Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide weekly commentary, discussing various topics in motorsports. The majority of our content will focus on NASCAR but other disciplines of motorsports will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major (mass media concentration) and minor in Journalism. In addition, he contributes to motorsports coverage at The Podium Finish and works with the UNC Charlotte Social Media Team. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. The Busch Clash was _______. Lambeth: Chaotic. I have seen some silly moments in my years of watching races. However, I do not believe that anything will come close to topping this year’s Busch Clash. After looking at Erik Jones’ car, it would be hard to convince someone that he won the race. The No. 20 looks like something you would find at a Saturday night demolition derby! Lee: Shocking. I couldn’t believe some of the moves that were made in the race. It shocked me for the amount of veterans in the field. While it is an exhibition race, I didn’t think there would be that much carnage last Sunday. Somehow, Erik Jones and his beat up car managed to get into victory lane. Try explaining this to people who don’t watch racing and convince them that wrecked car won the race. 2. After the wild action in the Busch Clash, do you think it is time for some changes to the event? Lambeth: For starters, Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted an interesting idea on Twitter. A 20-lap exhibition race would likely lead to intense action from start to finish. At the same time, it makes me wonder if we could see some of the same craziness from last Sunday afternoon. While I do agree that shortening the event could be a good change, there are others who want to see the Busch Clash disappear for good. My solution? Move it to New Smyrna Speedway and join the short track fun over there. You cannot go wrong with short track racing. Lee: I think the Clash has lost some of its luster as the field has been expanded further and further with lower requirements to get into the race. I think it needs to just be an event lasting between 20 and 25 laps. Keep it short and sweet; I think you can still achieve the same results. 3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JTG Daugherty Racing obtained pole position for the 62nd running of the Daytona 500. After spending his entire career with Roush Fenway Racing, do you believe that switching to a new team could change the course of his Cup career? Lambeth: While Stenhouse enjoyed great success over at Roush, I believe that both sides will benefit from the change. Stenhouse and Chris Buescher (replaced Stenhouse in the No. 17 Ford Mustang) basically swapped rides. Roush took full advantage of the opportunity to get Buescher back in the program. Ultimately, this left Stenhouse looking for a new ride. In the end, he landed at JTG Daugherty Racing alongside Ryan Preece. Reflecting on his Roush tenure, Stenhouse won back-to-back Xfinity titles and two Cup races. Unfortunately, he was never able to compete for a Cup title with Roush. With Buescher presenting plenty of upside, I guess it made sense for Roush to bring him back into the stable. For Stenhouse, I think moving to a new team could definitely be a good thing. Winning the pole for the biggest race of the season is a solid start for both team and driver. You never know, this could very well be the turning point for Stenhouse, potentially taking his Cup career to the next level. Lee: Stenhouse is a driver I wouldn’t have picked to win the pole off the jump, given the performance of the Hendrick cars over the last few years on Daytona 500 pole day. Certainly, in any sport, I think some athletes just need a change of scenery, after spending a long time with one team. Sometimes, the right place and scenario brings out the best possible outcome. While there is a long way to go in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, I’m sure this is a dream start for him and JTG Daugherty Racing. 4. Justin Haley and Brendan Gaughan solidified their spots in the Daytona 500, due to setting the two fastest lap times of the “open teams.” Haley, the winner of last July’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, will make his first start in the Great American Race. It is also Kaulig Racing’s Cup debut. Meanwhile, Gaughan is set to compete in his final Daytona 500. The longtime NASCAR driver will run both races at Daytona and Talladega, then call it a career in stock car racing. While these two drivers will sleep well during the week, there will be restless nights for those who must race their way in during the Duels. Notably, Daniel Suarez is among the drivers in non-chartered cars. Unfortunately, he was unable to get Gaunt Brothers Racing in the big show, based on speed. Therefore, everything will be up for grabs on Thursday night. With the popular driver facing possible elimination, how much pressure will be on him to get into the Daytona 500? Lambeth: There will be tons of pressure on Suarez and Gaunt Brothers Racing to get into the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, the team does not have a charter. They must beat the other open teams in their Duel or they will load up and go home. After getting replaced by Cole Custer at Stewart-Haas Racing, Suarez was left rideless and searching for a new home. The deal with GBR came together late in the game, but I know that they will give it their best shot on Thursday night. Suarez will have to control what he can control and let everything else fall into place. Lee: It’s been quite some time since the Duels have had this type of meaning. No longer are the days of 60 cars trying to make the big show, but this year we have a few drivers that could go home on Thursday night. Suarez, in particular, facing this type of pressure has to be something for him. After his deal came along with GBR, it now appears to be nothing but an uphill battle for him to make the Daytona 500. It will be tough but a bevy of Toyotas are in his Duel and it could be a good thing for him. 5. Hailie Deegan finished second in the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona, behind race winner Michael Self. What are your expectations for the development driver’s debut season with Ford and DGR-Crosley? Lambeth: While it would not surprise me if Deegan wins one or two races, I think the main thing this season is completing as many laps as possible and getting valuable track time. Ford has a solid driver development program. In addition to giving its drivers opportunities to improve their stock car skills, they also give them seat time on road courses with the IMSA Ford Mustang GT4 program. Ford cares about developing well-rounded drivers. Deegan has tons of upside as she progresses through the ranks. I think the new relationship between Deegan and Ford has potential for great success among both parties. Lee: A very solid second-place finish for Deegan last Saturday; I think it was quite the composed performance from her. Ford is taking the right approach with her for the season and the near future. Having a plethora of track time in the last two months will be crucial to her development. I think she has the talent to progress through the ranks and the “slow” process Ford is taking should pay off tremendously. 