Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com – May 13, 2025

In this week’s Motion Motorsport Report for InsideTrackNews.com, Dave Mathers offers his thoughts on recent events in the world of racing, as well as updates from the weekend’s racing action and some upcoming races.

NASCAR has wisely increased the length of this weekend’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro from 120 laps to 150. Each of the two heats will now run 75 laps. Good move.

Drag Illustrated reports that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill banning nuisance lawsuits against racetracks in the state. Hopefully, similar legislation will be introduced in other states and in Canada. Over twenty years ago, I fought a six-and-a-half-year lawsuit over a “loss of enjoyment of property” claim. It cost $850,000 in legal fees just to keep St. Thomas Dragway open. The result? A nothing-nothing tie. The only winners were the lawyers.

Racer magazine reports that Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward – currently fourth in the IndyCar standings – will run an F1 McLaren in Free Practice 1 at the Mexico Grand Prix on October 26. Interesting development.

Speaking of IndyCar, the series mandated teams to use at least two sets of the harder tires and one set of the softer compound tires during last weekend’s Indy Road Course event. Teams also had to make at least three pit stops. That definitely added a wrinkle to pit strategy.

Canadian NASCAR Truck Series competitor Stewart Friesen has said he’d love to bring the Loudon winner’s trophy back to Canada. Here’s a better idea: bring the Truck Series back to Mosport (CTMP)!

In an open letter to Roger Penske about race car liveries, former IndyCar and F1 driver Derek Daly called Penske’s series “the most competitive racing series in the world.” I get it – he’s biased – but I respectfully disagree. Does “competitive” mean close racing, or the most passing? If it’s the latter, I’d say NASCAR has IndyCar beat, in all three of its national series. That said, Daly offered several great suggestions.

There’s a rumour that two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz Sr. may run for FIA President against the current, and often controversial, president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of Saudi Arabia. If I had a vote, it would go to Sainz. His son, Carlos Jr., currently drives in F1 for Williams.

What was the best-dressed F1 driver doing the Monday after Miami? Co-hosting the Met Gala in New York City. That’s right – Lewis Hamilton. Cool!

For the second year in a row, Pocono Raceway has been named “Best NASCAR Track” in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. We had top-row seats at Pocono until around 1984, when a new tower was built behind pit road, blocking our view of Turn 2. With only three turns at Pocono, being unable to see one of them was a deal-breaker. We didn’t renew. That said, the surrounding area is beautiful and well worth a visit.

In expected news, the two teams suing NASCAR have dropped their attempts to obtain financial records from Liberty Media, the owners of Formula One. That was never going to happen.

Toronto Motorsports Park: VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND AT TMP: This weekend is the annual Victoria Day Weekend Spectacular at Toronto Motorsports Park. One of the biggest annual events on Ontario’s drag racing calendar, the event – which runs May 16, 17 & 18 – will once again feature a schedule jammed with action. The high-octane weekend features the John Scotti NHRA National Open, a headline event in Canadian drag racing. For 2025, the series includes Canadian National Championship chases across seven NHRA classes: Stock/Super Stock, Top Dragster/Sportsman, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Sportsman Motorcycle and Junior Dragsters.

Also in action: Rick Ream in his one-of-a-kind 1950 Bullet Nose Studebaker Firetruck. Neale Armstrong and his 300 mph Jet Dragster (which is powered by a fighter jet engine), a vintage drag racing series and a Nostalgia Funny Car match race.

Click HERE or on the ad below for tickets and info.

Brockville Ontario Speedway: The southeastern Ontario dirt oval kicked off its 2025 racing season this past Saturday night with a full schedule of action. Longtime standout Chris Raabe got his season off on the right foot by skilfully working his way through traffic en route to the 358 Modified feature win. Click Here for a full report from the opener.

The BOS heats up again this Saturday (May 17) with the Surprenant Truck Shop Crate Sprints, Modified, Sportsman, Novice Sportsman and Street Stocks.

