Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to 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 contributes to motorsports coverage at The Podium Finish. 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. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing announced that Alexander Albon will stay with the team, in 2020, as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly remain at Toro Rosso. Do you think Albon can challenge Verstappen? Are you surprised that Kvyat and Gasly are staying put? Lambeth: I actually believe that Albon’s form is rivaling Verstappen’s, at the moment. The kid has plenty of upside. Give him a full season in Red Bull equipment and we will see what he can really do. I have a feeling that he will push Verstappen to become an even better driver. As for the unchanged driver lineup at Toro Rosso, it does not surprise me at all. They do not have anyone in the Red Bull Junior program ready for a promotion. Kvyat is making the most of his return to the team. Plus, Gasly seems more at home here, in comparison to his time at Red Bull. This decision was almost a no brainer. Lee: I had a feeling this signing was on the way for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. He’s had a solid season being sixth in the points and this was only on a half season. I think he can have a breakout year in 2020 and very well may turn into a great teammate for Max Verstappen. As for Kvyat and Gasly, I don’t think either surprise me because I don’t think there’s anyone ready to make the jump to their senior program. 2. Rebellion Racing took care of business, winning the FIA WEC 4 Hours of Shanghai. The trio of Bruno Senna, Gustavo Menezes and Norman Nato claimed the overall victory, defeating Toyota’s LMP1 Hybrid. Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi described the racing as “artificial,” due to the introduction of a success handicap. The goal is to create closer racing in the championship’s top category. Meanwhile, Gustavo Menezes believed that it helped produce “real racing” in LMP1 for the first time in a while. Is success handicap a good or a bad thing? Lambeth: Since this is the final year of the LMP1 regulations, I actually do not blame the series for trying to put on a better show. Since Audi and Porsche departed the LMP1 ranks, Toyota has dominated with its hybrid technology. The non-hybrid prototypes literally did not have a true shot at winning. With the success handicap, it allowed Rebellion Racing to blow by Toyota on the straights and ultimately secure the grand prize. However, I totally understand Buemi’s frustration. Toyota is usually blowing off everybody else’s doors. Last weekend, the roles were reversed. They were in unfamiliar territory. With the Hypercar era starting next season, you might as well try something to “fix” the racing for a season until the new regulations begin. It might be artificial like Buemi said, but it definitely put on some solid racing. Lee: In quite a fashion, Rebellion Racing picked up a win in Shanghai. Most folks probably thought it would be dominated by Toyota. Despite the BoP (Balance of Performance), I think you still have to give credit where credit is due when someone does beat you. I don’t think the “artificial” comment would have been made if Toyota won. I think the handicap can be a benefit in a class where most of the time one team dominates and takes it home. 3. Let’s talk about the package. Since ISM Raceway is hosting championship weekend, in 2020, was the on-track product last Sunday unacceptable? Should NASCAR consider making changes such as a smaller spoiler and less downforce for the 750 horsepower package? Lambeth: In my opinion, something must be done with the package that includes 750 horsepower. I am not an engineer but I think the small blade and less downforce would be a step in the right direction. I completely understand that every race will not be a “Game 7.” However, the drivers and fans deserved better than last Sunday’s race. With ISM Raceway hosting the championship race, in 2020, NASCAR should definitely consider making some changes to this particular package. Without a doubt, the latest Cup race at ISM Raceway should be deemed as unacceptable. I do not anticipate any changes, but I hope to be proven wrong. Lee: I think it’s quite clear that there has to be a change moving forward and that’s quite a simple fix to me. Small blade and lower downforce have to be implemented at the short tracks and road courses next year. I hope this changes but I’m not sure it will with no changes announced yet for 2020. 