6. Sam Mayer held off pole sitter Derek Griffith to win the ARCA Menards Series East season opener at New Smyrna Speedway. Griffith led a race-high 144 laps in the 175-lap event, after starting on the pole. Chad Bryant Racing had the No. 2 Ford Fusion dialed in from flag to flag. Despite coming up short, should the Super Late Model ace receive another opportunity to compete in ARCA? Lambeth: Without a doubt, Derek Griffith proved that he is the type of deserving talent that should be competing regularly at this level. Griffith has impressed in the Super Late Model ranks and he wowed everyone by his strong performance in the ARCA East race. Chad Bryant Racing provided him with the equipment to showcase his skills. He held off the field during the first half of the race on older tires while everybody else had fresh tires. In the end, it was a solid debut for Griffith and he should be proud of his drive, despite coming up short to Sam Mayer. Lee: Griffith put on an excellent performance during the ARCA East race. It seemed apparent he was going to win the race, just based on his dominance in the first half. Unfortunately, for him, Sam Mayer outdueled him for the win but it was still a solid debut. 7. Who will win the 62nd running of the Daytona 500? Lambeth: I think we will see a first-time winner. In his third full season, William Byron will score his first NASCAR Cup Series win in the biggest event of them all. The morning after the race, Byron will wake up as the 2020 Daytona 500 winner. Lee: I can’t believe it’s the 62nd running of the Daytona 500! Since it’s been quite some time since we've had a repeat winner, I’m going with Denny Hamlin to win back-to-back Daytona 500’s.
0 Comments
Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to the another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. Most content will focus on NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major with a concentration in mass media and minor in journalism. He is a contributor to The Podium Finish and RockinghamNow. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. After taking some time to digest last Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, what did you think of the on-track action? Lambeth: In my opinion, I thought that was one of the best Talladega races in recent memory. With aero ducts and more horsepower, there was a much bigger hole punched in the air to create better racing. It seemed like the drivers were able to get huge runs and avoid stalling out. I was on the edge of my seat. There was never a dull moment during this race. NASCAR definitely got the package correct at Talladega. Moving forward, I am curious to see how the aero package performs at Daytona in July. Lee: Without a doubt, that was one of the best races I’ve watched at a superspeedway in quite some time. I think it had a little bit of everything you could have in a superspeedway race. I believe that NASCAR hit a homerun with the package. The only thing I think NASCAR is going to look at going forward is how to prevent what happened to Kyle Larson on Sunday. 2. On the final lap, Kyle Larson experienced a violent crash, resulting in the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 catching some air, hitting the wall and ending with a terrifying tumble down the Alabama Gang Superstretch. Were you surprised by Larson’s car lifting on its own, instead of getting launched by another car? Lambeth: Initially, I had no idea that Larson went for a wild ride until FOX showed the replay of the last lap crash. It was a shocking, spectacular crash. Sometimes, this is the result of racing at Talladega. Larson was very fortunate to climb out of the car unharmed. I am sure that NASCAR will do a thorough investigation to figure out why the car lifted off the ground. In the end, there will always be a chance for cars to go airborne at places like Daytona and Talladega. We cannot deny the law of physics. Lee: I’m still wondering how the car began to lift up on it’s own on Sunday, let alone why only one of his roof flaps lifted up during the crash. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car get airborne like how his did before. Fortunately, he escaped with no injuries from the crash and I’m sure NASCAR will look into finding out what caused that. 3. Chase Elliott finally ended his bad luck on superspeedways at the Cup level, winning last weekend at Talladega. Do you think Elliott can notch multiple victories later in the season? Lambeth: Absolutely! However, I think Chevrolet is still figuring out a few things with the Camaro ZL1. When they get on top of things, I expect Elliott and other teams, representing the bowtie to make some noise and challenge the duo of Ford and Toyota. Lee: First off, congrats to Chase Elliott for picking up a huge win last Sunday at Talladega! I think he has a chance to bring a few more wins to Team Chevy this season. I believe that he has a good shot coming up at Dover and Kansas. 4. Tyler Reddick had to defend his lead perfectly, in order to hold off his hard charging competitors to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega. How did he do it? Lambeth: I am not sure how he held on for so long, but Reddick wheeled Richard Childress Racing to victory lane in Alabama. He displayed good use of defensive driving to hold off Gray Gaulding and a pack of hungry drivers. In my opinion, Tyler Reddick is a much better driver than most people give him credit for. Lee: Tyler Reddick drove one hell of a race last Saturday. At Talladega, you have to be able to have a balance of aggression and defense when leading a plate race. He did everything in his power to hold off Gaulding and the remainder of the field. I think Tyler Reddick is the most underrated champion currently in NASCAR. 