CASC-OR: Ontario’s road racing sanctioning body opened its season this past weekend at CTMP. The BEMC Spring Trophy Races included: Formula Libre / F4 / VARAC Formula Classic, Formula Prototype Challenge Canada, Miata Canada Cup, Pirelli Tire Super Touring: GT 1 & 2, Pirelli Tire Grand Touring: GT 3, 4, 5, VARAC Classic & VARAC Modern Classic and VARAC Vintage Historics. Watch InsideTrackNews.com for coverage of this event, in the coming days. Former CASCAR Super Series champion J.R. Fitzpatrick made his CASC-OR debut on the weekend. He had a blast, did very well, and is looking forward to upcoming events.

Barrie Automotive Flea Market: The 41st annual Spring Barrie Automotive Flea Market (BAFM) takes place June 5-8 at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds just off Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte. BAFM offers everything from collectibles and classic cars to those hard-to-find car parts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you likely can’t find it anywhere. BAFM is a car lover’s dream! Visit www.thebafm.com or call (705) 487-3663 for info.

Wasaga Beach Cruisers: They are holding their Cruise Fest on Saturday, June 21 in Klondike Park in Wasaga Beach, ON. Their weekly Monday night cruise events started May 12 at the Stonebridge Gazebo across from the Walmart parking lot. The cruise nights start between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. and run until dusk. Click HERE for more information.

NASCAR Canada Series: First race: Mosport (CTMP), LIVE Sunday at 2 PM on REV TV.

APC Series: First race: Sunset, Friday.

Ontario Sportsman Series: First race: Delaware, Friday.

Delaware Speedway: 42 Bone Stocks opened the season. Heat winners: Nathan Rhea, Justin Collver, Jo Lawrence. B-Main: Michael Verberne. Feature: Lawrence over Collver and Paul Fothergill.

In V8 Stocks, heat wins went to Adam Evison and Devon Bloemendal (in a big pickup). Feature: Jordan Morris over Barry Watson and Kaden Patrick. Doug Stewart’s car? Sounded like someone left a rag in the carb – popping down the front stretch!

Super Stock heats: Nic Ramsay, Darrell Lake. Feature: Ramsay over Carson Nagy and Trevor Collver.

Late Models: Heat wins to Ray Morneau and Marshall Schrenk. Feature: Morneau over Kyle Steckley and Jake Sheridan.

Next race: Ontario Sportsman Series, Friday.

Track Schedules:

• Ohsweken: World of Outlaws, Wednesday and Thursday
• Flamboro: Steel City Rumble, Saturday
• Buxton: Saturday
• Full Throttle: Opening Night, Saturday
• Sunset: APC Series Friday, Super Stocks Saturday
• Grand Bend Speedway: Season Opener, Sunday, May 25
• Grand Bend Dragway: Points + ONDR, Saturday/Sunday
• St. Thomas Dragway: First race, May 24–25
• TMP: Victoria Day Weekend, this weekend
• Speed Promotions Racing: July 12 (No Prep at TMP)
• Can Am Stock/Super Stock: This weekend at TMP
• Quick 32, PBSS, 5.50 Super Series: June 21 at Empire
• 660 Sportsman Nationals: October 5 at Grand Bend
• NHRA Canadian Championship: First race, this weekend at TMP
• Shannonville Drags: First race, June 7–8

NASCAR Cup Series: Last year’s top two finishers at Kansas battled again this year. Defending winner Kyle Larson (Chevy) took pole over Chris Buescher (Ford), with Christopher Bell (Toyota) starting third. The margin of victory last year? Just 0.001 seconds! All 38 cars qualified: 16 Chevys, 12 Fords, 10 Toyotas.

Before the green flag even flew, seven cars were sent to the rear for unapproved adjustments. Texas Speedway should take notes – this is how you configure a front straight. Oh, and Larson zinged Clint Bowyer perfectly: Bowyer called him “Kyle Busch” by mistake. Larson’s response to Jamie McMurray was priceless.

Did Larson jump the start, or did Buescher hold back? On lap 7, A.J. Allmendinger’s car emitted a cloud of white smoke. Insert your favourite Pope joke here. Yellow flag. Things were smooth until lap 69 when William Byron lost a tire but kept going. Larson won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. Notably, he led his 10,000th Cup lap just before the end of Stage 2.

On lap 195, Brad Keselowski blew a right rear and hit the wall. On lap 200, Denny Hamlin went behind the wall with mechanical problems – possibly a result of his hard, clutch-destroying pit exit. The crowd roared.

