All Times Eastern
NASCAR Cup Series
Bass Pro Shops Night Race.
Location: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Friday, practice at 4 p.m.; qualifying at 5:05 p.m.; Saturday, race at 7:30 p.m. (USA Network)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 500 laps, 266.5 miles.
Last year: Denny Hamlin, starting second in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, led three times for a total of 147 laps, concluding with the last 135 laps to secure his third and final victory of 2023, ultimately finishing fifth in the standings. Kyle Larson finished second in a Chevy, while Christopher Bell took third for JGR, which occupied three of the top five positions. Ryan Blaney finished 22nd in a Penske Ford, but after struggling with a 28th-place finish at Texas, he won two of the last seven races to clinch the title.
Last race: Chris Buescher captured an overtime victory at Watkins Glen, an exciting road course event marked by championship contenders facing wrecks, flat tires, and aggressive maneuvers. Just two playoff drivers managed to finish in the top 10, while 10 others were scattered among the bottom 21 overall. Buescher narrowly defeated Shane van Gisbergen for his sixth career victory, followed by Carson Hocevar, Ross Chastain, and Zane Smith.
Quick facts: Christopher Bell placed 14th at The Glen and currently leads Austin Cindric by three points in the standings, with Alex Bowman trailing by five points. Joey Logano’s victory at Atlanta secured his entry into the second round. Bristol serves as the cutoff for the first round, resulting in the elimination of four drivers. Hamlin sits in 13th place, six points behind JGR teammate Ty Gibbs, who is above the cutoff line. Brad Keselowski is 12 points back, followed by Truex, who is 14 points down, and Burton, who is 20 points behind.
Next race: Sept. 22, Kansas City, Kansas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Food City 300
Location: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Friday, practice at 2 p.m.; qualifying at 2:40 p.m.; race at 7:30 p.m. (CW)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 300 laps, 159.9 miles.
Last year: Justin Allgaier overtook Daniel Hemric in the final laps, leading the last 13 laps to claim victory. Allgaier dominated by leading three times for a race-high 110 laps in his Chevy. Hemric finished second in a Chevy, followed by John H. Nemechek in a Toyota, pole-sitter Cole Custer (Ford, 109 laps led), and Chandler Smith in a Chevy.
Last race: The 18-year-old Connor Zilisch celebrated his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen, piloting the JR Motorsports Chevy owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. to victory from the pole, having won Stage 1 and leading three times for a total of 45 laps on the challenging road course. Zilisch had to conserve fuel towards the end due to multiple wrecks. Sheldon Creed took second in a Toyota, while A.J. Allmendinger finished third in a Chevy.
Quick facts: Bristol serves as the final race of the regular season before the 12-team playoff lineup is determined. … The Xfinity postseason will kick off at Kansas on Sept. 28, with Talladega and the Charlotte Roval concluding the first round. After those three races, the field will be narrowed down to eight drivers. … Justin Allgaier leads the regular season standings by 34 points over defending Xfinity champion Cole Custer. … NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete for a second consecutive year in the No. 88 Chevy for JR Motorsports.
Nephew Jeffrey Earnhardt will be behind the wheel of the No. 26 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing.
Upcoming race: Sept. 28, Kansas City, Kansas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR Truck Series
UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics
Location: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Thursday, practice at 3 p.m.; qualifying at 3:35 p.m.; race at 8 p.m. (FS1)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 200 laps, totaling 106.6 miles.
Last race: Layne Riggs, a second-generation NASCAR driver aged 22, achieved a surprising victory in the playoff opener at Milwaukee Mile on August 25. The son of former Cup regular and five-time Truck Series winner Scott Riggs, he managed to fend off championship contender Ty Majeski for his first career win, a remarkable feat considering he was not part of the 10-team playoff field. Riggs dislocated his shoulder while celebrating his landmark win but had it treated promptly by his team.
Fast Facts: Christian Eckes holds a lead of 16 points over Ty Majeski, 19 points over Corey Heim, and 26 points over Nicholas Sanchez in the standings. Ben Rhodes and Rajah Caruth are currently below the cut line, ranking ninth and tenth, respectively. … Bristol will host the Truck Series, launching a tripleheader weekend that features practice, qualifying, and night racing for all national touring series on the same day. … Among the entries is IndyCar driver Marco Andretti, who will participate in his seventh Truck series race driving the No. 04 Chevrolet for Roper Racing. … Rising sprint car talent Corey Day is set to make his debut for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the No. 81 Chevrolet, the first of four planned appearances this fall. … Connor Zilisch, 18, fresh off his inaugural win in the Xfinity Series at Watkins Glen, will compete for the third time in the Truck Series in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports. … Following the Bristol and Kansas races, the playoff field will narrow from 10 to 8 teams.