5. Gray Gaulding put together the drive of his career by finishing runner-up to Xfinity race winner Tyler Reddick. Gaulding advanced to the final round of single-car qualifying and gave SS Green Light Racing a strong result for team owner Bobby Dotter. How significant was Gaulding’s performance at Talladega? Lambeth: Sometimes, Talladega provides some great storylines for the underdogs in the garage. Gray Gaulding earned a career-best second-place finish on the high banks of Talladega. He almost stole the show on the final lap, jockeying for position and doing everything possible to get around Tyler Reddick. As a result, Gaulding’s spectacular finish qualified him for the Dash 4 Cash this weekend at Dover. Bobby Dotter’s team made lots of noise and everybody knew they were there. Lee: Talladega was something that fans have been craving for all season! It was such a fun weekend and the storylines were plenty to go around, especially with Gaulding’s performance that locked him into the Dash 4 Cash at Dover. I think it’s great to see the smaller teams have a chance to mix it up with the best of the best. 6. After facing some “tough love” from his team owner, in the Truck Series, Todd Gilliland got a much needed victory in the ARCA Menards Series at Talladega. Do you think it will work wonders for his confidence? Lambeth: It is no secret that Todd Gilliland has some pressure on him moving forward, based on some comments made by Kyle Busch, his team owner, a while ago. Although it was an ARCA race, winning a race, especially when it has been a long time since your last one, can be a very meaningful and important for a driver’s confidence moving forward. As we progress through the season, I will be interested to see if Gilliland can carry the momentum from Talladega into his Truck Series program. He still has time to turn things around at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Lee: Following some heavy pressure from his team owner, I think he should have a boat load of confidence moving forward. This also should take a bit of pressure off the young man's back going through the remainder of the season. I think once he gets back in the truck, you’ll see his confidence rise up when he hits the track again! 7. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the streets of Baku usually provides some memorable moments during Formula 1’s annual visit. Which moment from last weekend stands out the most? Lambeth: I thought it was quite strange how Daniel Ricciardo put his Renault car in reverse and crashed into Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat. Ultimately, forcing both drivers to retire from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Every now and then, a talented driver like Ricciardo will make an unexpected mistake. It was a bizarre moment. Lee: I think Turn 8 during qualifying was one of the most memorable parts of the weekend to me. I’ve never seen that many crashes during a qualifying session in Formula 1. It was a pretty frantic weekend between that and Ricciardo reversing and crashing and the drama in qualifying. Baku had its wild moments once again. Extra Point: Based on McLaren Racing’s struggles with Fernando Alonso, during the test session last week at Indianapolis, should we expect teething issues and being down on the speed charts? Is it too early to be concerned? Lambeth: Since McLaren Racing is running their own operation, instead of relying on the experienced Andretti Autosport, these types of issues should be expected for any new team. Although they have a technical partnership with Carlin Racing, who is a very accomplished team globally, they are still a young team in the NTT IndyCar Series. Experience matters a lot in motorsports. McLaren will surely miss the relationship with Andretti, but the Carlin match does have potential. With Bump Day expecting to produce another round of drama, we should only become concerned if McLaren and Alonso fail to show significant improvement during the month of May. I cannot imagine what would happen if they were bumped from the Indianapolis 500. Nevertheless, the program remains in the very early stages. Like a wise man, once said, “Rome was not built in a day.” Lee: McLaren took a gamble by running its own operation with a small amount of assistance from Carlin, but I think they should have opted to work with someone with a whole lot more experience on the IndyCar side. While it is early, we still have a long way to go, in terms of teams finding speed in their cars. It would be absolutely catastrophic if Alonso doesn’t make the 500, but I think he should have enough speed to make the field. Special note: We continue to keep everyone affected by the UNC Charlotte shooting in our thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time. #CharlotteStrong #OneNinerNation Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to the another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. Most content will focus on NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major with a concentration in mass media and minor in journalism. He is a contributor to The Podium Finish and RockinghamNow. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. Keating Motorsports will become the first customer team with support from Ford Performance in the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. Representing the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the No. 85 Ford GT is set to be driven by Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Felipe Fraga in GTE Am. How do you think the Keating entry will perform at Le Mans? Lambeth: After running a factory program with Chip Ganassi Racing for several years, Ford is shifting gears, allowing customers to race the Ford GT. Like years in the past, I expect the Keating entry to be strong. Ben Keating, in particular, continues to improve as a driver year-after-year. For a bronze-rated driver, his performances rival some higher rated drivers. In this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, he was racing with a few household names in GT3 racing. When you add the blistering, fast Jeroen Bleekemolen and Brazilian stock car racer Felipe Fraga to the mix, do not be surprised if the No. 85 Ford GT is contending for GTE Am class honors. Lee: While Chip Ganassi has had plenty of success with the factory Ford GT program, it will be interesting to see another team take a go with the machine. Given the talented lineup of Keating, Bleekemolen and Fraga, Keating Motorsports will be one to watch in June. They will definitely have a chance at scoring a podium finish in