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. Action Express Racing’s trio of Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani and Eric Curran claimed overall victory at the Motul Petit Le Mans. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi held a strong pace throughout the race and took home the hardware. Meanwhile, Acura Team Penske drivers Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya won the DPi title. What are your thoughts on the 2019 edition of the 10-hour endurance race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta? After adding an IMSA title to his resume, where does JPM stand among the all-time great drivers? Lambeth: As always, Petit Le Mans did not disappoint. It had plenty of action and drama from the time the green flag dropped until we reached the 10-hour mark. The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi showed a strong pace from the start and they got the job done, picking up another overall win. While the 31 won the race, Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya claimed DPi Championship honors. For Cameron, this is his third IMSA title since the merger, beginning in 2014. In my opinion, Montoya should be considered as one of the most versatile drivers of all-time. He has accomplished so much in his career and spent time in various disciplines. Fernando Alonso has a long way to go if he wants to reach Montoya status. Lee: A fun weekend of racing overall and as usual Petit Le Mans delivered us a fantastic race, virtually the best way to end the season. I thought we had some fantastic battles in each respective class (minus LMP2 sadly-Kobe) last Saturday. As for JPM, notching an IMSA title makes him one of the greatest drivers we’ve seen all-time without question. A two-time Indy 500 winner, a multiple time winner in Formula 1 and NASCAR and an IMSA title to boost sounds pretty stacked to me. Easily one of the overlooked all-time greats. 2. For the first time since the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Risi Competizione returned to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM class for Motul Petit Le Mans. The No. 62 Ferrari 488 GTE lineup consisted of recent GTE Pro Le Mans winners James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Daniel Serra. Ultimately, the Houston-based team defeated the likes of Corvette, Ford, BMW and Porsche for class honors. Would you like to see Risi return in 2020? Lambeth: Risi Competizione put together a complete performance, winning their first race back since Daytona. The fan favorite had an incredibly strong lineup of Calado, Pier Guidi and Serra, who won GTE Pro at Le Mans, a few months ago. The trio represented Ferrari well and had no issues taking down their competitors. I would love for Risi to return and add more races to their 2020 schedule, but we all know that it will come down to budget. Hopefully, Ferrari could provide them some assistance because the GTLM grid needs a Prancing Horse more often than not. Lee: Risi Competizione put together a great performance and captured a win at Road Atlanta on Saturday. They’ve got a pretty solid lineup and many fans really enjoy seeing the team compete in IMSA. Hopefully, they will make a return next season in 2020. 3. Bill Auberlen earned his 60th career IMSA win, tying sports car racing legend Scott Pruett as IMSA’s all-time winningest driver. Will Auberlen get win No. 61 in 2020? Lambeth: Assuming that he most likely returns to Turner Motorsport, I think there is a good chance that Auberlen will become the winningest driver in IMSA history. Auberlen has enjoyed a wonderful career and he should go down as one of the most successful drivers in North American sports car racing history. Lee: 60 wins in IMSA is quite a difficult task, given all of the talent that is spread across the board. I’m sure if he returns in 2020, he’ll begin to gun for it soon as we hit the high banks of Daytona once again. Even if he doesn’t achieve the 61st win, he is still one of the best drivers in North American sports car racing. 4. DJR Team Penske survived a late race restart to win the crown jewel Down Under, known as the Bathurst 1000. Supercars regular Scott McLaughlin and co-driver Alex Premat shared the special victory. Roger Penske has claimed another important race in the motorsports world. What else could the Captain accomplish? Lambeth: This was a very emotional win for DJR Team Penske, especially for defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin, who won the “bloody Bathurst 1000.” He is currently putting together some of the best drives of his career. Getting this crown jewel on his resume clearly meant the world to him. Without a doubt, Roger Penske is one of the most successful team owners of all-time. Penske has won just about everything there is to win in motorsports. However, he has yet to claim the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the future, we will have to keep an eye on DPi and Hypercar for any new developments. If DPi is allowed to race at Le Mans someday, I would not be surprised to see the Captain’s Acura Team Penske squad entered, especially if they have shot to win overall. Lee: This has been quite a year for Team Penske overall but reigning Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin adds a big win to his already admirable resume. He was quite an emotional man in victory lane and he absolutely rocked his way to a win during the Bathurst 1000. The only thing left on the radar for Penske to win is the 24 Hour of LeMans. Penske has won just about every crown jewel in the book, but to me and many others, I think he is the best car owner of all-time. 5. After Johnny Sauter got penalized, Spencer Boyd and his Young’s Motorsports team were declared winners of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. This was Boyd’s first career win and the first in the history of Young’s Motorsports. How many people do you think picked Boyd to win this race? Lambeth: I do not think many people could have predicted a Spencer Boyd victory at Talladega. However, that is the beauty of the draft at Daytona and Talladega. It is often referred to as the “great equalizer.” Luckily, Boyd was in the right place at the right time. He will never forget winning his first NASCAR race. All drivers dream to be in a position to experience the taste of victory. Lee: One of the biggest upsets of the year without a doubt I would say. I think only people on his team and in his corner picked him to win that one. Superspeedway racing typically brings the competition a lot closer than it does on any other weekend. After just putting sponsorship together, before the race, this will be a Hallmark moment in his career. 6. In the closing laps of the Cup race, Brendan Gaughan’s No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 went for a wild ride, flipping through the air while battling for the lead. What were your thoughts when you saw it happening live? Lambeth: Brendan Gaughan definitely dodged a bullet. It is always a scary sight when a car flips and catches a bit of air. Luckily, the No. 62 landed on four wheels and Gaughan walked away. This was typical Talladega. You are going to see some crazy crashes every now and then. Lee: Watching the No. 62 go flying in the air live was pretty wild if I’m being honest. Of course, this isn’t the first time most of us have seen a car flp, but it still blows my mind that he landed on all four wheels “normally.” Sometimes, we’ll see it happen but glad he’s OK after the incident. 7. Ryan Blaney earned the win at Talladega, barely clipping Ryan Newman in a photo finish. Overall, do you think this package puts on the best show at places like Daytona and Talladega? Lambeth: In my opinion, this is the perfect package for superspeedways. There was never a dull moment during the race. I literally held my breath every lap and it took a few years off my life. The entertainment level went through the roof. Drivers get such a huge run, so it is harder for them to block, creating a chaotic, intense on-track product. Lee: After seeing three superspeedway races with this package, there is no doubt in my mind that this package has been perfected. Drivers were able to mix it up all day long at Daytona and Talladega races this season. Moving into 2020 and beyond, I think this is one thing that will not need a change. I’m super happy about the on-track product we had at these tracks, in 2019.
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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 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. Austin Cindric endured an epic battle with longtime NASCAR road course specialist AJ Allmendinger, during the closing laps of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. In the end, Cindric defeated the Dinger, claiming his first career Xfinity win. How amazing was Cindric's reaction post-race? Were you shocked that he won? Lambeth: Passion is everything. When you picture a driver winning their first race, you imagine a look similar to Austin Cindric’s face, after securing the checkered flag. You could easily tell that winning meant everything to him. It was not a shocker to see the 22 team in victory lane, due to Cindric’s extensive background in road course racing. He should be a threat to win at Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Charlotte Roval. Lee: I always look forward to road course racing in NASCAR and once again Watkins Glen delivered! The battle between Allmendinger and Cindric was absolutely incredible at the end of Saturday’s race. His pure emotion was so great to see and frankly we need to see more of that. With an established background in road racing, be sure to look out for him this coming weekend at Mid-Ohio. 2. Justin Allgaier and Ross Chastain were involved in a conflict, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. As both drivers were battling through the bus stop, Chastain made contact with Allgaier, sending the 7 car for a spin. Later on, Allgaier got his revenge and ended Chastain's day as the No. 4 JD Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS was sent spinning into the tires, in the carousel. What's your take on this incident? Lambeth: Apparently, Allgaier and Chastain have some history of not seeing eye-to-eye, in the past. It is very clear that Allgaier felt like Chastain’s move in the bus stop was intentional. Therefore, he retaliated by trashing the 4 car. I do not have an issue with drivers getting payback, but I wish they would settle it after the race, instead of tearing up expensive equipment. The repair bill is not cheap, especially if the wrecked car belongs to a smaller, underfunded team. Lee: While the both of them have a bit of history, it was no surprise that this happened on Saturday. Allgaier was not happy whatsoever and that resulted in a wrecked car for JD Motorsports. Frankly, I don’t mind drivers getting payback, especially since it doesn't happen as often as many other fans would like it to. It’s the nature of racing in NASCAR at times, even when it comes at the expense of someone else’s pocket. 3. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen also saw it's fair share of hot tempers. Kyle Busch versus William Byron. Kyle Busch versus Bubba Wallace. Jimmie Johnson versus Ryan Blaney. Do you think any hard feelings from Watkins Glen will carry on to future races? Lambeth: Drivers are able to put the drama behind them when necessary, but they never forget on-track incidents. Bristol is coming up in a few weeks, so I would not be surprised if any of the drivers involved in conflict receive a payback bump-and-run. Lee: Normally, I would say yes but since we have Michigan coming up this weekend, I really don’t see much of that happening. Even rolling into Bristol the following weekend, I don’t think it’ll happen there either. 4. Chase Elliott dominated last Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen, leading a total of 80 laps. This is his second-consecutive victory at the historic road course. Is The Glen becoming his playground? Lambeth: It appears that Chase Elliott is becoming quite the road course racer. In back-to-back years, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver has dominated at Watkins Glen. Remember the days when Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart were the ones to beat on road courses? If Elliott returns in 2020, with a similar performance, he might start calling Watkins Glen his playground. Lee: A dominating performance from the young man from Dawsonville at Watkins Glen on Sunday. It’s a drivers track and it seems for the last two years he’s really been in a nice form by the time he’s reached the track. Rolling into 2020, he very well may be able to accomplish that Jeff Gordon (1997-99). 5. In 2020, the Rolex 24 at Daytona will become a non-points event for the LMP2 category. Do you think this move will attract more entries? Lambeth: I certainly hope so. It is such a shame to see LMP2 thriving everywhere except North America. Hopefully the change to a six-round championship and making Daytona a non-points event will lead to at least a few more entries. Also, I would like to see some European LMP2 teams at Daytona. Lee: With less pressure on those teams, it might bring out a few more teams to try out the LMP2 class. A rather enjoyable class at times may see more entries for a non-points event in 2020. 6. Mazda Team Joest driver Harry Tincknell held off Acura Team Penske's Dane Cameron to claim the third-consecutive overall victory for the Japanese manufacturer, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. What are your thoughts on Mazda's current form? Lambeth: Without a doubt, Mazda Team Joest is the real deal. After years of frustration and heartbreak, the program seems to be headed in the right direction. John Doonan and the entire Mazda squad must be thrilled to be showing such a strong form, in the final half of the 2019 season. Lee: First off, an incredible finish at Road America this weekend and Mazda once again manages to claim another victory. This team is literally on fire (I had to bring the puns out for Aaron) this season, after being the easy joke of the field at times. Mazda has found a stride and they are showing great pace and form as we get closer to the end of the season. 7. With Formula 1 heading into the summer break, what are some storylines to follow as we head into the final half of the season? Lambeth: I think most folks are going to be interested in the driver market as silly season heats up. Valtteri Bottas could be out at Mercedes at the end of the season, based on some of the rumors in the paddock. Will Esteban Ocon get the call or even a long shot such as George Russell? Bottas could very well be retained. With Pierre Gasly’s poor form costing Red Bull valuable points, his drive could be in peril too, if he does not improve post-summer break. Plus, there was a report saying Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel could possibly swap seats. Honestly, I do not see that happening but silly season can be full of surprises. Finally, is it time for Haas to change its driver lineup, given the problems between Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen? There is a lot to be decided in the next few months. Lee: Rolling into the summer break, we’ve had some great racing before we take the annual time off the track. The first thing I’m thinking of is Pierre Gasly and his form. How will he fair out for the remainder of the season as he sits sixth in the standings with 63 points and no podiums? Will the struggling Haas team bounce back or will they continue their form until November and will it lead to a complete overhaul in their driver lineup? We still have a ways to go in the season but a lot may change heading into next year. 