4. JD Motorsports announced that Jesse Little will join its 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series program as a full-time driver. Could this finally be Little’s big break in his career? Lambeth: UNC Charlotte’s Jesse Little will have the opportunity of a lifetime. Going full-time Xfinity racing with a program owned by Johnny Davis and Gary Keller should definitely be considered a big break. This team is known for giving drivers a chance to showcase their skills behind the wheel. Ross Chastain is the prime example. Without his performances in the 4 car, he might not be where he is today. Chastain should serve as a good inspiration for a young driver such as Little looking to make his name in the Xfinity Series. Lee: The UNC Charlotte student is definitely a driver who deserves an opportunity to have a full-time ride. If there’s anyone who can make something out of very Little, it’s been him. Having a chance to be in a JDM car for a full year will be good for him. I think it may show a lot of people that don’t know, the type of talent he possesses. Best of luck to Jesse Little in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. 5. Prediction: 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion. Lambeth: Ross Chastain. There is going to be a watermelon party in South Beach! Lee: This is the only similar pick me and Kobe have. I think Ross Chastain can take it home and finish writing the storybook championship ending. 6. Prediction: 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. Lambeth: Christopher Bell. This is the perfect way to go out on top, before graduating to Leavine Family Racing’s Cup program. Lee: I’m going with Justin Allgaier! Despite only having one win this season, I think he’ll be a sleeper pick for Saturday. 7. Prediction: 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion. Lambeth: Denny Hamlin. This could be his best chance to secure a title, so he will go all out and make the most of it. Lee: I’m taking Martin Truex Jr. I think out of the Championship 4 drivers, he’s the best at Homestead, in my opinion. It wouldn’t shock me if he wins his second title! Bonus Point: Peugeot will return to top flight prototype racing in 2022, with the French manufacturer announcing its commitment to the FIA WEC Hypercar concept. What are your thoughts on Peugeot returning to the sport? Lambeth: As a kid, I remember racing their last generation LMP1 car on Gran Turismo 6. The 908 HDi FAP is by far one of my favorite prototypes of all-time. Having them return is great for the sport. If all works out, it will be them taking on the likes of Toyota and Aston Martin for overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, if we can get DPi to Le Mans with Hypercar, the 2020s should be a golden age for sports car racing with a variety of manufacturers. Lee: I think it’s huge that they are coming back to race on the world stage again. All you need is Audi to return and we’ve got ourself some early 2000s prototype racing. It’s great to have a household name coming back to the sport, so I’m pretty thrilled about it. BRING. BACK. THE. PLAYSTATION. LIVERY. PLEASE.
0 Comments
Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to 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 contributes to motorsports coverage at The Podium Finish. 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. For many years, Roger Penske has owned the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a figurative sense. On Monday morning, he officially became the literal owner of the entire show. What are your thoughts on this shocking development? Lambeth: Wow. Wow. WOW. Cue the Coby White (Chicago Bulls basketball player) meme. This news caught everybody in the motorsports community completely off guard. Nobody saw this coming from a mile away. My alarm actually just went off when the news dropped about Roger Penske taking over everything on the IndyCar side of things. At first, I thought it was a dream, but it turned out to be real life. If it had to be sold, I am glad that someone as successful and passionate about motorsports such as The Captain purchased it. I am happy that it did not fall into the wrong hands. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see what his plans are for IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lee: Honestly, between Kobe and my friend Dontre, I thought they were playing when they sent me this on Monday morning. Still one of the most shocking things I’ve heard in quite some time but its a real thing. I think it could be a monumental moment for the sport; it may very well be a big deal in American motorsports for years to come. The move itself could create NASCAR and IndyCar doubleheaders and that would be incredibly beneficial in the motorsports realm. 2. With the Hulman-George family handing the keys to The Captain, do you think the family made the right move? Lambeth: As Tony George stated, his family took it as far as they could, but it was time for them to move on. The Captain has the business expertise and knowledge to take IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway into a new era. They made the right move handing the reins to one of the most successful motorsports businessmen in history. I would rather have someone like Penske take over, instead of a person with no true ties to the industry. Lee: I think the family had their time and are ready to move into a brand new era of the sport. Selling to Roger Penske is perfect rather than selling it to someone who doesn’t really care about the sport. 