the GTE Am class at Le Mans. 2. Patricio O’Ward and Harding Steinbrenner Racing have parted ways, prior to the start of the 2019 NTT IndyCar season. What’s your take on the latest development out of the IndyCar paddock? Lambeth: The split between Harding Steinbrenner Racing and Patricio O’Ward is devastating for each party involved and the NTT IndyCar Series, in general. In his IndyCar debut, last season at Sonoma Raceway, O’Ward qualified in the Firestone Fast Six. That is something that simply does not occur without possessing a special talent. Unfortunately, unless something comes together, this late in the game, the 2018 Indy Lights champion will be on the sidelines. However, he does have prize money from his championship season. It will be interesting to see if he can at least pick up a ride for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. O’Ward is potentially a future IndyCar star. The series cannot afford to lose him. Lee: Honestly, you hate to see when deals fall apart like this, especially with St. Petersburg right around the corner. I’m sure going into the offseason, knowing that you have a ride and then it’s taken away so close to the season is probably mentally taxing. O’Ward displayed a spectacular pace last year at Sonoma and turned a few heads. There’s still a lot to unfold from this situation. Surely, later on, more will be explained on why the deal went sour. 3. Many Formula 1 teams are unveiling their 2019 car to the public. We have just over a month until lights out in Melbourne. Heading into the new season, what intrigues you the most? Lambeth: I am curious to find out if the new aero changes will improve the on-track product. It is not a secret that Formula 1 lacks parity. Kimi Raikkonen is the last non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull driver to win a race. Raikkonen won the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, driving for Lotus. SIX years ago! We will find out if the changes to the front nose, in particular, will affect the racing as the season progresses. Lee: The biggest conversation during the offseason has been the tweaks to the aero package, in an effort to improve the racing. I’m really wondering if the simplification of the aero package will be as groundbreaking as the say it will for this upcoming season. 4. Contact between Jimmie Johnson and Paul Menard ignited the Big One during the Advance Auto Parts Clash. Menard was not pleased with Johnson’s move. Soon, after that, Mother Nature put the nail in the coffin to end the race. Jimmie Johnson was declared the winner after completing a total of 59 laps. What are your thoughts on “the clash” between Johnson and Menard? Lambeth: We already knew that the race could end at any moment, due to incoming rain. Jimmie Johnson made a move to pull out of line, made contact with Paul Menard and the majority of the field wrecked as a result. Honestly, it is just the nature of restrictor plate racing. Sometimes, you get it right. At other times, you get it wrong. At the end of the day, you have every competitor fighting to win a race. Lee: After a eventful day at Daytona, during The Clash, the single-file racing soon turned into a gigantic mess entering turn 3 on Sunday afternoon. The incident between Menard and Johnson was an example of what plate racing has been as of late. After a conga line, Johnson made quite an aggressive move and unfortunately it resulted in a huge pileup. I understand the anger from people, but at the same time, people would have also been angry if it stayed single-file until the end. 5. Big news dropped hours before the ARCA race at Daytona. Menards went from a presenting sponsor to the entitlement sponsor. The series will be known as the “ARCA Menards Series,” effective immediately. How significant is the deal for ARCA moving forward? Lambeth: It is fantastic for ARCA and Menards to grow their partnership together. Having an entitlement sponsor for the foreseeable future is always a good deal. I am interested to see what NASCAR’s plans are for the ARCA Menards Series in 2020 and beyond. Lee: I think it’s huge for Menards to continue to be involved in racing. I am very happy that ARCA was able to make a deal with a brand that has spent a great deal of money in motorsports. A great influx of sponsorship dollars as they continue to move towards the NASCAR ownership phase in 2020. 6. What's so special about nine consecutive days of racing at New Smyrna Speedway? Lambeth: It is certainly a perfect way to begin the racing season if you love stock car racing. Of course, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race is always entertaining. But you also get to watch Pro Late Models, Modifieds and Super Late Models, which is something that I do not watch often. It is nice to step outside of my comfort zone and learn new disciplines. Nevertheless, the tradition at New Smyrna is great for all involved. Come out and support your local short tracks! Lee: In the last few years, I’ve spent time during Speedweeks watching the Asphalt World Series and the K&N Series. From the “ground pounders” to the late models, they all manage to put good shows for nine consecutive nights at the famed short track. Honestly, for anyone who has time to be in Daytona during Speedweeks, making a visit to see at least one race at New Smyrna is well worth your time! 7. Name your picks for the remainder of Speedweeks. Lambeth: Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott will sweep the Gander RV Duels, officially giving Hendrick Motorsports a 1-2-3-4 start for the Great American Race. I think Brett Moffitt will start his GMS Racing tenure with a victory in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season opener, riding the momentum from his 2018 championship season. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I believe the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, with Chase Elliott, will drive into victory lane. For the Daytona 500, I am making a bold prediction with back-to-back wins to kick off the 50th anniversary season of Richard Childress Racing. Daniel Hemric is going to finally secure his first NASCAR victory, in the top three divisions, on the biggest stage. Lee: For the Gander RV Duels, my picks are Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. I feel like the Penske camp has a really good superspeedway program. The Ford Mustangs, as a whole, have a decent amount of pace and I don’t think enough people noticed them during The Clash. For the Truck Series season opener, I’m going to pick Harrison Burton, after he drove a great race last Saturday in the ARCA Menards Series. For the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I think the 2018 series champion Tyler Reddick will win, earning his second-consecutive win in the Daytona season opener. Lastly, the 61st running of the Daytona 500 should be an exciting one. I’m going with Brad Keselowski to earn his first Daytona 500 win this coming Sunday. Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to the another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. Most content will focus on NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major with a concentration in mass media and minor in journalism. He is a contributor to The Podium Finish and RockinghamNow. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. The 2019 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour did not disappoint as the race ended with a thrilling finish. Porsche Young Professional driver Matt Campbell left it all on the track, and squeezed his way past Jake Dennis to take the overall victory in the closing minutes. Campbell’s gutsy move earned Earl Bamber Motorsport its first win in their GT3 debut. In general, how exciting was this year’s 12-hour endurance classic? Lambeth: Matt Campbell put together a masterful drive, giving Earl Bamber Motorsport its maiden victory in the team’s first race in GT3 competition. Campbell, Dennis Olsen and Dirk Werner gave Porsche factory driver, Earl Bamber, something to smile about as his own team secured overall honors. The racing throughout the Bathurst 12 Hour was fantastic. There was hardly a dull moment. Manufacturers such as Porsche, BMW, Bentley, Aston Martin, Nissan and Mercedes battling for the win in the closing hours of the race displayed the amount of parity in GT3. Campbell certainly licked all of his stamps and sent them, passing Jake Dennis’ Aston Martin in a very tight spot. Without a doubt, Campbell maximized the potential of the Porsche 911 GT3 R to lead his team to a significant win in a crown jewel event. Lee: While I’m not familiar with every single driver in the field, for the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, it’s one that I mark on my calendar each year to kick off the racing season. The race itself was thrilling but the final 20-minute dash to the checkered flag was incredible. Porsche Young Professional driver Matt Campbell put together a classic drive that included a very risky, but neat pass on the Aston Martin of Jake Dennis to take home the victory. 2. Conor Daly has secured the most competitive ride of his career for the month of May. Daly is set to drive the No. 25 Honda, sponsored by the US Air Force. The native from Noblesville, Indiana will attempt to make the 2019 Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport. How crucial is this opportunity for Daly and his future hopes to return the NTT IndyCar Series full-time in the future? Lambeth: This is Conor Daly’s time to shine. He secured a top-notch ride, which could put him in position for a decent result. Andretti Autosport has a strong reputation for bringing race-winning equipment to the Brickyard in the month of May. After struggling to find a full-time deal in the NTT IndyCar Series, a flawless performance at Indianapolis could turn around the American’s career. He needs to maximize the opportunity and show the world that Conor Daly is worthy of a full-time ride with a top-tier team. Lee: To many, it’s about time that Conor Daly gets a chance in a great ride. This is a pretty crucial time for him as he prepares to make the field of 33 for the Indy 500. This could be a make or break moment for the young driver. If he performs well, this might help him in the long run and possibly secure himself a high level ride in the NTT IndyCar Series. 3. Last week, teams from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series tested the 2019 aero package at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Journalist Jeff Gluck provided his take on the new rules package and motorsport.com’s Jim Utter did the same. Between NASCAR’s live stream and Gluck’s periscopes, what are your initial thoughts on the the 2019 aero package? How do you feel about the reaction on social media? Lambeth: Based on the footage from the test, I believe that it is still too soon to make a fair assessment of the 2019 aero package. Of course, the cars were much closer together and it seemed difficult to pass the leader. I am not praising or trying to down the package, but I think we need to wait until we have a 40-car field in racing conditions before casting judgement. In my opinion, we need to give it some time and a couple of races. Then, feel free to assess the package after giving it a chance. The reaction on Twitter was largely negative, for the most part. I understand that you will not please everyone with the rule changes. However, what is the point in repeating the same negative comments over and over all day long? This accomplishes absolutely nothing. There is a difference between constructive criticism and downright negativity. After a while, the repetitiveness really gets old. I cannot imagine if we have to hear the negativity each week until November. I am struggling to understand why some choose to criticize a product that has not experienced the real test yet. After we get a couple of races under our belt, then we will see if the 2019 aero package is a success or failure. Lee: Gotta crack my knuckles for this one... The 2019 aero package has been the biggest talking point since NASCAR announced it last season. Needless to say, I spent a good deal of time watching the package live. So far, I’ve noticed that it’s hard for drivers to pass the leader. Also, a lot of the mid-pack drivers were able to pass each other quite a bit, especially during the cooler session in the evening. However, in an age of instant reaction, (virtually what social media has become) it’s very easy to just automatically agree with every single person and hate the new, on-track product. I understand the frustration from fans to an extent, but let’s face it, none of what we saw was true, racing conditions. None of this has been used in a full race yet. Therefore, there’s only so much you can really take from the test session. Actually, let the product marinate before you prepare to judge something. This aero package might be interesting to some people while others might downright hate it. There’s no way that people in real life have this much energy to be negative about everything, it’s frankly unhealthy. Give something a chance