The Californian is up to second in points with familiar territory ahead

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid might be from Penngrove, CA, but Ohio is a home away from home.

The 23-year-old cut his teeth on the bullrings of the “Golden State,” but he didn’t go right from the West Coast to stardom with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. There were a couple more stepping stones along the way, including an important stint in the “Buckeye State.”

Kofoid’s efforts in California earned him seat time in Ed Neumeister’s No. 11N toward the end of 2018 with the Linder family overseeing the operation. His first weekend in the car resulted in finishes of fourth and second at Fremont Speedway. The next year, Kofoid moved across the country to Ohio and in with the Linder family for a full season in Neumeister’s Sprint Car.

The pairing picked up four wins in 2019, including one with the All Star Circuit of Champions at Wayne County Speedway. The focus shifted to full-time USAC National Midget racing in 2020 before ultimately making his way to the World of Outlaws in 2024. It may have been brief, but the period spent primarily in Ohio is a time Kofoid holds close to heart.

“That Attica, Fremont area in northwest Ohio is pretty much the most home-type feeling I get not being in California because of the scenery and the familiarity of the area and the tracks,” Kofoid said. “But also, people make a place feel like home, and that’s really a credit to the Linders, the Neumeisters, the Brooks, and everyone involved with that. My first race with the Linders was 2018, so it’s going on seven years now. Everyone there has been really good to me and welcoming.”

The Memorial Day weekend ahead features an all-Ohio agenda for The Greatest Show on Dirt. It’s three nights at three different racetracks as Attica Raceway Park (May 23), Sharon Speedway (May 24), and Atomic Speedway (May 26) make for a big weekend in the “Buckeye State.”

Kofoid heads into the stretch having just taken over the second spot in points. After a somewhat slow start to 2025 riddled by misfortune, Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports crew are rolling with a 5.5 average finish in the last 16 races, including a trio of victories. After their strong conclusion to 2024, many expected Kofoid and company to be in this season’s title fight. Defending champion David Gravel still holds a healthy lead, but the No. 83 is now one spot behind him. And while the recent results have been strong, Kofoid is focused on where they can improve to have a chance at catching Gravel.

“It’s a good feeling for sure to see your name up there and see your face in the top three,” Kofoid said. “There’s still plenty of work to be done, and I feel like there’s some things that I could’ve done better even already this year. I think there’s some things that we can improve on to be similar if not better than how we ended last year.”

One area Kofoid knows they can perform better is Qualifying. It’s one of the most important times of a race night. It sets the tone. Two laps where tenths and even hundredths of a second can dictate the entire trajectory of an event. Kofoid’s average Qualifying result of 7.78 ranks sixth among full-time drivers. Meanwhile, Gravel’s Series-leading 2.61 average has been crucial in allowing him to build a healthy advantage.

“That tenth (of a second) that’ll get you in the top three or four, which is on the front row of a Heat Race, is the hardest tenth to find,” Kofoid said. “To me, it’s kind of similar to what I call finding that last 10 percent. Last year, I felt like I learned how to close out races a lot more, and to me, that was the last 10 percent of the day. Qualifying is almost like the first 10 percent, but it’s a crucial 10 percent, finding that little bit that, and it can make or break your night.”

The weekend ahead serves up three chances in familiar territory for Kofoid to work on making up some points on Gravel. Attica is an especially prime opportunity as he won there a year ago with a thrilling last-lap pass over fellow “Linderville” product Carson Macedo. A moment that truly made Kofoid feel at home despite being thousands of miles from California.

“When we won last year at Attica, it was cool to see the crowd rally for me,” Kofoid recalled. “You feel like one of their own even though you’re not from that area. I think when you’re involved with great people, great things happen. It gives you the want and the drive to come back and the excitement to be in that area, and that’s what I feel.”

Kofoid and the Roth team take on Attica Raceway Park (May 23), Sharon Speedway (May 24), and Atomic Speedway (May 26) this weekend. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the entire 2025 World of Outlaws schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

Charlotte Motor Speedway once again will be the NASCAR hub for the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series on one of the biggest motorsports weekends of the year.

The Memorial Day weekend extravaganza will begin with an ARCA-Truck doubleheader Friday night at the 1.5-mile oval. Tanner Gray (ARCA) and Nick Sanchez (Trucks) won the races last year.

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Chase Elliott is the defending winner of Saturday’s 300-mile race in the Xfinity Series.

Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the Cup Series schedule, was shortened to 374 miles last year because of rain with Christopher Bell taking the victory.