3. Earlier this year, Roger Penske stated his support for guaranteed starting positions in the Indianapolis 500 for full-time teams. With him in control of the series now, do you think potential changes to Bump Day might be coming soon? Lambeth: Honestly, I strongly believe that Bump Day should be left alone. It is the perfect qualifying format which makes it unique. No provisionals or charters are currently in place to save a driver in danger of missing the show. It should ALWAYS be the fastest 33. Hopefully, Penske does not attempt to fix this because there is nothing wrong with this format. Lee: This is the only fear that I have since Penske supported having all full-time drivers locked into the Indy 500. I think we need to keep Bump Day the same. I’m a firm believer in the FASTEST 33 making it into the show. I hope this doesn’t change in the future. 4. Do you think a potential doubleheader weekend between NASCAR and IndyCar appears to be more likely with Penske in command? Lambeth: While I want Bump Day to remain the same, I am optimistic about the possibility of a doubleheader weekend someday. This part would be a change that I would be open to. However, there will likely be a ton of moving parts for this dream to turn into a reality. Bringing NASCAR and IndyCar together at the same track for a special doubleheader weekend sounds like a good thing for motorsports. Both sets of fans will have the opportunity to see something different. We need unification instead of division. Lee: With Penske in command, I really do wonder what's going to happen in the series in the next few years. The one thing I think that will happen first will be the chance of us seeing doubleheader weekends paired with whichever respective NASCAR series. It’s something that needs to happen and if Penske can get this started, it may open the door for an even more interesting future. 5. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch is set to compete in the 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona, driving a Lexus RC F GT3 for AIM Vasser Sullivan. How do you think the talented stock car racer will adapt to the GTD category? Lambeth: I think Kyle Busch will be perfectly fine when he takes on the Rolex 24 in a GTD car. Like most drivers, not familiar with a different car, it will take a little time before he gets comfortable. However, I am fairly confident that Rowdy will get up to speed in no time. It should be a new experience for Busch because GTD is the slowest class in IMSA. I am looking forward to watching him get a glimpse of being lapped traffic, attempting to stay out of the way of the faster DPi, LMP2 and GTLM cars. Lee: This will be his second time (Grand-Am debut in 2009) taking on an IMSA weekend but in a slower car this time around. I don’t think it will be bad for him, he’s an incredibly talented race car driver. Being in the slowest class will come with its own challenges, but I think he’ll manage well being lapped traffic for a change. It should be cool to see him run in the event in January. 6. With Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick punching their tickets to the Championship 4, who will join them for the title fight in Homestead? Lambeth: I think Kyle Busch will make it to Homestead without any major issues. As for the final spot, it is hard to choose between Joey Logano and someone below the cutoff line. Based on his form throughout the season, I find it difficult to imagine going to Homestead without Denny Hamlin fighting for the title. For some reason, it just seems like his year. In order to get a shot, he might have to win this weekend at ISM Raceway. Lee: With only two tickets remaining, I’m going with Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin to make it to Homestead. I really have a strong feeling that both drivers will have strong enough runs to get them into the Championship 4. I feel like if someone like Kyle Larson wins at ISM Raceway, he’s an EASY favorite to take it all in Miami. 7. Lewis Hamilton secured his sixth Formula 1 World Championship at COTA. Will he tie Michael Schumacher with seven titles, which is most all-time? Where does Hamilton rank among the F1 greats? Lambeth: If Mercedes continues building top cars, then I think Hamilton has a good shot at catching and potentially passing Schumacher in titles. He is a special talent that often gets disrespected. By the end of his career, Hamilton’s legacy will probably be one of the greatest ones in Formula 1 history. He is already deserving to have his name used in the same sentence as some of F1’s all-time greats. Lee: The dream started in 2007 and here we are in 2019 talking about Lewis Hamilton’s SIXTH championship in Formula 1. I think he easily has a chance to tie Michael Schumacher and it wouldn’t surprise me if he did it in 2020. Without a doubt, he’s one of the greatest drivers of all-time. Big ups to Lewis Hamilton! Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to 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 for 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. Josef Newgarden is a two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion. How would you describe his 2019 championship season? Lambeth: Newgarden had a strong, consistent season on his way to a second IndyCar title, in the last three years. He won four races and did exactly what he needed to do, in order to bring home the hardware. To be honest, I thought throwing away valuable points at Mid-Ohio and Gateway would prove costly. However, the 28-year-old American driver maintained his championship lead during the final stretch of the season. Lee: As the 2019 season came to a close, Josef Newgarden has scored his second IndyCar title. Besides the mishaps at Mid-Ohio and Gateway, he remained consistent in his efforts to take home the new hardware. Newgarden kept it clean on Sunday and came out on top! 2. What was your most memorable moment of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season? Lambeth: Without a doubt, it has to be the Cinderella story from Bump Day at Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Juncos Racing and Kyle Kaiser sent home mighty McLaren Racing and two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso. Juncos Racing did not have a sponsor for the Indy 500, before sending McLaren and Alonso to the airport prematurely. Ultimately, Juncos ended up getting sponsorship for the race. If you like underdog stories, then you really appreciated what Juncos Racing were able to accomplish with Kyle Kaiser. Lee: For me, I’d say the resurgence of Simon Pagenaud during the month of May. After having a rough start to the season, it led to several rumours of him being out of a ride for 2020. After winning the Indy Grand Prix, he capped off a victory in the biggest race of the calendar, the Indy 500. Also, it didn’t stop there for him as the consistency would remain by finishing second in the championship. 3. What are some of the top storylines heading into the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season? Lambeth: I think a lot of people are going to be intrigued to learn the driver lineup at Arrow McLaren Racing SP. This is definitely a story to follow. Also, the Red Bull Aeroscreen is set to debut as well. More safety advancements are arriving to IndyCar. Lee: For me, I would have to say the mystery of where Conor Daly may potentially land for 2020. After completing several one-off drives, for several teams, it makes everyone wonder will it be time for him to achieve a full-time seat. I think he has the talent and should be in someone’s car next year. 4. For the first time in over a year, Sebastian Vettel returned to the top step of the podium, securing victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. Will this become a confident booster for the Ferrari driver, who has struggled with his form this season? Lambeth: Thanks to Ferrari pit strategy, Vettel was able to overtake teammate Charles Leclerc, which ultimately led to a much needed victory. This should be good for his confident, after showing a dismal form in multiple races. At Singapore, his form was perfect. Let’s see if he can use this as momentum for the remainder of the season. Lee: Sebastian Vettel finally gets back on the podium, after a year long wait. An odd pit call strategy by Ferrari caused Vettel to navigate his way to the point and it led to his first victory of 2019. I think this will be a big confidence boost for him as the season prepares to close out. 5. The Haas F1 Team announced an unchanged driver lineup for the 2020 Formula 1 season. Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will remain teammates. Do you think this was a good move to keep consistency, instead of looking at a driver such as Nico Hulkenberg? Lambeth: I was shocked by Haas’ decision not to tweak the 2020 driver lineup. The return of Kevin Magnussen was expected, but I thought Romain Grosjean was set to get dropped by the team. This move caught me off guard. I expected Nico Hulkenberg to be one of the leading candidates to partner Magnussen. It would be such a shame if Hulkenberg does not find a seat for 2020. He is too talented to be on the sidelines. The only realistic seat seems to be Williams (vacated by Kubica), at the moment. Adding Hulkenberg to the Haas lineup would have at least been a breath of fresh air. Lee: This one right here has to be one of the most confusing things I’ve seen so far for a team. Haas has had a plethora of issues with the current lineup they have and I honestly thought this would be the time for them to blow it up. Instead, they’ve decided to stick with the same exact team for next season. With Nico Hulkenberg being available, most would imagine they’d get him. I feel like midway through next year they’ll be kicking themselves. 