Upcoming race: Sept. 27, Kansas City, Kansas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
Formula 1
Singapore Grand Prix
Location: Singapore.
Schedule: Friday, practice 1 at 5:30 a.m.; practice 2 at 9 a.m.; Saturday, practice at 5:30 a.m.; qualifying at 9 a.m.; Sunday, race at 8 a.m. (ESPN).
Track: Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Race distance: 62 laps, covering 306.143 kilometers (190.228 miles).
Last year: Carlos Sainz Jr. secured a victory for Ferrari, breaking the winning streaks of Max Verstappen and Red Bull for the season. Sainz started from pole position and maintained his lead throughout the race.
despite struggling with worn tires during several tense final laps, securing his second career victory in F1 ahead of Lando Norris from McLaren and Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. Red Bull aimed for a victory in every race last season, but Verstappen finished fifth, marking the end of his 10-race winning streak and Red Bull’s 15-race run that extended from the prior season. Both of these achievements set Formula 1 records.
Last race: Oscar Piastri overtook Charles Leclerc to triumph in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Lando Norris, a title contender, managed to finish ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen. Piastri, starting second behind Leclerc, seized the lead with a bold move past the Ferrari driver into the first corner on Lap 20 of 51. Norris finished fourth, having overtaken Verstappen in the race’s closing stages. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez attempted to challenge Leclerc for second late in the race but collided with the second Ferrari, driven by Carlos Sainz Jr., who was closely following. George Russell secured third place for Mercedes.
Fast facts: Defending series champion Max Verstappen holds a 59-point lead over Lando Norris with seven races remaining. Charles Leclerc trails in third place, 78 points behind. … This race sets the stage for a month-long break in the series, resuming mid-October in Austin, Texas. … Verstappen has won seven out of the first 10 races, his latest triumph occurring in Spain at the end of June. Nevertheless, he has only achieved two podium finishes in the last seven events, including a fifth-place finish in Azerbaijan.
Next race: Oct. 20, Austin, Texas.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
IndyCar
Last race: Alex Palou secured his second consecutive IndyCar championship and his third in four years at Nashville Superspeedway after Will Power’s seatbelt loosened just minutes into the season finale. Colton Herta clinched his first career victory on an oval and Andretti Global’s second win of the season by taking the win at the Music City Grand Prix. Herta edged out Pato O’Ward in a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel during the closing laps. Herta finished as the series runner-up, while Scott McLaughlin placed third and Power, his Penske teammate, took fourth. Power, last year’s champion, entered the finale 33 points behind after failing to reclaim the title on two occasions.
Next race: March 2, 2025, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA Drag Racing
Carolina Nationals, Concord, North Carolina.
Last event: Antron Brown claimed victory in the Top Fuel class, while Austin Prock triumphed in Funny Car as the Countdown commenced with the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. Brown defeated Shawn Langdon in the final, marking his fourth win of the season and the 78th of his career, which includes Pro Stock Motorcycle. Prock outperformed his John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman to secure his sixth victory of 2024. Beckman is racing on behalf of Force as he recovers from serious injuries sustained in a summer crash at the Virginia Nationals.
Fast facts: Brown is now just one point behind new leader Justin Ashley, with Langdon six points back and Doug Kalitta trailing by 33, following Kalitta’s first-round loss that saw him drop from an initial lead in the Countdown.
Next event: Sept. 27-29, Madison, Illinois.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
World of Outlaws
Dennis Roth Classic, Tulare, California.
Last events: Michael “Buddy” Kofoid continued his strong performance with a sweep in California.
On Saturday, Kofoid clinched victory at the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown in Merced, just one day after triumphing in the “Nashville West” Showdown in Bakersfield. He has achieved four victories in his last five competitions.
Fast facts: David Gravel maintains an 86-point lead over Carson Macedo in the driver standings. Donny Schatz is in third place, trailing Gravel by 132 points.