like most would do anything else. 4. Last Friday night, five new members were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame: Jack Roush, Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison, Roger Penske and Jeff Gordon. In your eyes, how did each individual make an impact in the sport? Lambeth: A great group of individuals were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. Starting with Jack Roush, he is a legendary team owner, who has won NASCAR championships at each level of the national series. His commitment to the sport, plus the start of the Roush-Yates alliance helped transform Ford Performance. Roush has certainly accomplished a lot during his time in NASCAR. Alan Kulwicki was an old school racer. The 1992 Winston Cup champion took the fight to teams with better funding. Kulwicki did things his own way and won the title as an owner/driver with limited money pouring into the program. This is probably something that will never be replicated at NASCAR’s premier level ever again. His death was a dark day for the sport. I must admit, I had no idea who Kulwicki was until the “Dinner with Racers” podcast deeply explored his career. After learning about Kulwicki, it made me really respect what he did with little, in comparison to the bigger organizations. Prior to his tragic death, Davey Allison was having a very successful NASCAR career, following in the footsteps of father, Bobby Allison. If the helicopter crash did not occur, I wonder what Davey Allison would have accomplished throughout the remainder of his career. For both Kulwicki and Allison, there is certainly a question of what ifs. Roger Penske is a household name in multiple disciplines of motorsports. He has accomplished more than most team owners could dream of. “Penske Perfect” earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame. Although “The Captain” has earned many significant honors throughout his life, there is still more for him to accomplish. Finally, Jeff Gordon is credited for taking NASCAR mainstream. His personality off-the-track and driving talent helped the sport grow its recognition to a national audience. When the common individual heard the word, “NASCAR,” Gordon’s name would come to mind. It brought new eyes to stock car racing as the sport continued to grow. When you add four Cup championships, 93 Cup wins, winning the most prestigious NASCAR races multiple times and completely dominating certain tracks during his career, Jeff Gordon could be in the conversation as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all-time. Lee: For starters, this was my favorite class next to the Class of 2015 that has the addition of Wendell Scott. First, Jack Roush is an absolutely storied man in the history of NASCAR, one of the pioneers of modern safety in NASCAR racing with his invention of the roof flap that has saved plenty of drivers over the years. Let alone, he is one of the greatest car owners in the history of NASCAR. Alan Kulwicki was the true definition of a guy who made something out nothing. His historic championship run in 1992 is one that I don’t think we’ll ever see again. Although his determination and efforts will likely never be seen again, I believe he is one of the greatest NASCAR champions. Davey Allison is someone I wish I had seen compete while he was alive, from what I’ve seen in documentaries. He was a personality that NASCAR still needs in the modern era. Besides his genuine spirit, his stats are very comparable to some of our current champions and I think he would have won multiple championships in NASCAR if had he lived. After watching the mini-doc “Quest for the Empty Cup: The 1992 Championship,” I had a different level of respect for him. As for Roger Penske, he’s a guy across the board in motorsports, so you have to just give a ton of respect to him. He’s won in almost everything you could ever think of and let alone one of the greatest businessmen in motorsports. Finally and surely, a very important one, Jeff Gordon, the driver who was Dale Earnhardt’s rival for many years completed an absolutely class career. Besides being known on the race track, Gordon still has that superstar personality and vibe to match his 93 wins in Cup. Easily, he can be thrown in the conversation of being one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. The amount of attention he brought to the sport was amazing. Still, to this day, you can find someone rocking a throwback “Rainbow Warrior” jacket and everybody knows that’s a Jeff Gordon jacket. 5. The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season-opener takes place on Saturday at Daytona, while the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season begins at New Smyrna Speedway on Sunday. What type of action should we expect from each series this weekend? Lambeth: ARCA and K&N always produce close action. There are a lot of young drivers looking to make a name for themselves this season. While much of the focus will be on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this weekend, do not forget about the incredible action: ARCA at Daytona and K&N at New Smyrna. There is no better way to kickoff the 2019 season than a superspeedway and short track race. Some of the drivers competing in each event will likely be racing in Cup years down the road. Lee: A-R-C-A NIGHT IN AMERICA! Do I have to say anything else? As usual, it’s going to be a good show on the high banks of Daytona for ARCA. It’s always a treat to watch every year! I’m happy that they’ve changed the G-W-C rule which will hopefully prevent the mess of what happened last year. As for New Smyrna, that place is quite special to me since it was the first late model race I ever saw. The World Series of Asphalt Stock, along with the K&N Series, should be fun with tons of young and talented drivers! 6. On Sunday afternoon, we will set the front row for the 61st running of the Daytona 500. After qualifying, the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2019, The Clash, will take place on the high banks of Daytona. Who will sit on the front row for The Great American Race? Predict the winner of The Clash. Lambeth: I think Richard Childress Racing will continue their good fortunate from last year’s Speedweeks by locking down the front row. Rookie Daniel Hemric will start on pole and defending Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon will start alongside him. I predict that Brad Keselowski will begin the new season in victory lane by winning The Clash. Lee: So glad that it’s finally time for the Great American race! As for qualifying, for the 61st running of the event, I believe a car out of the Hendrick camp will take the pole. I’m going with the young gun Chase Elliott to take the pole for the Daytona 500. I’m going to switch to the Toyota side and pick Denny Hamlin to win The Clash! 