6. Robert Kubica will not return to Williams Racing in 2020. Kubica is set to pursue other opportunities in motorsports. Despite not driving a competitive car, how much respect does Kubica deserve for fighting his way back to Formula 1, after nearly losing his arm in a rally crash? Who do you think will replace him at Williams? Lambeth: While many doubted his ability to drive a Formula 1 car again, Robert Kubica never stopped believing in himself. He worked incredibly hard to make it back to the F1 grid. In 2019, his dream return became a reality. The man nearly lost his arm in a horrific rally crash. People said that he would not be able to handle the current nature of F1 cars. He proved those doubters wrong. Although he was unable to replicate his old form for obvious reasons, Kubica deserves nothing but respect for finding a way back. In the end, he gets to leave on his own terms and make the next decision. Honestly, the only realistic option as his replacement at Williams would likely be Formula 2 driver Nicholas Latifi. Lee: Despite not being able to keep his ride, I think it’s still incredible that he was able to get back into Formula 1 once again. Not really sure what more he could do in a car that’s already not that good. Kudos to him for being able to prove every single person wrong; this also could be a good thing for him. Perhaps he may find himself another ride in another discipline and be better off. However, I’d imagine Nicholas Latifi is the automatic pick for Williams in 2020. 7. The Queen City is electric. NASCAR has returned home. After waiting all season long, it is finally ROVAL week at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Last year’s inaugural race weekend proved to be chaotic at times, especially with the additional pressure of the playoffs. Do you expect more of the same? Lambeth: Absolutely! I feel so honored that I got to witness the first ROVAL weekend in history last year. It was a wild weekend of racing. I fully expect this year’s edition to be even crazier. If you have not been to this event in person, I definitely recommend adding it to your bucket list. Lee: I’m super amped up to be back at the Roval again, which was the first race I got to cover working for MRN, so I’ve got quite the buzz. It should be a great race with elimination on the line. It’s going to be some guys taking risks to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to 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 for 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. Bubba Wallace won the hearts of many NASCAR fans, earning a third-place finish in the Brickyard 400. Wallace scored his best finish of the season in a points race. Do you think this was one of the best drives of his Cup career? Lambeth: Without a doubt, Bubba Wallace put on a show at Indianapolis. The 43 car displayed tremendous speed all weekend long. However, I did not expect them to have this great of a race. After the way the season started, finishing third has to feel like a win for this squad. Add this drive to the list of impressive finishes with the 2018 Daytona 500 and the All-Star Race in May. In my opinion, this was his strongest Cup race from start to finish. Moving forward, let’s see if Richard Petty Motorsports can build off this performance and continue to show growth for the final 10 races of the season. Lee: Besides the Daytona 500, in 2018, or the All-Star Race, I think this was one of his best drives since then. It’s been a rough season for Richard Petty Motorsports and this is the ultimate confidence builder for them. With only 10 weeks to go, in the season, this is the type of momentum you want heading into the offseason. Hopefully, they can keep this up as we close out the 2019 season. 2. Erik Jones and Brad Keselowski collided on the exit of Turn 2, sending the No. 2 Ford Mustang spinning towards the inside wall. Ultimately, crashing into some tire barriers, at an awkward angle. Do you think the barriers did its job or should Indianapolis find a better solution? Lambeth: Honestly, I am not an expert on track safety features, so I will leave that up to the professionals. However, the angle of Keselowski’s crash was a bit odd. Luckily, he walked away because that looked scary on television. Indianapolis Motor Speedway will likely review the incident and see if they can make some improvements in the future. Lee: On Sunday, we all witnessed some pretty hard crashes at the track last weekend at Indy. I think the tire barriers did what they were supposed to do in that situation, but that wall angle does need to be changed. Having a wall that’s angled at 90 degrees is just a recipe for disaster. IMS is one of the leaders in safety, in the world of motorsports, so I would expect a change will be made to that wall next year. 3. It is not a secret that a number of people want to see NASCAR depart Indianapolis. Answer these two questions: Do you think should leave Indy? Do you think they will leave Indy? Lambeth: This is a hard question for me to answer. I agree that Indianapolis does not particularly put on the most spectacular racing, since the track is not a good fit for stock cars. On the other side, the history and prestige means so much to me. Even when I am racing at Indy, on video games, I get a special feeling in my heart. If we are looking for a track to produce excitement and entertainment, then maybe it is time to move in a different direction. But I do not see them leaving Indy anytime soon, despite all of the complaints we see about the on-track product. Should they look at the road course, which has become a fixture on the IndyCar schedule? Lee: Plenty of people want this to happen, but I don’t think NASCAR will be leaving the Brickyard anytime soon. It’s got a ton of prestige on it own but I think what’s caused a lot of attendance woes goes back to 2008 and possibly the lack of Indiana connection (Tony Stewart for example) that doesn’t exist in the field currently. Despite the cry for NASCAR to go back to Lucas Oil Raceway, I don’t think Cup or any series will be headed that way in the future. 