Lap 207 brought more chaos: Kyle Busch spun after a tap, and his tough season continued. On the restart, Justin Haley and Corey Heim made contact, which triggered a chain reaction involving Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace.

With four laps to go, Carson Hocevar had a flat right front but managed to pit without bringing out a yellow. At the checkered flag, it was Larson – despite his own tire issue – who led 221 laps en route to victory, followed by Bell and Ryan Blaney. Judging by the fan reaction, Larson is clearly a crowd favourite.

In the standings, William Byron leads Larson by 13 points and Hamlin by 83.

Next race: North Wilkesboro, Sunday, 5:30 PM on TSN 5.

NASCAR Xfinity Series: Next race: Charlotte, Saturday, May 24 at 4:30 PM on USA and CW.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Jake Garcia (Ford) took pole at Kansas over Corey Heim (Toyota) and Ty Majeski (Ford). Majeski’s truck failed two tech inspections, and his truck chief was ejected. Stewart Friesen (Toyota) started 19th in a field of 31 trucks: 15 Chevys, 10 Fords, and 6 Toyotas.

Early trouble saw Hocevar get into Majeski, cutting a tire. Majeski pitted and went a lap down but got it back on the restart. Dawson Sutton spun entering pit road with a flat and was penalized two laps for intentionally causing a caution – a good call. Majeski later received a one-lap penalty for stopping twice for fuel, though it looked like he was making a chassis adjustment.

On lap 23, Luke Baldwin hit the wall for another yellow. Corey Heim won Stage 1. More tire issues followed – Cody Dennison, Frankie Munoz, and Bayley Currey all had spins or flats, prompting caution flags. Carson Hocevar won Stage 2 and eventually the race, ahead of Layne Riggs and William Byron. Friesen finished sixth.

In points, Heim leads Chandler Smith by 64 and Daniel Hemric by 85.
Next race: North Wilkesboro, Saturday, 1:30 PM on CTV Speed (we think!).

Formula One: Next race: Imola, Sunday at 8:55 AM on TSN 5.

IndyCar: In qualifying for the Indy Road Course, Alex Palou took pole over Graham Rahal and Louis Foster. Before the green, Josef Newgarden (P6) had to pit to replace his radio, and Kyffin Simpson (P10) had to change his steering wheel – both started at the back.

Lap 1 nearly went incident-free, but Conor Daly got spun by Callum Ilott. Meanwhile, Colton Herta pitted with smoke and returned a lap down. Rahal led most of the first half, but at halfway, Marcus Armstrong was out front over Devlin DeFrancesco and Pato O’Ward. After 408 laps of green-flag racing this season, the first yellow came on lap 69 when David Malukas spun.

Palou claimed his fourth win in five races, ahead of O’Ward and Will Power.
In points, Palou leads Kyle Kirkwood by 97 and Christian Lundgaard by 98.
Next race: Indy 500, Sunday, May 25.

IMSA: At Laguna Seca, Vanthoor/Eng (BMW) topped GTP qualifying. Altoè/Costa (Ferrari) led PRO, and Koch/Lucas (Mercedes) led GTD. Eleven GTP, ten PRO, and ten GTD cars ran.

Pfaff Racing (Canada) qualified 6th in PRO. Multimatic’s Canadian Mustangs were 7th and 10th. The Canadian AWA Corvette started 9th in GTD. Penske’s Porsches ran 1–2 at halfway, and the race went caution-free. Mathieu Jaminet (Penske Porsche) won GTP. Tandy was 2nd, Vanthoor 3rd.

In PRO, Laurin Heinrich (Porsche) won over Albert Costa (Ferrari) and Antonio Garcia (Corvette). In GTD, Philip Ellis (Mercedes) beat Jack Hawksworth (Lexus) and Daniel Serra (Ferrari). Pfaff’s Lambo was 4th in PRO. Mustangs finished 8th and 9th. AWA’s Corvette finished 13th.

Points leaders: Nasr/Tandy (GTP), Heinrich/Bachler (PRO), Ellis/Ward (GTD).

Next race: Detroit Street Course, Sunday.

World of Outlaws run Wednesday and Thursday, May 14–15 at Ohsweken Speedway.

NHRA: Next race: Route 66, LIVE Sunday at 2 PM on Fox Sports Racing.

Comments? Email Dave Mathers at motionman@rogers.com or reach out via Facebook Messenger.