Good news/bad news for NASCAR Cup teams ahead of Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

Cup drivers will compete in the longest race of the season Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Coca-Cola 600 schedule at Charlotte Motor Speedway

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, May 23

Garage open

• 10:30 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. — Truck Series

• 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. — ARCA

Track activity

• 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. — ARCA practice

• 2:30 – 2:50 p.m. — ARCA qualifying

• 3:35 – 4:30 p.m. — Truck Series practice (FS2)

• 4:40 – 5:30 p.m. — Truck Series qualifying (FS2)

• 6 p.m. — ARCA race (100 laps, 150 miles, FS1)

• 8:30 p.m. — Truck race (134 laps, 201 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 30, Stage 2 at Lap 60; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Saturday, May 24

Garage open

• 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. — Xfinity

Track activity

• 11 – 11:55 a.m. — Xfinity practice (CW App)

• 12:05 – 1 p.m. — Xfinity qualifying (CW App)

• 1:35 – 2:35 p.m. — Cup practice (Prime)

• 2:45 – 3:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (Prime)

• 4:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (200 laps, 300 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 45, Stage 2 at Lap 90; CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, May 25

Garage open

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• 3 p.m. – 11:55 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

• 6 p.m. — Cup race (400 laps, 600 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 1, Stage 2 at Lap 200, Stage 3 at Lap 300; Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weekend weather

Friday: Partly cloudy with a high of 78 degrees and winds from west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. It’s expected to be 76 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the ARCA race. It’s expected to be 73 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the Truck race.

Saturday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a high of 78 degrees and winds from the northwest at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 76 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity race.

Sunday: Cloudy skies with a slight chance of a rain shower, a high of 78 degrees and winds light and variable. It’s expected to be 77 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.

Memorial Day weekend is a motorsport fan’s Christmas! Kyle Larson is taking part in two of the three biggest races. Larson is once again attempting to complete the Double, 1100 miles of racing between the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. Would he rather be racing in Monaco?

NASCAR and IndyCar are as American as it gets. These are the motorsports that America has created, loved, and cherished for generations. As Kyle Larson continues to prove he is one of the most versatile racers to ever live, what are his thoughts on Formula 1 racing?

Larson talked about the difference between F1 to NASCAR, and IndyCar while on the Pat McAfee Show this week. I’m sure fans will have a normal reaction to the comments.

“Never been asked to drive in F1, I think it’s tough coming from my background of dirt tracks and ovals,” Larson said. “But I went to Abu Dhabi in 2021. It was sick, like, the event was awesome. It was incredible. The racing, the racing is not what we are accustomed to in America. There, it’s crazy how big it is because, yeah, you’re right, it’s not super exciting, but I think it’s the stuff outside of it.

“The celebrities that are there, the engineering, the money. Just everything about that. You know, the big brands on the cars and stuff. You know, I feel like NASCAR, IndyCar here in America, like, you can’t find much more exciting racing than what we have here. So, I’m fortunate to get to run both of them, but I would definitely never turn down the opportunity to go [race F1].”

Kyle Larson also didn’t mention the other barrier keeping him out of F1, the fact that he’s an American. That will be a tough hill to climb for any U.S.-born driver to achieve a Super License, despite what he has accomplished in his career.

Now, Larson didn’t say anything bad about Formula 1. In fact, that sentiment is fairly common. In NASCAR, we often complain about a lack of passing, especially in the Next Gen era. But even Larson’s most dominant victories, like Bristol and Homestead this year, have more action than the standard F1 race.

For instance, this weekend. The Indy 500 and Coke 600 races will both have a lot of passing. Throughout the field, for the lead, etc. Pit stops and cautions are guaranteed to change up the makeup of the race. In Monaco for F1? Whoever wins the pole will likely walk away with the win if they just keep their car on track.

Sunday is a huge day for any fan of motorsports.

Formula 1 will run the Monaco Grand Prix with the Indianapolis 500 taking place in the afternoon and the Coca-Cola 600 at night to put a cap on the day.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) during qualifying for the Shrines Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Ryan Blaney will be behind the wheel of the No. 12 Team Penske car for the Coca-Cola 600 with the BodyArmor Chill drinks emblazoned on the hood of his vehicle. Blaney’s fellow NASCAR Cup Series colleague Kyle Larson will be attempting to do “The Double.”

“The Double” is one of the toughest feats any racecar driver could attempt to do during their career. It involves racing the Indy 500 and then flying on a plane to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. Larson became one of five drivers to attempt “The Double” last year but failed to make it to the NASCAR race.

Blaney told Fox News Digital it was “neat” to watch Larson attempt it last year.