4. The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff grid is set. Early championship favorite? Lambeth: I predict that Denny Hamlin will finally win his first Cup Series championship. In my eyes, he seems like one of the strongest contenders. However, Kevin Harvick is starting to peak and show the strengths of the 4 team. Kyle Busch could get back into the equation if his squad can turn things around. Lee: Heading into the 2019 playoffs, I’ve got Kyle Busch racking up another championship! Busch has been one of the most consistent drivers all season long; so far this season he’s finished in the top-10 80 percent of the time in 26 starts. While Rowdy is my prediction, I still think his teammate Denny Hamlin has a good shot at sneaking into the Championship 4 at Homestead and winning the title. 5. Charles Leclerc dominated the Italian Grand Prix, winning back-to-back Formula 1 races for Ferrari. How jaw dropping were the scenes during the podium celebration, with all of the Ferrari fans scattered all over the track? Lambeth: Ferrari has a massive amount of passionate fans. You have to expect this kind of scene when the Prancing Horse wins in Italy. The fans at Monza are expecting nothing less than a Ferrari victory. Anything less is a failure. Honestly, I think this group of fans might be one of the most passionate in motorsports. Lee: It’s been a long time coming for Ferrari at Monza and they finally captured a win there for the first time since 2010. While I’ll say Leclerc was due for a win for quite some time, those fans in Italy have been waiting for this to happen. The celebration was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Gotta love the passion of the Ferrari fans. 6. Sebastian Vettel’s form continues to be his achilles heel. The Ferrari driver sent Lance Stroll for a spin, after spinning himself out, then Vettel re-entered the track very dangerously. This incident puts him at risk of receiving a one-race ban if he is involved in another serious incident. Do you think Charles Leclerc has overtaken Vettel as the top driver at Ferrari? Lambeth: If you told me during Vettel’s Red Bull domination that he would fall to his current level, I would have been very shocked and probably laugh too. It is strange to watch a driver dominate for many years, then follow a sad decline that is hard to stomach. Although he has finished in the points, for the most part, it probably is not up to Ferrari standards. After Leclerc’s recent performances, I think we have a new No. 1 driver at Ferrari. However, let’s not take away from Vettel’s accomplishments throughout his career. Vettel is a four-time world champion, won nine-consecutive Formula 1 races, youngest world champion ever, most wins in a single F1 season and the list goes on. His resume is impressive so that is why his struggles are hard to comprehend. Let’s see if he can score a win, before the end of the current season. Lee: Despite having six podiums this season, Vettel just hasn’t had the same amount of dominance that he usually has. Surprisingly, he’s had no wins this season and it’s been a shock to many people. As for the young gun Leclerc, I think he’s on the edge of moving up to become the No. 1 driver heading into 2020. Perhaps, Vettel has a really strong finish to the season? We’ll have to see how the remainder of 2019 pans out. 7. The Haas F1 Team and Rich Energy have decided to part ways, effective immediately. This move seemed to be inevitable, right? Lambeth: The divorce between Haas F1 and Rich Energy was going to happen at some point. It was just a matter of when. This sloppy marriage is over. I am not surprised at all by this move. Rich Energy has been going through some crazy stuff on their side and have displayed an unprofessional image. This is a great move by Haas to get as far away from them as they can. The only thing that surprised me is the split did not happen sooner. Lee: This is something I’m not surprised at all and I’m sure many people are fine with this happening including Haas F1. Rich Energy is the type of person you’d never want to date, being an absolute nuisance to you and everyone around you. I’m glad they’ve been able to move far away as possible from this company. Bonus Point: What are your thoughts on Jimmie Johnson missing the playoffs for the first time in his Cup career? Lambeth: When I started watching NASCAR, 12 years ago, Jimmie Johnson was the first NASCAR driver that I knew about. I loved his Lowe’s paint scheme on NASCAR 06: Total Team Control. He went on to dominate the sport, winning five-consecutive Cup championships, then bringing the total to seven, in later years. He tied some of the all-time greats: Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. for most Cup titles in history with seven. Also, Johnson has a total of 83 Cup victories. You would expect someone who has been incredibly dominant to continue throughout their entire career, right? Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. For the first time, we will see a title fight without the 48. It feels weird to even being saying that, honestly. But here we are with the playoff grid set but no Jimmie Johnson. Although the 48 team missed the playoffs, they have improved significantly with their speed throughout the season. Things seem to be clicking at Hendrick Motorsports. I am sure that they will continue working hard to finish the year strong and try to get seven-time back to victory lane. Lee: For me, I started watching NASCAR when I was really young and the rise of Jimmie Johnson was something I actually got a chance to witness. Of course, you think of the other seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. I didn’t get to see either of those guys win those titles, but I did witness Johnson’s rise to the top in NASCAR and I think some people will grow to appreciate that after he retires. However, him missing the playoffs is something most people can’t really think of but it has happened in 2019. While this was a low season for him, I don’t think he’s done yet. Perhaps, we may see a strong contender in him again next season. I’m sure it’s tough for him but I think he may add another one to win column again soon. Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to 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 for 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. Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert was killed in a crash during the Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps. After crashing into the tire barriers, Hubert’s car was struck at high speed by Juan Manuel Correa, who underwent successful surgery on fractures to both legs and a minor spinal injury. The 22-year-old French driver had support from Renault and was in line for a more competitive F2 drive next season. What are your thoughts on this horrific tragedy? Lambeth: Last Saturday afternoon was an incredibly sad day across the motorsports world. On the second lap of the Formula 2 Feature Race at Spa-Francorchamps, French driver Anthoine Hubert sadly passed away from injuries suffered in a horrific high speed crash at Raidillon. After seeing replays of the fatal crash, I say that it was one of the most violent ones that I have ever seen. I am hurting so bad for Hubert’s family and friends during this difficult time. Also, my thoughts go out to Juan Manuel Correa as he recovers from his injuries. I cannot imagine what is currently going through his mind. With the latest safety enhancements, we typically expect most drivers to walk away from vicious crashes. Sadly, Hubert’s crash is a reminder of how dangerous racing truly is. While motorsports will never be completely safe, I believe there is always room for improvement. It is sad that we will never see Hubert graduate to Formula 1 now. As the season progressed, he was showing improvement as a driver. His form caught the attention of top teams in F2. Hubert was set for a huge 2020 season. A young talent gone too soon. Lee: While I was at Darlington on Saturday, Kobe sent me the news about the horrifying crash at Spa this weekend during the Formula 2 race. When I read about the accident, it showed some likeness to the Dan Wheldon incident (referring to how horrifying it was), my entire heart just dropped. Unfortunately, Anthoine Hubert passed away from the injuries he sustained in the crash. Along with that, wishing the best to Juan Manuel Correa as he continues to recover both mentally and physically from the crash. When accidents like this happen, it gives people a huge reminder of how dangerous motorsports can be no matter how far we advance in safety. We’ll never be completely safe when it comes to motorsports. It’s just the unfortunate reality we all face. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see the young talent anymore. Another young talent gone too soon. 2. Charles Leclerc scored an emotional first Formula 1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, following the tragic loss of his friend Anthoine Hubert. Unfortunately, this is not Leclerc’s first time losing someone dear to him. Within the past few years, Leclerc has also lost his father and godfather Jules Bianchi. How important was this breakthrough victory for the Ferrari driver, who has experienced quite a bit of loss already in his life? Lambeth: This was a massive first career grand prix win for Charles Leclerc for many reasons. Throughout the season, Leclerc has been close a few times, but he finally sealed the deal in Belgium. After experiencing quite a bit of loss in his life, winning at Spa must have been such a wonderful, emotional feeling. Leclerc drove his heart out and standing on the top step of the podium was the perfect way to honor the fallen ones who were quite dear to him. Without a doubt, Leclerc is going to win plenty of Formula 1 races before his career ends. Lee: Big time win for Leclerc during the Belgian Grand Prix and what an emotional first victory it was for the young driver. He’s been close a few times this year to winning a grand prix and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After facing the loss of his friend, just the day before, he puts on a world class drive to get his first win. For sure, Leclerc will be a name you’ll see on the podium more and more throughout his career. 