Motorsports

The game-changing decision that put Christian Lundgaard on the podium at Barber

Christian Lundgaard’s results as an Arrow McLaren driver at the start of the 2025 season would probably be the biggest story in IndyCar right now, if it weren’t for a guy named Alex Palou who just can’t seem to stop winning. Lundgaard finished eighth in the season opener at St. Pete and has been on […]

Published

1 week ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lundgaard finished eighth in the season opener at St. Pete and has been on the podium in every race since, with second and third at the Thermal Club and Long Beach, and second last Sunday at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park.

However, his run was in serious jeopardy after a problem during Friday’s first practice hampered his weekend program and left him with a seventh-place qualifying finish. But the team didn’t stop there, as they continued to look for ways to improve the balance of Lundgaard’s #7 car.

“I’ve been fighting the same balance problem all weekend. We had a problem with the car in P1, which kind of forced us not to try much in P1. So we didn’t get to try some things we wanted to try. We were kind of stuck with what we had for the rest of the weekend because there were a lot of other things we needed to test. It kind of went down the list of things we wanted to try,” explained Lundgaard.

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

The sensations were so different from day to day that he completed the 90 laps with a race-high 16 passes on the track en route to second place and claimed it was the “biggest game changer” he’s experimented with in his career, although he didn’t specify what it was.

“I said last night we have to do something if I want to have a good race car. We did it this morning in the warm-up. It was just clearly better. I said it was probably one of the biggest game changers I’ve had in a car. It’s a relatively small change. A little bit surprising for us. The car at least felt a lot better.

Lundgaard’s performance at the start of the season would pretty much put him at the top – or very close – of the championship in any given year, and although he sits second after Barber, the gap to Palou is 60 points heading into next weekend’s race on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, the McLaren driver is putting things into perspective and is more than happy with his season.

“I think it’s just about putting that aside and focusing on yourself. The 10 car [Palou] is doing a great job. We’ve seen that in years past. I would say we’re trying to raise our own bar and we’re doing that. We’re getting better and better.

“On top of that, I had a team change. Meeting a bunch of new people, working with a bunch of new people. It’s a different car to drive. I’m very happy with the work that I’ve done so far, the work that we’ve done. I mean, I don’t think I could have dreamed of three podiums in four races, four first races.

Commenting on the change of team, joining McLaren in the off-season after a three-year stint in IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Lundgaard summarized that it was just a matter of having a faster car in his hands now. His 4.7 average finish position this season, compared to the 12.2 he had during his time at RLL, helps underscore his words.

“I think at the end of the day not much is really different from my own approach. I would say it’s keeping things very simple and just focusing on what you can control, really mastering the basics. I think the car is purely faster than what I’ve been doing for the last three years.

“I think we’ve seen that just from the results over the last three years. But no, it’s just good and nice to see it come into reality, really just executing when we have the pace. I think we’ve done that. I think we got more out of Long Beach than we expected when we woke up Sunday morning. At the end of the day, that’s how you compete for championships.

Motorsports

Haltech HyperFest, a massive motorsports festival, comes to Southern Virginia

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3 minutes ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Motorsports

TV channel, schedule from North Wilkesboro

Daytona Motor Mouths: Kyle Larson wins at Kansas. Next up, Indy 500 The guys start with the Indianapolis 500 and Kyle Larson’s double attempt after his win at Kansas. Then, they discuss the NASCAR All-Star Race. As Monty Python would say, “And now for something completely different.” Drivers will practice entering and exiting the pits. […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As Monty Python would say, “And now for something completely different.”

Drivers will practice entering and exiting the pits. Crews will practice, and compete, during what happens between that entrance and exit.

We’ll see heat races as well as something resembling the Last Chance Qualifier you get at the local short-track show.

But there will also be racing, and it’ll look rather familiar. Even the venue is starting to look familiar again. This is Year 3 for ancient North Wilkesboro Speedway to welcome NASCAR’s annual All-Star Race weekend. At five-eighths of a mile with a little bit of banking in the corners (14 degrees), it can be a racy little joint.

There will be plenty of opportunities to showcase that possibility over the next few days.

Friday: North Wilkesboro pit road is host to action

4 p.m.: Pit Road qualifying entry/exit practice (FS2).

5 p.m.: All-Star practice (FS2).

6 p.m.: Qualifying/All-Star Pit Crew Challenge (FS1).