7. What is your biggest hot take heading into the 2019 NASCAR season? Lambeth: I believe that Bubba Wallace and Richard Petty Motorsports will make significant gains since last season. I am predicting a top-20 points finish for the team. After a full year of experience under his belt, Wallace and the No. 43 team are ready to bring the legendary number closer to the front of the field. Although I think the playoffs are slightly out of reach, Wallace can put together some decent runs this season. The 2019 aero package could play into their favor by bringing the competition closer. Lee: One way to close a column out is a good ole’ spicy take. For my take, I can see Ryan Preece making the playoffs and he’ll be crowned the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year. His story of moving up to Cup is one I have enjoyed to watch, from his attachment to grassroots racing to roughing up Elliott Sadler at Homestead-Miami. I think he’ll have a solid rookie campaign in 2019 and will be one to watch throughout the season. Extra Point: On Monday afternoon, NASCAR announced a series of changes. Which one stands out the most? Lambeth: After so many years of frustration, NASCAR FINALLY decided that it is time to disqualify illegal cars. It never felt right to me for them to “penalize” an illegal car, but it was more like a slap on the wrist. I applaud NASCAR for developing a backbone and no longer tolerating cars that failed to follow the rules. In my opinion, this is a decision that was long overdue. As Nick Bromberg says, what a time to be alive! Lee: Well, well, a rule change that many people have wanted for quite some time, and that’s disqualifying drivers at the track for “major” penalties in post-race inspection. A lot of people have wanted this to happen for years. I really hope that NASCAR sticks to their guns on this one and truly lay down the law on illegal cars. On Monday, with all of the breaking news, this is the one that many people have come to agree on. Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to the another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. The main focus is NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well. Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte studying mass media and journalism as a Communications major. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications and a member of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.
1. On Tuesday afternoon, the defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning team, Furniture Row Racing announced they will cease operations at end of the season. Martin Truex Jr. will be forced to look for a new ride, including crew chief Cole Pearn and others. What does this say about the state of NASCAR? Where will Truex end up in 2019? Lambeth: First and foremost, I am absolutely gutted for all of the members of the team. It is hard finding jobs in today's society, and members of Furniture Row Racing will be on the market at the end of the season. Colorado is a long way from North Carolina. I really do feel for those who moved out to the Denver area to be a part of the program. The NASCAR business model must change soon. It is a shame when the championship-winning team at the top level of NASCAR does not have the necessary funding to continue. Hopefully, we will not see other top-tier organizations close their doors in upcoming seasons. I do not hold the knowledge to make an educated comment on NASCAR’s state. However, I hope those in charge are noticing the struggles and work together towards taking a stand against the issue. Multiple rumors link Martin Truex Jr. to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019. We will continue watching this story develop. Lee: This is one of the most surprising news stories out of NASCAR in quite some time. I definitely wish the best in job searches for all the employees who moved out to Denver to work for Furniture Row Racing. It’s a tough climate as it is and I hope for the best for them. With this happening, it has to say something about the current state of the sport. Clearly sponsorship $$$ are key, but the real question is what is causing these sponsors to leave? It makes you wonder if a spending cap needs to be in place in order to make things work. At this moment, I personally think the current business model has to be revised and looked at. Teams that are championship caliber shouldn’t be leaving this way. 2. Last weekend, Ross Chastain won his first-career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole. After making contact with Cup driver Kevin Harvick, Chastain’s perfect race went downhill to a 25th-place result. Despite the disappointing finish, Chastain proved that he is worthy of top-notch equipment. After the incident, Harvick criticized Chastain on television. “That’s probably the reason that he’ll never get to drive many of them again.” Do you agree with Harvick’s controversial comments? Lambeth: I strongly disagree with Kevin Harvick's comments about Ross Chastain. In the old-fashioned way, Chastain earned his opportunity with Chip Ganassi Racing. He performed exceptionally well in non-Cup equipment and showcased his talent. Therefore, he earned a three-race deal in the competitive Ganassi car. I believe the incident in last week's Xfinity race was nothing more than two drivers fighting hard for a win. Darlington is a special race that every driver wants to win. Lee: I COMPLETELY disagree with what Kevin Harvick had to say about Chastain. Let’s not forget a certain someone had to work their way up to be the prominent Cup driver they are today :). Nevertheless, Chastain has done nothing but earned his ride the old-fashioned way. He has worked his tail off in lower tier equipment. He’s earned his right to be in top-notch equipment. While having the three-race deal with Ganassi, I can see him getting more opportunities down the road for sure. 3. Fernando Alonso is scheduled to do some testing at Barber Motorsports Park with Andretti Autosport. What would his potential IndyCar arrival in 2019 mean for the sport? Lambeth: It would be huge for IndyCar and motorsports in general. Arguably, Alonso is one of the most popular racing drivers in the world. Amazingly, he is able to bring an audience anywhere he goes. IndyCar is currently on the rise, and imagine what happens when you bring the “Alonso Effect.” Nevertheless, it would be entertaining to watch a seasoned F1 veteran adapt to the challenges of IndyCar racing. Lee: I think Alonso coming to the states would be huge for IndyCar. The test at Barber Motorsports Park definitely is making the “Alonso to IndyCar” sound more realistic. He’s a once in a generation driver and it would be incredible to watch his talent in the United States. If that happens I’ll be looking into tickets myself! 