“It’s the biggest day in racing,” Blaney said. “You got Monaco early, then you got Indy, and then we end it with the 600. I get up and watch Monaco in the morning, I cheer on the Penske guys for the 500 and then I get ready to go race. I think it’s a great feat. It was neat to watch him do it last year. Last year didn’t really go his way with rain and stuff like that, it was kind of a crapshoot. Hopefully, it goes a little smoother for him this year just being able to do it all.”

Feb 15, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Peter Casey-Imagn Images)

CONOR DALY LOOKS TO ETCH HIS NAME IN MORE THAN JUST INDY 500 HISTORY

An attempt at “The Double” appeared to pique Blaney’s interest given that Team Penske has drivers competing at the Indy 500.

“But yeah, it’s something I’ve always considered,” Blaney said. “You never know, maybe down the road if I get a chance. I’m with a great team that has a chance to do it, but we’ll see. You never know, we’ll figure it out.”

Larson, John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch have all attempted the feat. Stewart was the only driver out of the group to complete both races on the same day.

No driver has won either race while making the attempt.

Larson is hoping that changes come Sunday.

Arrow McLaren driver Kyle Larson (17) pulls out of his pit after his car was repaired following a wreck Friday, May 16, 2025, during Fast Friday ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Gary Mook/For IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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The Indy 500 will be broadcast May 25 on FOX with coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. It will also be available to stream live on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app.

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Thirty-three drivers will bolt down the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, pushing past 200 miles an hour trying to win the Indy 500. It’s a familiar sight for Dr. Liz Sullivan.

“I grew up a racing fan my entire life,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t really know that doing medicine and motorsports was a possibility at all.”

Sullivan was selected as Indiana University School of Medicine’s single Motorsports Medicine Fellow. She’s part of a one-of-a-kind emergency medicine program with IndyCar that trains doctors for accidents during high-speed races. 

Sullivan said she’s often on the road with IndyCar’s medical team, prepared to treat everyone from drivers to fans. But this weekend, she’s at home.

“This program allows me to work with some of the best people in the industry that have the experience of witnessing and resuscitating and responding to crashes,” Sullivan said. “There’s no textbook for any of this.”

Sullivan said there’s no other program like it in the country.

“It’s the only place that I get to dedicate an entire year just to learn from all these amazing individuals and racing,” Sullivan said. “It kind of is a choose-your-own adventure.”

Sullivan said she’s also worked in Formula One, NASCAR and drag racing in the U.S. and Canada, thanks to the flexibility of the program.  

Julia Vaizer, Motorsports Medicine Fellow director, said she always knew she wanted to pursue motorsports medicine before connecting with program founder Dr. Geoffrey Billows. 

“One of the things I always talk about is being loud about your passions and seeking out allies, where you expect them and where you don’t expect them,” Vaizer said. 

Vaizer was the inaugural motorsports fellow, helping shape the program into what it is today with support from IndyCar, the IU School of Medicine, IU Health and the speedway. 

The medical team recently added its first neurologist, Dr. Bert Varga, and a mobile, fully equipped medical unit.

“I’m obviously biased, because I’m always talking about IndyCar having the best medical and safety team, but the fact that we are affiliated with a university and with an academic hospital system gives us such an advantage,” Vaizer said. “We are in a great position to drive research, evidence-based medicine practices.”

Sullivan will graduate this summer, sticking with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and also serving as chief medical officer for rally races in Tennessee and Canada.

“We already have a line up for class of ’26 and lined up somebody for the class of 2027,” Vaizer said. “Since we’re the only program in the country, we only take one fellow a year. So, you can see how this is competitive.”

Aubrey is WFIU’s higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright.

The greatest Sunday in racing is upon us.

Breakfast in Monaco, lunch in Indianapolis and dinner in Charlotte — that’s the schedule for motorsports fans on a busy Memorial Day Weekend of action.

It starts with Formula One’s most iconic event, with the glitz and glam of the Monaco Grand Prix. Then, it’s the Indy 500 — the greatest spectacle in racing — as 33 IndyCar drivers look to make history. Finally, NASCAR drivers wrap things up with the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte — a true test of man and machine in a 600-mile marathon.

Here’s a preview for the three races, including TV schedules, start times, picks and more:

What is the F1 schedule for Monaco?

There will be three free practices and a qualifying session before the race in Monaco. Here’s the schedule:

Friday, May 23

Saturday, May 24

• Free practice 3: 5:30 a.m. CT
• Qualifying: 9 a.m. CT

Sunday, May 25

• Monaco Grand Prix: 8 a.m. CT

What is the Indy 500 schedule?