3. Racer.com’s Robin Miller broke the news about AJ Foyt Racing longtime sponsor ABC Supply ending its full-time sponsorship with the team. However, they will remain involved with the Indianapolis 500. Were you surprised by this move? What does this mean for current drivers Matheus Leist and Tony Kanaan? Lambeth: AJ Foyt Racing and ABC Supply go together like peanut butter and jelly. I was quite shocked when it was announced that the longtime team sponsor would stop its full-time backing. This is truly the end of an era. As for their driver lineup for next season, it is something that we should watch carefully. Tony Kanaan is obviously in the final stages of his career, and Matheus Leist still needs an opportunity to prove himself as a driver. This should be interesting to follow, to say the least. Lee: ABC Supply has had a long partnership with AJ Foyt Racing. It was quite surprising to see them have the full-time backing going away next year. However, this may create a shakeup in the driver lineup, depending on what sponsor replaces ABC next year. Money talks in racing and this could make the offseason interesting for AJ Foyt Racing. 4. On the Portland Grand Prix pre-race show, NBC announced the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series schedule. Pocono Raceway will not return and Richmond Raceway has been added. Any thoughts on the schedule, in general? Lambeth: I think the schedule is fine for the most part. However, I would love to see more ovals added, in the future. I am excited to see Richmond return to the IndyCar schedule, after being absent for many years. Also, it is sad that superspeedways are disappearing from the schedule. Hopefully we will see some of those return as well down the road. If I could change anything about the current 2020 schedule, I would make Gateway the season finale. Lee: I’m pretty excited about the 2020 schedule! I’ve been wanting Richmond to comeback to the schedule for quite some time, so that’s pretty cool. I’m not really surprised at Pocono being taken off the schedule. I think it was just the right time, after how the last few years have gone. Other than that, no complaints from me. 5. Racer.com’s Marshall Pruett reports that Dallara is expected to build the chassis for the new Gen-7 NASCAR Cup car. Do you think this could be a positive new relationship between NASCAR and Dallara? Lambeth: Dallara has a good reputation for building solid, safe cars. If this partnership turns out to be true, hopefully they can work well with NASCAR to produce a Cup car that is capable of putting on decent racing. Lee: This has been in speculation for quite awhile now and I think this partnership could be really good for NASCAR. Dallara is well-known for making a quality chassis, so this could be a cool partnership if it turns out that way. 6. Erik Jones won his second career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, taking the checkered flag in the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. How satisfying must this victory be for him? Lambeth: That Jones Boy proved why he is Joe Gibbs Racing driver, after becoming a Southern 500 champion. Although he has not won on the same level as his teammates, Jones is developing into a solid Cup driver. His results during the final half of the regular season have been consistent. Winning at Darlington, a crown jewel event, is something that most drivers would love to have on their resume. In the future, I think he will win more races and give the Gibbs organization plenty of strong performances. Lee: For some odd reason, I’ve been in attendance for both of Erik Jones’ wins. However, in a season filled with questioning of his position at Joe Gibbs Racing, he finally broke through and picked up a win. I think many owners would like to have the problem of having all of their drivers in the playoffs. I think the noise will settle down after capturing a win in the 70th running of the Bojangles Southern 500. 7. Do you think the current aero package will improve the on-track product for this weekend’s Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Lambeth: To be honest, I have no idea. My best advice is to wait for Sunday afternoon! Hopefully this aero package will help out, similar to what the Xfinity cars have been running the past few years. But if we are being honest here, we will probably see the typical NASCAR at Indianapolis, just a tad slower. Lee: If I’m being honest, I really don’t expect it to be too crazy this weekend. The Xfinity race very well may put on a bit of a better show than the Cup Series, but who knows, I may be completely wrong. Special Note: We dedicate this edition of Seven Points to late Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We also wish Juan Manuel Correa a speedy recovery. |