Felix Rosenqvist Hits Century Mark Sunday at Barber
Felix Rosenqvist will make his career 100th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start in the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. He will mark the milestone from the 14th starting position in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda for Meyer Shank Racing after narrowly missing out on the second […]
Felix Rosenqvist will make his career 100th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start in the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.
He will mark the milestone from the 14th starting position in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda for Meyer Shank Racing after narrowly missing out on the second round by .0155 of a second.
“It feels a bit unreal, to be honest,” he said of reaching the century mark.
Rosenqvist reflected on how far he has come since his INDYCAR SERIES debut driving for Chip Ganassi Racing back in 2019. He won Rookie of the Year honors that season and scored his only victory so far a year later at Road America.
From a childhood dream in Sweden to hitting the 100-start milestone, he’s experienced a steady evolution personally and professionally.
Following three seasons with Arrow McLaren, Rosenqvist joined MSR as the lead driver for the Honda-powered program in 2024.
“Even my first years in INDYCAR, obviously, this is nothing you take for granted, racing in one of the top leagues of the world,” Rosenqvist said. “Now, it’s been like a fast forward. One hundred is a big number. That’s a lot of hours in the car (smiling). I think it’s literally the coolest job in the world you can have.”
Rosenqvist enters the 90-lap race (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network) fourth in points, tying the highest he’s been in the standings. He finished seventh in the March 2 season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, fifth on March 23 at The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix and fourth in the April 13 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“It’s also nice that I feel better than ever in the series, as well,” Rosenqvist said. “I probably had my best start in a year that I had. Exciting stuff.
“I feel like I’m a different guy than what I showed up. I’m a better person in many ways, not only a driver, but just in general. A lot of things have changed since I showed up 2019.”
Power Bringing Fight to Palou
Will Power made a notable step forward at Barber Motorsports Park. Qualifying fourth in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and making his first Firestone Fast Six appearance this year indicates improved one-lap pace and momentum heading into Sunday’s 90-lap race.
His ability to climb in the field in the last two events – advancing 15 spots at The Thermal Club and eight in Long Beach – shows he’s got the race craft and strategy execution to challenge even when starting mid-pack.
Starting near the front Sunday, Power is in a stronger position against 26 other starters, most notably his Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who won this race the last two years, and two-time defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou.
Palou qualified first in the No. 10 HRC Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, with McLaughlin starting alongside in the front row in the No. 3 Good Ranchers Team Penske Chevrolet.
“Happy to have my first appearance (this season) in the top 12, actually, let alone the top six,” Power said. “We’ve had very strong race days, but that (Alex) Palou guy, he makes it hard, man. Really happy to be fourth. You can definitely do something from there.
“It might seem like a track you can’t pass, but it might be a bit of a hectic race tomorrow.”
Strong Qualifying Effort from VeeKay
Rinus VeeKay’s turnaround at Barber is impressive and could be one of the early surprises of the 2025 INDYCAR SERIES season.
After struggling on this track in qualifying last year with Ed Carpenter Racing and posting just one top-10 finish so far in three races with Dale Coyne Racing this season, starting fifth on a track where he’s previously qualified on the pole and landed a podium in 2022 signals personal comfort with the circuit and quick adaptation to his new team.
That leap – from starting 27th last year to fifth this year – underscores how well the No. 18 askROI Honda suits him.
“I love this place,” VeeKay said. “It’s always been good to me. The car was exactly what I needed to be quick. So that really makes it a lot more fun, too. So big props to Dale Coyne Racing and Honda for giving me what I need. It was awesome out there. Had a lot of fun.”
The Dutch driver qualified 12th, 13th and 25th previously this season, with a best finish of ninth in St. Petersburg. Saturday reflects renewed confidence and chemistry with the car, essential at a technical, flowing track like Barber, where driver rhythm and setup precision are key.
Back Home for Lundgaard
Christian Lundgaard’s connection to the next two INDYCAR SERIES tracks adds an extra layer of comfort and confidence for the young Dane.
Barber Motorsports Park was where he first dipped his toes into INDYCAR SERIES machinery for a test with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2021, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course was the scene of his impressive debut later that year, where he qualified fourth and turned heads immediately.
Returning to these tracks, including this Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix at IMS, gives Lundgaard a valuable advantage with more experience under his belt. He’s familiar with the rhythm of the circuits and carries positive memories that can help him build momentum as the season picks up.
“I drove my first ever test here,” Lundgaard said. “So, kind of just feels like home in that sense, to come out here.”
Lundgaard has three Barber starts, with a best finish of sixth for RLL last season. He joined Arrow McLaren this offseason, and Barber was the site of his second test with the team. He was fourth quickest in the March 10 test session in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
“The car was good at the test, and I think we just kind of tried to carry that into the weekend,” Lundgaard said.