There’s been plenty of action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway already in the month of May, from practice sessions to qualifying. The starting lineup was set last weekend, and there’s just one more practice before the race on Sunday. Here’s the remaining schedule for the 2025 Indy 500:

Friday, May 23

• Carb Day final practice: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT

Sunday, May 25

• 109th running of the Indianapolis 500: 11:45 a.m. CT

What is the NASCAR schedule for Charlotte?

The action wraps up in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the Coca-Cola 600 — NASCAR’s longest race by mileage. There will be practice and qualifying before Sunday’s main event. Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, May 24

• Practice and qualifying: 12:35 p.m. CT

Sunday, May 25

How to watch F1, Indy 500 and NASCAR this weekend

Three different broadcasters will handle the three different series: ESPN/ABC, FOX and Amazon Prime Video.

Formula One will air on ESPN’s networks: Free practice 1 and 3 on ESPN2, free practice 2 on ESPNU, qualifying on ESPN and the race on ABC. F1 action can also be streamed on ESPN+.

The Indy 500 will be on FOX this year, and you can watch Carb Day final practice Friday on Fox Sports 1.

NASCAR is switching to streaming this week for the first time ever, with Amazon Prime Video airing practice, qualifying and the Coke 600.

Picks and predictions for F1 in Monaco

The top three championship contenders are once again the favorites for Monaco — Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

Piastri has won four of the first seven races, while Norris has won once and Verstappen twice. The McLaren duo of Piastri and Norris have been the most consistent from week-to-week, but the reigning four-time champion Verstappen has pulled off some magical qualifying runs so far.

Qualifying is critical on the streets of Monaco, which offer few opportunities to overtake. Oftentimes, the place where you start is the place where you finish. That could favor Verstappen, who always has elite one-lap pace.

If you’re looking for a sleeper, keep an eye on George Russell. The Mercedes driver is fourth in the standings with four podium finishes this season, and he’s yet to start worse than fifth in a race. He’s one of the best qualifiers on the grid, which would play into his favor in Monaco.

Podium predictions: Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, George Russell

Here’s everything you need to know about F1 – races, teams, cars, circuits and more.

Picks and predictions for the Indy 500

Heading into the Indy 500, you always have to keep an eye on Team Penske. That’s true again in 2025, but for the wrong reasons.

Two-time defending Indy winner Josef Newgarden and 2018 winner Will Power will start at the rear after their cars were found to be illegal after qualifying. Then, Penske fired its top three executives just days before the race. Scott McLaughlin is the only Penske driver not impacted, but the organization is clearly in disarray.

That leaves McLaren’s Pato O’Ward as the favorite for Sunday following his second-place finish last May. The 26-year-old Mexican has finished top-6 in four of his five Indy starts, with two runner-ups. He’ll start third this year with plenty of cushion ahead of the powerful Penske duo.

Three-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou joins O’Ward among the top contenders, though he’s never won on an oval track. Palou has four straight top-10s at Indy, including a second-place in 2021. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver will star sixth on Sunday. His teammate, 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon, has also shown speed and finished third last year.

Another driver to consider is NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, who will make his second straight Indy 500 start before flying down to Charlotte for the Coke 600. He was unable to compete in both races last year due to a rain delay in Indy, but this year he’ll look to complete all 1,100 miles. Larson finished 18th last year and he’ll start 19th on Sunday.

Podium predictions: Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin

Why does the Indy 500 champion celebrate with a drink of milk in victory lane? Here is the story behind this iconic tradition and the Indiana dairy farmers, who play an integral part on race day.

Picks and predictions for NASCAR’s Coke 600

If you want to pick Larson, he’s a much safer pick for NASCAR, the series where he regularly competes. The 2021 Coke 600 winner did not race last year due to the aforementioned weather in Indy, but he’s still the favorite for 2025. He’ll be out to prove a point if he makes it in time this year.

Aside from Larson, several former champions should be in the mix Sunday night — Blaney, Logano and Elliott.

Blaney is still winless in 2025 but is coming off back-to-back third-places finishes to ride some positive momentum. He won the Coke 600 in 2023 in dominant fashion, leading 163 of the 400 laps.

Logano, who is Blaney’s teammate for Team Penske, has won two of the last three championships. While he’s won three titles, Logano has a noticeable lack of crown jewel victories. The Connecticut native won recently at Texas and could carry that 1.5-mile speed into Charlotte.

Then there’s Elliott, who is Larson’s teammate for Hendrick Motorsports. He was one lap away from winning the 2020 Coke 600, and he’s coming off his most impressive race of the season at Kansas. Elliott could finally have his breakout run on Sunday.

Podium predictions: Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott

Get to know NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney.