Critics have labeled Formula One as arrogant and elitist at times, which can seem unfair. Then you see decisions like the one F1 made with its 2026 calendar on Tuesday and think: “Eh, maybe not.” F1’s 2026 schedule features a breathtakingly disrespectful move: a direct head-to-head conflict between the Indianapolis 500 and the Canadian Grand […]

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Critics have labeled Formula One as arrogant and elitist at times, which can seem unfair. Then you see decisions like the one F1 made with its 2026 calendar on Tuesday and think: “Eh, maybe not.”

F1’s 2026 schedule features a breathtakingly disrespectful move: a direct head-to-head conflict between the Indianapolis 500 and the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal — seemingly at the same time, on the same day, on the same continent.

The Indy 500 typically has a start time of 12:45 p.m. ET and runs for about three hours. This weekend is, coincidentally, the Canadian GP in Montreal. It has a start time of 2 p.m. ET, and a typical F1 race lasts about 90 minutes to two hours. If those time slots remain next year, they’ll directly overlap for the entirety of the F1 race.

F1 doesn’t appear to care. In a post-“Drive to Survive” world, the series has become an international behemoth, gaining a substantial fan following in the United States. A country in which Michael Schumacher could once go completely unrecognized now hosts three grands prix and sees the drivers treated like rock stars; fans pay record-breaking ticket prices and shell out jaw-dropping amounts of money for merchandise sales just to be part of the trendiest sport on the planet.

F1 immediately becomes the biggest event at each stop around the world. At the top of the motorsports food chain, F1’s actions give the impression of a lion that does not fight with hyenas.

Except in this environment, shouldn’t F1 care? It’s not as if F1 leaders are unaware of the Indy 500; the race is part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans (sports cars) and F1’s Monaco Grand Prix. Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso skipped Monaco for two years to try to win Indy — which would have been his third crown jewel.

And yet F1 — which is owned by an American company, Colorado-based Liberty Media — is now choosing to trample over what many regard as the biggest auto race in the world.

Sure, maybe it won’t hurt Indy domestically. Montreal probably isn’t going to pull many U.S. fans away from the 500, which had a sellout crowd of nearly 350,000 people this year and got its highest TV viewership in 17 years (more than 7 million people). Montreal had 1.8 million viewers in the U.S. last June.


Even F1 drivers look forward to the Indy 500 every year. (James Gilbert / Getty Images)

Still, why would F1 even consider this? Its calendar needed to have the Miami Grand Prix and Montreal paired to reduce travel headaches, but why not move Miami one week earlier to avoid an obvious conflict between Montreal and Indy? Instead of weighing the optics, F1 never hit the brakes on its quest for motorsports domination and plowed right into a head-to-head battle with one of the most cherished traditions on the international racing calendar.

Maybe F1, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, forgot the Indy 500 always runs on the last Sunday of May. Easy to do. After all, the Indy 500 has only been around for 109 years.

Motorsports fans are constantly pitted against one another by those who argue one series is superior or claim another is inferior, when the reality is that a racing fan should be a racing fan. Each series offers something unique, and the racing world isn’t big enough to tear itself apart; motorsports are at their best when fans get to sit down and watch a variety of series.

That was no better illustrated than during the annual “Motorsports Christmas” in the United States, when even NASCAR fans would get up early to watch the Monaco GP before the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 as part of their annual tripleheader tradition. In fact, when F1 announced in November that Monaco would move to June starting in 2026, there was even speculation it would clear the way for an interested F1 driver to race at Indy.

Who would have thought the actual development would be to run an F1 race at the same time?

This is the exact type of thing that happens when a racing series begins to fly too close to the sun. And F1 sure is soaring. Liberty Media reported the sport’s revenue rose to $3.65 billion in 2024. The summer blockbuster F1 movie starring Brad Pitt will be released in late June. The series just struck huge deals with Disney and Pepsi. Brands and celebrities alike are falling all over themselves to be associated with F1.


F1’s business is thriving. (Clive Rose / Getty Images)

It seems like there’s nothing that can slow F1’s speed, and maybe that’s true. But it’s worth reminding everyone what happened to NASCAR in the early 2000s.

Back then, NASCAR was the hottest sport in America and had designs on challenging the NFL for sports supremacy in the United States (yes, this was really a thing at the time). “Cars” and “Talladega Nights” were summer blockbusters in the same year. Jeff Gordon hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2003. Racetracks could not build enough seats for the millions who attended races each year. Fortune 500 companies flocked to have their logos on race cars in $30 million deals.

But NASCAR overestimated the strength and longevity of its popularity, and suddenly, the general public moved on to the next thing. Almost overnight, NASCAR was no longer cool in pop culture. TV ratings tanked. Companies left. Racetracks “right-sized” their venues by removing grandstands.

NASCAR has spent nearly the last 20 years trying to overcome some of the poor decision-making brought on by greed, ego and a belief that their run was only just beginning.

F1 isn’t going to take a dive anytime soon. Even if Americans tune out at some point, it’s still wildly popular around the world and will remain so for quite some time.

But the motorsports ecosystem is fragile, and every racing series is only a few poor decisions away from steering itself toward the wall at high speed. Choosing to challenge the Indy 500 seems like one of those choices for F1.

(Top photos of Josef Newgarden and Max Verstappen: Justin Casterline / Getty Images; Mark Thompson / Getty Images)



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Audio brand JBL becomes an official partner of the “TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League” sponsored by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing.

Harman International Inc. has announced that JBL, one of the world’s largest audio brands, has become an official partner of the ” TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League ” sponsored by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (hereinafter referred to as TGR). The league aims to nurture young racing drivers through Gran Turismo 7, and is expected to promote the […]

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Harman International Inc. has announced that JBL, one of the world’s largest audio brands, has become an official partner of the ” TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League ” sponsored by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (hereinafter referred to as TGR). The league aims to nurture young racing drivers through Gran Turismo 7, and is expected to promote the development of e-sports and real-world racing.

JBL, which has been researching sound for nearly 80 years, has become an official partner of the “TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League”!

TGR e-Motorsportsチャレンジリーグ PR TIMES

“JBL” has been conducting research and development in all aspects of sound for nearly 80 years. Sound is what makes movies, games, and sports exciting. As an audio brand that delivers such excitement to the ear, JBL has been creating systems that provide great sound in offices, homes, automobiles, and mobile devices.

“e-Motorsports ” promoted by TGR, a new sponsor, is one of the e-sports categories that are rapidly expanding on a global scale, allowing anyone to enjoy motor sports in a game. Because of its high affinity with real life, some racing drivers from e-Motorsports are also active in real motorsports.

JBL signed an official partnership agreement with TGR this time because JBL shares the same future-oriented approach of e-Motorsports activities to nurture young racing drivers. JBL also has a long history of providing OEM audio systems for TOYOTA vehicles. This is expected to broaden the appeal of the “sound experience” in real cars to fans of e-motorsports.

JBL will work to create contact with the fans through promotional collaboration at events and campaigns, while at the same time working to ensure that the high-quality audio experience created by JBL’s technology will enrich their daily lives and time spent in mobility.

We look forward to seeing e-Motorsports transcend virtual boundaries and produce promising young racers for the future. This is an activity that not only fans of Gran Turismo 7, but also actual racers should pay attention to.

For more information about the competition and the rewards, please visit the official TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League special site.

Tournament Outline

Online Qualifying
Name TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League Qualifier
Eligibility Applicants must be born between April 2, 2010 and April 1, 2015 and reside in Japan to become a racing driver in the real world of motorsports.
Period July 31, 2025 (Thursday) 16:00 – August 13, 2025 (Wednesday) 23:59
Holding method Time trial format in Gran Turismo 7 software for PS5 or PS4
Car Type GR Supra Racing Concept ’18
Course Fuji Speedway (in Gran Turismo 7)
Offline Final
Name TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League Final
Eligibility Top 12 qualifiers of the TGR e-Motorsports Challenge League
Schedule October 5, 2025 (Sunday)
Venue Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology (4-1-35 Noritake Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City)
Method Race format in the “Gran Turismo 7” software for PS5 or PS4
Type of car and course To be announced in the program on the day of the final, along with the regulations.