$100,000 on the line.
The NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear returns to North Wilkesboro Friday, May 16!

Top crews battle for:
• $100K & the trophy
• All-Star/Open starting spots
• Bragging rights under the lights

Tickets: https://t.co/hzpDM1JsMH pic.twitter.com/KjUjLDUlGp

— RCW Sports (@RoCoWXSports) May 12, 2025

Saturday: NASCAR Truck Series race, All-Star heats take over

9:35 a.m.: Truck Series practice (FS2).

10:35 a.m.: Truck Series qualifying (FS2).

1:30 p.m.: Truck Series, Window World 250 (FS1).

5:10 p.m.: All-Star Race, Heat 1 (FS2).

6:15 p.m.: All-Star Race, Heat 2 (FS2).

Sunday: NASCAR at North Wilkesboro gets All-Star treatment

5 p.m.: All-Star Open (FS1).

8 p.m.: Cup Series All-Star Race (FS1).

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Motorsports

Guess who tops our list. Yes, Kyle Larson

Daytona Beach News-Journal Daytona Motor Mouths: Kyle Larson wins at Kansas. Next up, Indy 500 The guys start with the Indianapolis 500 and Kyle Larson’s double attempt after his win at Kansas. Then, they discuss the NASCAR All-Star Race. The top of this list is a pretty easy slot to fill. The rest? Not so […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Daytona Beach News-Journal

The top of this list is a pretty easy slot to fill. The rest? Not so much.

Let’s take a look at our updated NASCAR Power Rankings as we head into All-Star weekend with one-third of the 2025 Cup Series season behind us.

1. Kyle Larson

Kind of a no-brainer, wouldn’t you say? About all he can’t do right now is control the Indy weather, and boy does he wish he could.

2. Christopher Bell

A strong second at Kansas, but second. Don’t count the superspeedways, and a 29th at Homestead is his only misstep of the year.

3. Ryan Blaney

Gaining on a trophy. Had back-to-back podium finishes at Texas and Kansas.

4. William Byron

Had a rare bad finish last week. Lost official points lead to Larson.

5. Chase Elliott

Might win All-Star Race. Might not. Billy Clyde needs to win somewhere, though.

6. Joey Logano

Won last year’s All-Star Race. He won’t repeat.

7. Denny Hamlin

Last three finishes: 21st, 38th, 36th.

8. Ross Chastain

Middle name is Lee. Some literally think it’s “The Boss”.

9. Chase Briscoe

Here’s a guy with TWO middle names: Chase David Wayne Briscoe.

10. Chris Buescher

After three weeks in the wilderness, returned to top 10 at Kansas.

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Motorsports

NASCAR Night and Blowfish Baseball will feature a Pelion youngster who has dreams of one day racing against the best

Racing and baseball are on the Lexington County Baseball schedule on June 7 as NASCAR Night will feature 11-year-old racer Kenneth Blevins, Jr. from Pelion. LEXINGTON, S.C. — Opening Night for the Lexington County Blowfish is Friday, May 30 and that will be the first game of the 20th season of Blowfish Baseball. Part of […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Racing and baseball are on the Lexington County Baseball schedule on June 7 as NASCAR Night will feature 11-year-old racer Kenneth Blevins, Jr. from Pelion.

LEXINGTON, S.C. — Opening Night for the Lexington County Blowfish is Friday, May 30 and that will be the first game of the 20th season of Blowfish Baseball.

Part of the 20th anniversary season is a special NASCAR Night on June 7 and it will feature a local youngster who has dreams of competing in Formula One.

Kenneth Blevins, Jr, an 11-year-old from Pelion, has had quite the start to his racing career.

The Pelion Elementary fifth-grader has a pair of championship trophies which he won a couple of weeks ago. In late April, Kenneth was in Concord, N.C. where he finished first in the K1 Speed United States Junior Division. That was followed by a trip to California where he won the K1 Speed E-World Championship in the Junior Division, claiming the $8,000 1st place prize.

Kenneth is interested in two very different forms of racing, He has grown up in a NASCAR state but his goal is to one day, compete in Formula One. But he says his favorite driver is Chase Elliott who drives on the NASCAR tour for Rick Hendrick Motorsports.

In an effort to promote Kenneth and his racing endeavors, Kenneth will be a part of NASCAR Night with the Blowfish as he will be signing autographs on that June 7 evening of celebrating baseball and racing.