Lundgaard starts seventh on Sunday. He is sandwiched between Arrow McLaren teammates Nolan Siegel, who earned his best-career starting spot of sixth in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, and 2022 Barber winner Pato O’Ward, who rolls off eighth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Cindric Joins INDY NXT Booth Sunday
Tim Cindric is doing double duty Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.
In addition to his full-time job as president of Team Penske’s three-car NTT INDYCAR SERIES program, Cindric will join the FS1 booth for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Alabama airing at 11:30 a.m. ET.
His son, Austin Cindric, won the NASCAR Cup Series race last Sunday down the road at Talladega Superspeedway.
Odds And Ends
Chevrolet has three straight Barber Motorsports Park victories via two different teams – Arrow McLaren (2022), Team Penske (2023, 2024). Both teams comprise six of the top nine starters on Sunday.
Honda has three straight victories this season via two different teams – Chip Ganassi Racing (St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club) and Andretti Global (Long Beach). A CGR Honda starts first with Palou, and Andretti Global’s Colton Herta in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda rolls off third.
Last year’s action-packed Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix witnessed six leaders and 10 lead changes and featured a track record 289 on-track passes, including 281 passes for position.
The first six laps of the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg were run under caution due to a first-lap crash between Siegel, Power and rookie Louis Foster. There have been 249 consecutive green flag laps since, including all 65 laps of The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix and the 90-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Barber has never had a caution-free race in 14 tries, but there’s been two or fewer cautions 11 times, including eight of the last nine races. There was one yellow flag each in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Five drivers have finished in the top10 in all three races this season. No surprise, each is in the topfive in points. Leader Palou (first, first, second) and his teammate Scott Dixon (second, 10th, eighth) are joined by fellow Honda drivers Rosenqvist (seventh, fifth, fourth) and Kyle Kirkwood (fifth, eighth, first) and Chevrolet driver Lundgaard (eight, third, third) for this distinction.
The next three races all have drivers going for three-peats. McLaughlin won the last two races at Barber Motorsports Park, Palou won the last two Sonsio Grand Prix events, and Josef Newgarden is the two-time defending Indianapolis 500 winner.
Clint Knight talks workforce, local music and revival of Mansfield Motorsports Speedway
The News Man Weekly Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Relax, It’s Just Coffee! MANSFIELD — From music to motorsports to workforce development, Clint Knight wears a lot of hats — and we talk about all of them in this week’s 51st episode of the News Man Weekly podcast. By day, Knight […]
The News Man Weekly Podcast is brought to you by our friends at Relax, It’s Just Coffee!
MANSFIELD — From music to motorsports to workforce development, Clint Knight wears a lot of hats — and we talk about all of them in this week’s 51st episode of the News Man Weekly podcast.
By day, Knight is the workforce development director for the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, working to build a talent pipeline that can support the region’s evolving economic needs.
Outside the office, he runs Valley Media and Productions, curates the Sunday Songwriter Series at the Phoenix, and co-hosts the Ohio Dirt Track Podcast.
We dig into Clint’s southern history as a musician and his passion for local music — including his work creating intimate singer/songwriter showcases.
We discuss his deep roots in the dirt track racing scene, where he co-hosts a podcast and is closely following the revival of the Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.
We also touch on his day job in workforce development and what it really takes to prepare a community for industrial growth.
Plus: Local news headlines from around the region, including a death penalty case in Morrow County, inmate overdoses at RICI and the latest on solar energy restrictions in Richland County.
Relevant links:
Check out the Ohio Dirt Track podcast!
Intro song credit: Smoke And Drink, by Luke Watson.
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City editor. 30-year plus journalist. Husband. Father of 3 grown sons and also a proud grandpa. Prior military journalist in U.S. Navy, Ohio Air National Guard. — Favorite quote: “Where were you when…
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Mexico’s altitude will test engines for NASCAR Cup, Xfinity Series teams this weekend
Drivers and teams will have more than each other to contend with when the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series race this weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. They’ll also have to contend with the elevation. The road course is about 7,500 feet above sea level — the next highest track in NASCAR is […]
Drivers and teams will have more than each other to contend with when the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series race this weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
They’ll also have to contend with the elevation. The road course is about 7,500 feet above sea level — the next highest track in NASCAR is Las Vegas at about 2,000 feet elevation.
The higher elevation means thinner air. Air plays a key role in horsepower and cooling and those will be significant issues for teams.
Doug Yates, president and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, estimates that the thinner air could reduce horsepower as much as 20% for the 670-horsepower Cup engines.
Danny Lawrence, long time engine builder for Richard Childress Racing and its director of the Xfinity Series and vice president of alliance operations, said maximizing horsepower is challenging at such a high altitude.
“You’ve got to fool the engine to make it think that the conditions are better,” he told NBC Sports.
#NASCAR races this weekend at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The area is about 7,500 feet above sea level (Charlotte, NC, home to the teams is at 751 feet above sea level). Daniel Suarez talks about the challenges of competing at high elevation. pic.twitter.com/N2YzUAxQyQ
Daniel Suarez said the horsepower reduction will be minimal for drivers.
“I don’t think you have to drive different, but the cars are going to have more mechanical grip especially on the exit of the corners because you have less power,” he said. “We’re going to lose like 80 to 100 horsepower. That’s a lot. … But at the same time, in the high-speed corners, we’re going to lose a lot of downforce. We’re going to lose a little bit of everything.”
Racing at such elevation is new for the Cup Series. The Xfinity Series raced in Mexico City from 2005-08. The series averaged nearly seven engine failures per weekend (practice and the race) the first three years. The final year racing at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez saw no engine failures during the weekend.
“I would say we’re more concerned about the cooling and the components and the other things we have to ensure are properly set up,” Yates told NBC Sports.
NASCAR will allow each manufacturer to have two sets of hood louvers to run during practice Saturday to see which best cools the engine. Each manufacturer will select which hood louver it will use and all of its teams must use the one selected on its cars.
The only time the NASCAR Cup Series has had a podium celebration was for the Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum exhibition races from 2022-24.
“The problem we have with the engine is the caution laps,” Trent Owens, crew chief for AJ Allmendinger, told NBC Sports. “It gets so hot under the caution laps, more so than the green laps.”
Under green flag conditions, the cars are at higher speeds and can get more air to cool. The slower speeds under caution means less air gets to the engine to cool it. As engines start to overheat, several problems can ensue.
“What happens with the engine management software is it goes into protection (mode) if you don’t get it cool enough before the restart,” Owens said. “So you’re trying to prevent that. It doesn’t shut the engine off, but it starts feeding it fuel and changing the timing and stuff like that where you lose horsepower.
“So, just having that stuff right is probably our concern that we normally don’t have to worry about at any (other) event.”
With NASCAR’s rule that engines must run two races, most of the engines that will run in Sunday’s Cup race will be that engine’s second race.
Yates said a lot of the Ford engines for the 2.42-mile road course in Mexico were run earlier this year at Martinsville, a half-mile short track.
Yates says the two courses share some similarities so that running one engine at both tracks makes sense.
“We shift at Martinsville every straightaway, every lap,” Yates said. “So the power curve actually shifted up quite a bit from years ago. As the engine group, we have the opportunity to change the intake manifold and the exhaust system today, so we can tune around the base engine and have power lower RPM range or higher RPM range with those two tuning tools.”
Young Motocross Rider Camden Trail Remembered After Tragic Accident at East Bend Motorsports
EAST BEND, N.C. (BTW21) — The motocross community is mourning the loss of Camden “Cam” William Trail, a 14-year-old rising motocross star from Bassett, Virginia, who tragically passed away on June 7 following a mid-air collision during a practice session at East Bend Motorsports in North Carolina. According to race official Travis Rominger, the incident happened […]
EAST BEND, N.C. (BTW21) — The motocross community is mourning the loss of Camden “Cam” William Trail, a 14-year-old rising motocross star from Bassett, Virginia, who tragically passed away on June 7 following a mid-air collision during a practice session at East Bend Motorsports in North Carolina.
According to race official Travis Rominger, the incident happened at the finish line jump when two riders collided in mid-air.
Video footage reviewed by race organizers indicated that the crash was a heartbreaking accident with no fault attributed to either rider.
Rominger, who was the first to reach Camden after the crash, shared that medical professionals—including paramedics, EMTs, and nurses—were on the scene within a minute.
Despite over an hour of life-saving efforts, Trail could not be revived.
In the ambulance, Trail’s parents told Rominger that their son died doing what he loved. “Their faith is very strong,” Rominger said in a statement released by the facility. “We ask the entire EBMX family to lift this family up in prayer during this unthinkable time.”
Camden Trail was born April 6, 2011, in Roanoke, Virginia.
A vibrant and ambitious young man, he had a deep passion for motocross and a love for anything outdoors or with an engine.
His infectious smile and joyful spirit left lasting impressions on all who knew him.
Beyond motocross, Camden ran his own business, Cam’s Lawn Care, showcasing a rare work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit for someone so young.
He was also known for his love of dancing, his loyalty to friends, and the way he brought joy to every room he entered.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Bassett, with visitation beginning at 5:30 p.m. Burial will be held privately.
In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the Trail family with funeral and memorial expenses.
Organizers of the fundraiser described Camden as “more than a talented rider — he was a beloved son, friend, and inspiration to everyone who knew him.”
The motocross world now rides with a heavy heart, honoring a young life cut far too short, but forever remembered.
RCR forced to make changes before Kyle Busch heads to Mexico – Motorsport – Sports
NASCAR heads to Mexico City this weekend for the first points race outside of the United States in the modern era, but while Daniel Suarez has benefited from a special sponsorship agreement due to his Mexican ties, Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have been forced to make changes. While NASCAR has traveled to Mexico […]
NASCAR heads to Mexico City this weekend for the first points race outside of the United States in the modern era, but while Daniel Suarez has benefited from a special sponsorship agreement due to his Mexican ties, Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have been forced to make changes.
While NASCAR has traveled to Mexico for exhibition races, there has never been a competitive Cup Series race south of the U.S. border. NASCAR is looking to expand by adding more international drivers to the stock car series and has taken inspiration from Formula One.
In addition to racing in Mexico, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps has entertained taking the Cup Series to Brazil. However, as Busch and RCR have discovered, switching locations can lead to sponsorship issues.
RCR has been forced to cover several active sponsors ahead of Sunday’s race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Due to advertising laws in Mexico, alcohol sponsors have been covered up.
Some products containing less than six percent alcohol must undergo a permitting process to be authorized. Due to strict regulations, all nicotine, tobacco, and CBD logos have also been covered.
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Casinos and gambling sponsors are permitted if they are licensed in Mexico, but others will be banned. Several NASCAR teams, including RCR, have been covering their haulers ahead of the race, and some cars also need a makeover.
BetMGM and 3Chi have previously sponsored Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet, but both sponsors are banned from advertising in Mexico. Despite the operational changes impacting teams, Phelps is still excited to make history.
“I’m excited. It’s the first time we’ve taken the Cup Series in the modern era outside our own borders,” Phelps told Motorsport.com. “It’s a big stage for us, and we need to make sure we make it.
“I think the Mexican fans are going to come, they’re going to support us, and I think it’s going to be a great show. Our drivers will love the circuit, and maybe, who knows, we can have our drivers, at some point, come to Brazil and have a race in Sao Paulo.”
DON’T MISS…
Phelps has made it clear that Brazil could be a future destination, as he added: “I’d like to see it happen. Obviously, we need all parties to come together and understand how important that would be for NASCAR in general and for the category.
“But I personally would be very excited about it. We’d like to have a Brazilian (driver) come out of NASCAR Brazil, come and race with us full-time, and, you know, compete for wins and championships.
“So we’re excited about this prospect, I was very impressed with the number of drivers I saw and how fast they were and their abilities, and we’re excited about this happening in the future.”
Tickets On Sale for 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
INDYCAR Public sales for all 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto multiday tickets are underway at hondaindy.com. The 37th edition of the motorsports festival headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns July 18-20 to Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto. The longstanding summer event again will bring high-speed racing action to Toronto’s downtown streets alongside a […]
Public sales for all 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto multiday tickets are underway at hondaindy.com. The 37th edition of the motorsports festival headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns July 18-20 to Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto.
The longstanding summer event again will bring high-speed racing action to Toronto’s downtown streets alongside a festival atmosphere full of family fun with interactive displays and diverse food and beverage options. The weekend offers great value for families, as children 12 and under receive free general admission every day when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
On track, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take on the 1.786-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit built on Exhibition Place near the Lake Ontario shoreline.
On Friday, July 18, Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday, which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. Since 2010, Toronto Indy fundraising has raised over $1 million for the charity.
Fans can further enhance their Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto experience by purchasing a Paddock Pass, which grants access to the “locker room of motorsports.” Spectators looking to get even closer to the action can add a Pit Pass. For children ages 5-12, the Rookie Racers program offers behind-the-scenes experiences including access to the drivers and race cars.
Pricing starts at $85 for 2-Day General Admission for Saturday and Sunday. Fans planning on using public transportation can purchase a GO Combo ticket that includes a 2-Day General Admission ticket and two round-trip GO Transit fares to and from the event for $90 at hondaindy.com/promotions.
Bronze-level 2-Day Grandstand seating is available for $110. Silver and Gold levels are priced at $170 and $235, respectively. The Gold 2-Day Grandstand seat also includes a Paddock Pass ($80 value).
For full ticket pricing and 2025 event information and news, visit hondaindy.com or follow Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on social media using #indyTO.
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