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NASCAR Veteran Shawn Parker Finds New Joy Behind the Wheel at Cook Out Summer Shootout – Speedway Digest

Cook Out Summer Shootout is where future stars rise — and where veterans come back to where it all began. Each summer, more than 180 drivers from across the country battle it out at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking on the toughest grassroots competition on the iconic quarter-mile. Among them this year is Shawn Parker — […]

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Cook Out Summer Shootout is where future stars rise — and where veterans come back to where it all began. Each summer, more than 180 drivers from across the country battle it out at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking on the toughest grassroots competition on the iconic quarter-mile. Among them this year is Shawn Parker — once a key member of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon’s legendary Rainbow Warriors pit crew, now trading the pit box for the driver’s seat.

Parker’s journey through motorsports spans decades. A small-town kid from Canandaigua, New York, he got his start driving and working on dirt modifieds before making a key connection with team owner Bob Lutz. That relationship led to an opportunity of a lifetime—a job in the engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a small foot in the door, but one that launched a long and accomplished career at NASCAR’s highest level.

“I was more of a car guy; I wanted to be in a car shop, but at the time I was going to do whatever it took to get my foot in the door,” Parker said. “I didn’t really know what to expect other than what I saw on TV, cars zooming down pit road, high excitement, energy everywhere.”

In 1992, Parker joined rising star Jeff Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham. That group became one of NASCAR’s most iconic crews, nicknamed the Rainbow Warriors. As Gordon’s rear tire changer from 1992 to 1995, Parker was part of the team that captured the 1995 Cup Series title and memorable wins like the 1994 Coca-Cola 600, the first-ever Cup Series victory for the future Hall of Fame hotshoe.

“My very first job in NASCAR was with the original Rainbow Warriors,” Parker said. “That name still means something. I’ll always remember being part of those two-tire pit stops that won the (Coca-Cola) 600.”

Parker’s work on pit road opened doors in the garage. He became an assistant car chief, then a crew chief, with stints at Penske Racing and Roush Racing. Along the way, he worked with some of NASCAR’s biggest stars like Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and a young Kurt Busch.

After decades behind the scenes, Parker found himself pulled back to the driver’s seat this past winter. Nearly 30 years after driving a Legend Car for the first time, Parker bought one, reigniting his passion — this time not as a rising prospect, but as a dad, sharing the experience with his son.

“It’s interesting, but it’s so much fun. We get to spend this time together and you can never get that time back,” said Parker.

Now a rookie in the Cook Out Summer Shootout but a veteran in every other way, Parker spends his Monday and Tuesday nights racing on the same track where NASCAR legends got their start. With big names like Bubba Wallace and Shane van Gisbergen in the field, he now finds himself lining up against Kyle Busch in the American Rebel Ale Masters division, a driver he once watched climb the ranks, and now competes against under the lights.

“To see him, how he has developed and grown and matured into the champion that he is of this sport, is pretty cool, and I get to go out and race against him on a Monday or Tuesday night, “ said Parker.

For Parker, Cook Out Summer Shootout is all about fun — getting behind the wheel and enjoying the moment with his family by his side. Staying close to the sport he’s been part of for decades, reliving memories from NASCAR’s biggest stages and making new ones at the track.

ABOUT COOK OUT SUMMER SHOOTOUT:

Celebrating its 32nd season, the Cook Out Summer Shootout is a 10-race showcase of speed, featuring eight racing divisions of Legend Cars and Bandoleros. Races are held each Tuesday night under the lights with championship points on the line all summer long.

TICKETS:

Tickets are just $10; kids 12 and under get in FREE. All summer long, fans who bring a canned food donation will receive $2 off as part of Blue Cross NC’s “Drive Out Hunger” campaign. For tickets, schedules and more details about all the happenings at Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

KEEP TRACK:

Follow all the thrilling Cook Out Summer Shootout action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook and Instagram.

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NASCAR Sonoma race driver autograph schedule for 2025 event

Getting merchandise signed by a NASCAR driver is exciting. NASCAR drivers have scheduled autograph sessions while the sport is running at Sonoma Raceway with some big names breaking out the markers to give fans memories and add their names to fans’ gear. Advertisement Here is the driver autograph schedule. NOTE: One signed item per guest. […]

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Getting merchandise signed by a NASCAR driver is exciting.

NASCAR drivers have scheduled autograph sessions while the sport is running at Sonoma Raceway with some big names breaking out the markers to give fans memories and add their names to fans’ gear.

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Here is the driver autograph schedule. NOTE: One signed item per guest.

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NASCAR Sonoma race autographs schedule

NASCAR drivers will be signing autographs in the souvenir trailers this weekend.

  • Visit participating drivers NASCAR souvenir haulers for details on securing an autograph

  • A wristband may be required to attend certain Driver Autograph Sessions

  • Wristbands will be distributed by the souvenir trailers or appearance location and a purchase may be required

Saturday, July 12

Sammy Smith: 11:05 a.m. at Hendrick Motorsports Merchandise Trailer

Justin Allgaier: 11:05 a.m. at Hendrick Motorsports Merchandise Trailer

Carson Kvapil: 11:05 a.m. at Hendrick Motorsports Merchandise Trailer

Conner Zilisch: 11:05 a.m. at Hendrick Motorsports Merchandise Trailer

Cole Custer: 1 p.m. at Ford Performance Merchandise Trailer

Ryan Preece: 1:30 p.m. at Ford Performance Merchandise Trailer

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Sunday, July 13

Ross Chastain: 8:40 a.m. at Trackhouse Merchandise Trailer

Shane van Gisbergen: 9 a.m. at Trackhouse Merchandise Trailer

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 9 a.m. at NASCAR Classics Merchandise Trailer

Noah Gragson: 9 a.m. at Ford Performance Merchandise Trailer

Todd Gilliland: 9 a.m. at Ford Performance Merchandise Trailer

Zane Smith: 9 a.m. at Ford Performance Merchandise Trailer

Daniel Suarez: 9:20 a.m. at Trackhouse Merchandise Trailer

Alex Bowman: 9:20 a.m. Hendrick Merchandise Trailer

Chase Elliott: 9:20 a.m. Chase Elliott Merchandise Trailer

Ty Dillon: 9:45 a.m. at Chevrolet Racing Merchandise Trailer

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Michael McDowell: 9:45 at NASCAR Classics Merchandise Trailer

Kyle Busch: 10 a.m. at Merchandise Trailer

John Hunter Nemechek: 10:15 a.m. at NASCAR Classics Merchandise Trailer

When is NASCAR Sonoma race?

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 is set for 2:30 p.m. on July 13 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.

NASCAR Sonoma race TV channel

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sonoma race will be broadcast on TNT with Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte in the broadcast booth.

Shop NASCAR Sonoma tickets

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Sonoma race driver autograph schedule for 2025 event



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NASCAR fans left divided after Carson Hocevar reveals racing friendshi – Motorsport – Sports

The ever-divisive figure of Carson Hocevar has split the NASCAR fanbase once again, this time with his stance on friendships with other drivers. The 22-year-old driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports has proven controversial in the Cup Series thanks to multiple high-profile incidents, such as in Mexico City where he caused […]

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The ever-divisive figure of Carson Hocevar has split the NASCAR fanbase once again, this time with his stance on friendships with other drivers.

The 22-year-old driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports has proven controversial in the Cup Series thanks to multiple high-profile incidents, such as in Mexico City where he caused Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to spin, prompting the Hyak Motorsports driver to threaten “to beat his a– once we got back in the States.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when recently asked by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his Dale Jr. Download podcast who he hangs out with when not racing, Hocevar replied, “Just a bunch of my iRacing buddies.”

Hocevar later elaborated that he doesn’t have any other friends within the Cup, Xfinity, or Craftsman Truck Series, adding, “I’ve only hung out one time with any other drivers; it was SVG (Shane van Gisbergen) and Bubba [Wallace] at his property. One time.”

Delving deeper into his stance on befriending other drivers, Earnhardt Jr. asked Hocevar which driver “says hi to you the most,” to which the youngster simply replied, “I don’t know.” As for who he chooses to join on the pre-race floats, Hocevar responded, “Whoever I didn’t run into last week,” going on to note that his choice of platform in Chicago came down to “the float that had the least amount of drivers on it.”

This lack of on-grid friendship is neither intentional nor unintentional, according to Hocevar, who said it is simply “how it worked out. I don’t go out, I don’t drink.”

His comments proved divisive on social media, with one fan commenting, “I just gained a tiny bit of respect for him. Having work friends is overrated.” While another said, “He’s headstrong, like he’d love to run @TonyStewart (who I’d want driving if the house depended on it) @KyleBusch @KyleLarsonRacin @chaseelliott @WilliamByron etc on their best day, & he’d bet on himself. He causes ppl to watch the race.”

By comparison, a third suggested this was “Why he won’t be around that long. He wrecks people, he annoys the fans, I doubt sponsors can see a way to market him as well.” As a fourth felt, “This is kinda tough to watch….. thought the garage was supposed to take care of their own, rivalries or not.”

Hocevar seemingly isn’t afraid to admit that he can be an aggressive driver, and while that may not win him any popularity contests, it has undoubtedly earned him both points on the track and admirers off it.

Currently 21st in the drivers standings, Hocevar has finished in the top 10 on four occasions this season, including second at Atlanta and Nashville. Most recently, he wrecked out of the Grant Park 165 in Chicago on just the third lap, after slamming into the wall on turn 11, spinning his No. 77 and causing a pile-up involving another six cars.

This led to Hocevar being labeled “the biggest dumb— in the entire sport” by Austin Dillon, as his day also came to an end in the crash.



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Des Moines will pay tribute to beloved racer Steve Huff during the July 19 Waterland Parade

The Des Moines community will come together during this year’s Waterland Parade on Saturday, July 19, 2025 to celebrate the life and legacy of Steve Huff, a beloved resident and internationally recognized hydroplane racing champion who passed away on May 21, 2025, after a tough battle with Stage 4 cancer. Huff, a vibrant figure in both the racing […]

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The Des Moines community will come together during this year’s Waterland Parade on Saturday, July 19, 2025 to celebrate the life and legacy of Steve Huff, a beloved resident and internationally recognized hydroplane racing champion who passed away on May 21, 2025, after a tough battle with Stage 4 cancer.

Huff, a vibrant figure in both the racing world and his local community, was known not only for his speed on the water but also for his commitment to giving back.

Huff’s teammates and friends will march in the parade behind a banner bearing his name, accompanied by the spirited “Huff!” chant that has echoed through past Waterland Parades.

The community honored Huff as Grand Marshal of the 2023 Waterland Parade, following his 2022 national championship win in hydroplane racing.

“Steve’s impact on our community and his outstanding achievements will be fondly remembered,” organizer Jill Andrews said. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating his life and ensuring his spirit continues to inspire us all.”

Memorial Service will be Saturday, Aug. 16

A memorial service and celebration of life for Steve Huff will be held in Renton and Kent on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025read more here.



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Motorsports

Could we see two top NASCAR teams be on their way out?

Photo: © Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock An appeals court lifted an injunction in the antitrust suit filed by the owners of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, which could put the status of the two race teams in doubt ahead of the beginning of the trial in December. Rod Mullins joins me for the […]

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michael jordan nascar
Photo: © Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock

An appeals court lifted an injunction in the antitrust suit filed by the owners of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, which could put the status of the two race teams in doubt ahead of the beginning of the trial in December.

Rod Mullins joins me for the podcast to break down the latest developments in the case.

Rod also reports on the pending closure of the company that produces the grandfather clocks presented to winners at Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway and the preparations for the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic.

The show wraps with a recap of Shane van Gisbergen’s win in Chicago, and a look ahead to this weekend’s action in Ponoma.




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