4. McLaren will promote their junior driver Lando Norris to F1 next season to partner Carlos Sainz Jr. Norris is the most intriguing British racing talent since Lewis Hamilton. How will this move impact the driver market? Lambeth: Lando Norris will certainly be a great addition to the F1 grid. Based on his performance in the junior categories, fans have reason to be excited for his debut. Unfortunately, his addition means Stoffel Vandoorne will not return to the team. At one point, Vandoorne was considered F1's next superstar. However, due to numerous circumstances, it did not work out like many expected. McLaren has not produced a competitive car in a while. Also, being a teammate to a more experienced, faster Alonso hurt as well. The best option for Vandoorne to remain on the grid is likely in a new environment. He has been rumored at Toro Rosso and Alfa Romeo Sauber. Norris’ deal rules out a McLaren switch for Esteban Ocon. Will the talented French driver be left without a drive in 2019? There is still a long way to go in silly season. Lee: Interesting to see Lando Norris make the jump to F1 next season. Easily a great talent that will be added to McLaren. A young driver with a not so competitive car will be interesting. He won’t be able to give the feedback that Alonso was able to do, which could also make things difficult for the team. Now, I think this can make a slight impact on the driver market with Vandoorne looking to find a ride for next season. Silly season in F1 should be entertaining. 5. The Verizon IndyCar Series championship battle will go down to the wire. Scott Dixon looks to add a fifth title to his long list of accomplishments. However, 29-points behind, Alexander Rossi will fight hard until the final checkered flag. Which driver will become champion at Sonoma Raceway? Lambeth: As the season is nearing its end, I believe we will finally see how much Alexander Rossi cost himself by throwing away a victory at Belle Isle. Everyone will be calling “five-time" because Scott Dixon is going to win the championship. Lee: The IndyCar series championship has been one for the ages this season with the exciting battle between Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi. Now, it comes down to the final race at Sonoma, Rossi has made a valiant effort all season long to rival the four-time IndyCar champion. I’m going to go with the opposite of Kobe this weekend and pick Rossi to take home the title. 6. What are the five most important races in NASCAR? Lambeth: Obviously, the Daytona 500 has to be the most prestigious race on the calendar. Next, the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the season is quite the marathon. Endurance and reliability are some of the keys to winning the 600-mile race. Third, the Southern 500 at Darlington is next on the list. Throwback weekend at a “driver's track” makes this one very special. Brad Keselowski displayed plenty of emotion after his victory on Sunday night. Fourth, the Brickyard 400 is still a crown jewel race, in my opinion. Although the track does not produce the best action for stock cars, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still a very iconic place filled with history. Finally, the Bristol night race takes the final spot. There is something special about “Thunder Valley" under the lights. Lee: I think for me it’s the Southern 500, Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Night Race at Bristol and Ford 400. The Southern 500 in my eyes is one of the best races of the year and always my favorite on the schedule. It really brings the best out of drivers, a endurance test and a true driver's track. Second, the Daytona 500, purely based on the history of the event and always one of the biggest sporting events to start of the new season. Third, the Coca-Cola 600, one of the longest events of the season and a great way to begin the summer. It takes a great team effort to run a complete Coke 600. Fourth on my list is the Night Race at Bristol, one of the marquee events of the summer at the world famous Coliseum. I’m a huge short track fan who loves seeing the action packed racing on the 0.533-mile oval. Lastly and this will shock some people is the Ford 400. Over the years I’ve grown to love Homestead. As the final race of the season, the progressive banking and the ability to have multiple grooves is always a treat. I think it’s a great way to close out the season and the track should get way more credit. 7. It's a great week of racing in Indianapolis. On Thursday night, there will be a midget race on the IMS dirt track honoring the late Bryan Clauson. The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards travels to Lucas Oil Raceway for Friday night short track racing. Finally, Xfinity and Cup will take on the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Why is this such a special week? Lambeth: In general, Indianapolis is a special area. The dirt race should be very entertaining with the mix of regulars, NASCAR stars, and IndyCar driver Conor Daly. Lucas Oil Raceway always produces excellent short track action. Indianapolis Motor Speedway speaks for itself. An iconic track filled with so many memories and history. It does not matter which series is competing at the track, an Indy victory is very meaningful. Lee: Indianapolis and racing itself is already synonyms, but as the summer comes to a close, racing hits the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway one more time before summer is over. I grew up being quite excited for both the Truck and Xfinity series to go there and race under the lights. However, times have changed. Now, ARCA will take on the famous short track and it should be quite a race on Friday night. As Cup and Xfinity get ready to take on the “Brickyard,” the historic venue saw a wild weekend in both races with William Byron taking home a win and the unexpected win in Kasey Kahne last year. This place has a ton of history involving stock cars dating back to 1994 and with the Playoffs on the line again it should be a good one. |