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Motorsports

All-Star Race North Wilkesboro weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup and Truck

The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year with a few new wrinkles in the race format and schedule at the 0.625-mile oval in North Carolina. Cup cars will be on track for practice and qualifying Friday, two heat races to set the main event field Saturday and then […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year with a few new wrinkles in the race format and schedule at the 0.625-mile oval in North Carolina.

Cup cars will be on track for practice and qualifying Friday, two heat races to set the main event field Saturday and then the Open and All-Star Race will be Sunday night.

The main event will feature a “promoter’s caution” that can be thrown ahead of Lap 220 of 250. A new “Manufacturer Showdown” will pit Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota in a battle for the best combined overall finish in the All-Star Race.

The Pit Crew Challenge also will be held during qualifying Friday and determine pit selection for Sunday’s 250-lap main event.

A ‘Manufacturer Showdown’ also will be featured in the annual exhibition race.

Joey Logano is the defending winner of the All-Star Race. Kyle Larson won the 2023 inaugural All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.

The CARS Tour, Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour also will be racing at North Wilkesboro this weekend.

Joey Logano won last year’s All-Star Race, leading 199 of 200 laps.

All-Star Race schedule at North Wilkesboro

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, May 16

Garage open

10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Cup
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Truck Series

Track activity

5:05 – 5:50 p.m. — Cup practice (FS2, MRN)
6:10 – 6:50 p.m. — Cup Open qualifying (FS1, MRN)
7:05 – 8 p.m. — Cup All-Star Race qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge (FS1, MRN)
8:15 p.m. — CARS Tour race (100 laps, FS1, Flo Racing)

Saturday, May 17

Garage open

8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Truck Series
1:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

9:35 – 10:30 a.m. — Truck practice (FS2)
10:35 – 11:30 a.m. — Truck qualifying (FS2)
1:30 p.m. — Truck race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 70, Stage 2 at Lap 140; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
5:10 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 1 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
6:15 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 2 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, May 18

Garage open

7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour
2 – 11:55 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice
10:55 – 11:25 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice
12:45 – 1:15 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour qualifying
2 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour race (150 laps, 93.75 miles, Flo Racing, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)
5:30 p.m. — All-Star Open (100 laps, 62.5 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)
8 p.m. — All-Star Race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)

Weekend weather

Friday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 86 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 85 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mph. It’s expected to be 82 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Truck race. It’s expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 82 degrees and a 15% chance of rain at the start of the first of the two Cup heat races.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 84 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 75 degrees with a 1% chance of rain at the start of the All-Star Race.

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Motorsports

FIA announces significant changes to controversial driver misconduct regulations

Entering the 2025 world motorsport season, there was a substantial talking point that dominated discussion, including in Formula 1. Driver misconduct. Last winter, the FIA introduced a controversial “Appendix B,” instituting new penalties for driver misconduct, including swearing. With penalties accelerating based on the number of violations and the series involved — with the most […]

Published

3 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Entering the 2025 world motorsport season, there was a substantial talking point that dominated discussion, including in Formula 1.

Driver misconduct.

Last winter, the FIA introduced a controversial “Appendix B,” instituting new penalties for driver misconduct, including swearing. With penalties accelerating based on the number of violations and the series involved — with the most significant financial penalties reserved for F1 drivers — and potential suspensions and sporting penalties on the table, many wondered if Appendix B would impact the future of motorsport.

However, the FIA is taking a step back.

The governing body unveiled a series of changes to Appendix B on Wednesday, changes that not only reduce the maximum financial penalties but also give race officials the option to suspend penalties fully for certain breaches.

In a statement released by the FIA, the motorsport governing body outlined that the “base maximum penalty has been reduced generally from €10,000 to €5,000. This is a reduction of 50%. However, for FIA World Championships, where multipliers were involved, the reductions will be even more significant.”

Race stewards not only can fully suspend penalties for a driver’s first infraction, but can “differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments.” While driver conduct will be governed in “controlled” environments such as press conferences, comments made in the heat of the moment — such as on the track or during a rally stage — will fall under the “non-controlled” category.

The FIA also stated that “[m]itigating circumstances will continue to be considered” under the revised Appendix B.

You can read the fully revised Appendix B here.

“As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motor sports organisations,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving Stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”

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