Upcoming events: Sept. 27, Orrville, Ohio; Sept. 28, Hartford, Ohio.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars
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AP auto racing:
Upcoming Racing Highlights: Bristol Showdown in NASCAR and Singapore Grand Prix in F1
The Bristol Showdown: NASCAR’s High-Stakes Race
The Bristol Motor Speedway, often referred to as ”The Last Great Colosseum,” is set to host one of the most anticipated events in the NASCAR calendar. With its unique short track configuration and an electric atmosphere, the Bristol Showdown promises to deliver thrilling racing action. This race is pivotal for drivers seeking to secure their positions in the playoffs as the season approaches its climax.
Key Details of the Bristol Showdown
- Date: September 16, 2023
- Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
- Race Type: NASCAR Cup Series Night Race
Race Format and Expectations
In a typical Bristol race, expect the following format:
- Stages: The race consists of three stages, with points awarded to the top 10 finishers in each stage.
- Short Track Action: Drivers must navigate tight turns and manage tire wear effectively.
- Fan Interaction: With a seating capacity of over 160,000, Bristol offers fans close-up views of the action and numerous entertainment options.
Top Contenders to Watch
| Driver | Team | Current Standings |
|---|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 2nd |
| Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 3rd |
| Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 5th |
| Joey Logano | Penske Racing | 7th |
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson are particularly noteworthy as they have consistently performed well on short tracks, making them formidable contenders for victory. Additionally, watch out for Chase Elliott, who thrives under pressure and has a loyal fan base that adds to the electrifying atmosphere at Bristol.
Singapore Grand Prix: F1’s Night Race Extravaganza
The Singapore Grand Prix is another marquee event in the racing calendar, known for its stunning night race setting against the backdrop of the city skyline. This year’s race promises to be exhilarating as it attracts top talent from the Formula 1 circuit, showcasing both speed and strategy under the lights.
Essential Information About the Singapore Grand Prix
- Date: September 17, 2023
- Location: Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
- Race Type: Formula 1 Grand Prix
Race Characteristics and Strategy
- Street Circuit: The Marina Bay Street Circuit is known for its tight corners and limited overtaking opportunities.
- Weather Conditions: High humidity and the potential for rain can significantly impact race strategies.
- Pit Stops: Teams must plan for optimal pit stops to gain crucial seconds during this intensely competitive race.
Drivers to Watch in Singapore
| Driver | Team | Current Standings |
|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1st |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2nd |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 3rd |
| Sergio Pérez | Red Bull Racing | 4th |
Max Verstappen continues to dominate the 2023 season, but the night race in Singapore presents a unique set of challenges that could favor drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, both of whom have extensive experience on street circuits.
Benefits of Watching These High-Profile Races
Attending or watching events like the Bristol Showdown and Singapore Grand Prix offers several benefits:
- Adrenaline Rush: The fast-paced nature of both NASCAR and F1 provides an unrivaled thrill.
- Community Engagement: Fans come together, sharing their love for racing in a vibrant, communal atmosphere.
- Strategy and Skill: Observing the strategies employed by teams can enhance your understanding of the sport.
Practical Tips for Attending the Races
If you’re planning to attend either the Bristol Showdown or the Singapore Grand Prix, here are some practical tips:
- Plan Your Travel in Advance: Given the popularity of these events, it’s crucial to book accommodations and transport early.
- Arrive Early: Get to the venue well ahead of time to soak in the atmosphere and avoid last-minute rushes.
- Bring Ear Protection: The noise level in NASCAR and F1 events can be intense, so earplugs are recommended.
- Stay Hydrated: Especially in humid conditions like Singapore, it’s essential to keep hydrated.
First-Hand Experience: What to Expect
For those attending these races for the first time, the experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Here’s what you can expect:
- Incredible Atmosphere: The excitement in the air is palpable, with fans cheering for their favorite drivers.
- Unique Viewing Angles: At Bristol, you’ll feel the intensity of the race from every angle, while in Singapore, the illuminated cityscape is a breathtaking sight.
- Memorable Interactions: Engage with other fans, share stories, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of your favorite drivers during autograph sessions.
Conclusion
With the Bristol Showdown in NASCAR and the Singapore Grand Prix in F1 on the horizon, motorsport fans are in for a treat. Both events are set to showcase the best of racing talent in thrilling environments that are sure to leave lasting memories. Whether you’re watching from the stands or cheering from home, the excitement is undeniable.
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