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 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. NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Justin Haley and Spire Motorsports surprised the entire garage by winning the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, on Fourth of July weekend. Haley became a first-time Cup winner, in his third start, at the sport’s top level. However, the upset victory was overshadowed by controversy. Do people have a right to be angry? Lambeth: Hate the game, don't hate the player. In my opinion, if folks are truly angry over Justin Haley and Spire Motorsports for winning this race, they should direct their anger at NASCAR for allowing this agency to have a team. This type of practice would not be allowed in other professional sports. If you want to read more about this situation, I have provided a link from Yahoo.com's Nick Bromberg (above). As for Haley, I feel bad for him because his first Cup win is supposed to be a special moment for any driver. He was just driving the car and Spire Motorsports capitalized on Mother Nature. Simply, NASCAR has a broken system that needs to be fixed. How do you fix it? I have no idea. But I hope someone knows. Lee: Despite a ton of people that are pretty angry about what happened, it’s all within the rules of NASCAR. I get that none of this would be allowed in stick and ball sports, but it’s clearly not the case in NASCAR. It’s unfortunate that social media was pretty harsh on Justin Haley, who was just driving the car. He didn’t celebrate as if he passed 20 cars at the end of the race, but just simply hugged and high fived his team. Is the system an issue? Sure, but will they ban the charters anytime soon or a sports agency owning a team? I highly doubt it. Sadly, this win will be forgotten as it was called, due to weather. 2. Ross Chastain led the charge for Kaulig Racing, earning the organization’s first victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Chastain and Justin Haley earned a 1-2 finish. AJ Allmendinger would have finished third, but his car failed post-race inspection. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful night for team owner Matt Kaulig. What did you think of Chastain’s emotions post-race? Lambeth: Chastain's emotions on the frontstretch, following the race was quite a sight to see. Winning at home meant a lot to the Florida driver. The "Watermelon Man" let his emotions show and celebrated with the trademark watermelon smash at the start/finish line. Fans seem to appreciate drivers, who are passionate and show their emotions. If you did not know anything about Chastain, you would probably believe that he won his very first race. He celebrates every win like it is his first. The watermelon farmer introduced us to his unique personality, which is something that fans should enjoy. Lee: The story that just keeps getting better in 2019 is easily Ross Chastain. He’s been on a tear on the NASCAR circuit from being disqualified, bouncing back the following weekend with a win, to winning at Daytona. The Florida native mentioned the times he would go out to the races on Fourth of July weekend. I bet him winning at Daytona must’ve been an absolute joy. I love his celebrations and energy that he brings to NASCAR. It’s needed and welcomed by fans. 3. Mazda Team Joest scored back-to-back IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship overall victories in another 1-2 finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. However, it was the No. 77 Mazda RT24-P DPi of Oliver Jarvis and Tristan Nunez celebrating at the top of the podium. The previous week, the sister car (No. 55) claimed overall victory at Watkins Glen. It appears that Mazda is finally beginning to figure things out with their DPi program, right? Lambeth: Mazda Team Joest came out of nowhere to dominate the last two rounds. For a program that struggled for years, it is nice to see something positive happen for the entire Mazda brand. Let's see if they can keep the momentum rolling into the final stretch of the season at Road America, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta. Lee: Mazda has somehow found a way to have both proper pace and reliability in the last two weeks. For a team that has shown pace over the last few years, but have always experienced some type of mechanical failure or misfortune, it’s great to see them win two race weekends in a row. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain the pace for the final stretch of the season. It could possibly make the DPi championship quite compelling. 4. Victor Franzoni suffered a frightening shunt, during Sunday afternoon’s IMSA race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R experienced heavy damage. Luckily, Franzoni was able to walk away without suffering serious injuries, following a trip to the hospital. Is this a testament to Dallara for building a safe chassis? Lambeth: Franzoni is very lucky to have escaped major injury. His heavily damaged Cadillac DPi looked like something shoved in a drawer, if you saw the photos of it sandwiched in the tire barriers. Kudos to Dallara for building a safe, strong chassis, allowing drivers to walk away from massive shunts. Lee: Pretty big crash for him, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that happen to a driver. Plenty of times, I’ve seen a driver get into the tire barrier but never seen the entire car put into the barrier. Thankfully, he was able to walk away from the incident. I’m glad that Dallara is able to provide a safe car for drivers. 5. DJR Team Penske announced an unchanged lineup for the 2020 Virgin Australian Supercars Championship season, with Fabian Coulthard and defending series champion Scott McLaughlin returning to the team. How important is it for a team to have continuity? What does this say about McLaughlin’s rumored move to NASCAR stateside? Lambeth: An unchanged driver lineup for DJR Team Penske means that team chemistry will remain intact for the foreseeable future. Coulthard and McLaughlin are a great pairing, so having them both continue with the team does not surprise me. As for McLaughlin, if his NASCAR aspirations remain strong, they will have to wait a little while longer as the Captain keeps the defending champion Down Under in 2020. In the future, I would love to see how McLaughlin performs in a stock car. Lee: There was a ton of speculation on what the lineup was going to look like in the 2020 season, especially with the likes of McLaughlin being linked to a potential NASCAR ride. With that out of the picture, for now, the team can continue to build upon the chemistry and dominance that they currently have 6. Sage Karam will return to the NTT IndyCar Series, on the streets of Toronto, driving the No. 31 Carlin Racing Chevrolet. SmartShop Self Storage will sponsor the 24-year-old American driver. Could a strong performance lead to future opportunities for Karam, who was once considered American open-wheel racing’s next superstar? Lambeth: Absolutely! This is a great opportunity for Karam to remind folks why people thought so highly of him, a few years ago. Karam has grown tremendously as a driver over time. He gained some maturity and appears to be ready to tackle Toronto. I am intrigued to watch him drive on a street course with the current aero kit, considering it has been a while since his last street course IndyCar race. Lee: I think this is a good opportunity for Karam to be back in the car again. At a point, people were pretty high on him as the next open-wheel racing star, but things don’t always pan out that way. I’m sure he’s going to make the most of his seat time at Toronto. 7. This weekend is a doubleheader and season finale of the 2018-19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season with the New York ePrix, on the streets of Brooklyn. Defending series champion Jean-Eric Vergne leads Lucas di Grassi by 32 points heading into the title deciding weekend, in the Big Apple. Who wins the championship? Lambeth: I am predicting that Jean-Eric Vergne wins back-to-back Formula E championships. With his current lead, he would need something catastrophic to happen, in order to hand the title over to Audi driver Lucas di Grassi. A doubleheader weekend, with a championship on the line, places an enormous amount of pressure on the title contenders. Lee: Big time weekend for Formula E as they get prepared for their doubleheader season finale in Brooklyn. With the gap between Vergne and Lucas di Grassi, it should be a fun battle between the both of them. Given the pace and strength of Vergne, throughout the season, I think he takes home a second title. 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 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. Following years of fire and misfortune, Mazda Team Joest brought the Japanese manufacturer back to the top step of the podium. Harry Tincknell took the No. 55 Mazda RT24-P DPi to the checkered flag, sharing the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen victory with teammates Jonathan Bomarito and Olivier Pla. It is no secret that Mazda has endured some painful experiences during the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship era, dating back a diesel-powered Lola LMP2 chassis. After so many struggles and heartbreak, Mazda conquered the DPi field at Watkins Glen. Did you expect to see a Mazda prototype pulling into victory lane? Lambeth: If you looked at the sheets, Mazda Team Joest displayed race-winning pace all weekend at Watkins Glen. The Mazda DPi is one fast hot rod. However, being quick and reliable are two different cases. Mazda has a history of struggling with reliability, so I was not sure if they would see the checkered flag or have luck fall their way for once. Ultimately, the team perfectly executed a sweet 1-2 finish, claiming a long awaited victory for the Japanese manufacturer. It is hard not to feel joy for this hard working group of people. They have experienced some pretty low moments in motorsports. Ultimately, they FINALLY got the monkey off their backs. Let's see if Mazda can carry the momentum into Mosport. Lee: The tale of the boys in crimson (or whichever shade of red that is) finally claimed victory and in 1-2 fashion at the Glen on Sunday. The Mazda team has been through hell and back trying to fix the reliability issues they’ve had since entering IMSA. The Japanese manufacturer has shown pace in many races, but the issues more than often came down to reliability. Certainly a big sigh of relief for this team; it will be interesting to see how they carry on through the rest of the season. 2. Last weekend, Patricio O’Ward made his Formula 2 debut, filling in for the banned Mahaveer Raghunathan at MP Motorsport. The Red Bull Junior driver received a crash course of a new environment, finishing 19th and 14th at the Red Bull Ring. It appears that O’Ward’s focus will shift from IndyCar to Super Formula, after Red Bull dropped Dan Ticktum from its program. After struggling to find funding for his Carlin Racing ride, in the NTT IndyCar Series, O’Ward will head to Japan, driving for Team Mugen as Ticktum’s replacement. Can you describe the significance of this new opportunity for O’Ward? Lambeth: After his IndyCar program experienced a setback, Patricio O'Ward received an opportunity of a lifetime. He got to participate in a weekend of Formula 2 racing as a Red Bull Junior driver. Ultimately, Austria was a time for learning the car and tires. Also, reports coming out of the paddock confirmed the departure of two-time Macau Grand Prix winner Dan Ticktum from Red Bull altogether. As Ticktum vacates his Super Formula ride, O'Ward is set to replace him in Japan. It will be interesting to see how he performs over there. We all know what he is capable of, so the opportunity to race in Super Formula, without worrying about sponsorship, should allow O'Ward to perform as Red Bull carefully watches their junior driver. In the future, I think it would be awesome if O'Ward eventually moves up to Formula 1. Lee: It’s quite a strange hand dealt to O’Ward, who had trouble with his IndyCar program. Now, he is getting ready to enter a whole new realm of open-wheel racing. Spending time in Formula 2 with the Red Bull Academy is a huge opportunity for a young driver. Moving along to the ride in Super Formula could open up an entirely different world for him. It would be something to see if he makes it to the Formula 1 level. 3. Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Red Bull Ring, following an epic wheel-to-wheel battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, during the closing laps of the Austrian Grand Prix. The stewards reviewed the incident and ultimately decided to take no action. Do you agree with their decision? How about engine supplier Honda scoring a win, after years of pain with McLaren? Lambeth: The stewards absolutely made the right decision by taking no action on the contact between Verstappen and Leclerc. I thought it was excellent wheel-to-wheel racing, something we need to see more of in Formula 1. After the controversial incident in Canada, I am elated that we can move forward and celebrate the awesome finish to the Austrian Grand Prix. Honda winning has to be such a sweet feeling. Since their return to F1, it has been an eventual journey, to say the least. However, Max Verstappen gave Red Bull-Honda a dream come true. This will likely result in more victories to come for the new Honda and Red Bull partnership, in my opinion. Lee: One of the better races of the season took place at the Red Bull Ring and it was just a mere second away from being ruined again by a judgement call. I don’t think there is anything wrong with drivers racing hard for position and that’s exactly what Verstappen and Leclerc were doing. Honda finally made headway and got the win they’ve been looking for last Sunday. They continued to build and Red Bull took them on and now the momentum is on their side. 4. Last weekend, Alex Bowman won his first-career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. Bowman finally sealed the deal and took the No. 88 team to victory lane for Hendrick Motorsports. This moment was years in the making for Bowman. What do you think of his journey from an uncertain future to Cup Series winner? Lambeth: The route to the top of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has not been an easy one for Alex Bowman. After working his way through ARCA and Xfinity competition, Bowman joined the likes of BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing in the Cup Series. However, those teams never contended for wins. Remember when the news was delivered of Bowman's firing from TBR on Twitter? That is a brutal way to find out a departure from a team. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. missed some time, Bowman substituted for him in the 88 car. During that time, Bowman performed well, almost winning at ISM Raceway. Later on, Hendrick named Bowman full-time driver for the 88 team, replacing the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr. Without a doubt, Bowman is proving that he truly deserves the ride. His story is incredible. He paid his dues to be here. In today's environment, you do not see many drivers go from uncompetitive cars to top-tier equipment. One heck of a journey! Lee: From finding out he lost his ride at Tommy Baldwin Racing via Twitter to becoming a winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Alex Bowman has a bit of a weight lifted off his shoulder. His journey on low budget teams to a historical powerhouse, in Hendrick Motorsports, finally has paid off. Big credit to him for sealing the deal at Chicagoland. This should dismiss rumors about him being moved out of the 88. 5. Speaking of Hendrick Motorsports, what did you think of their strong performance at Chicagoland Speedway? All four Hendrick cars finished no worse than 11th. Lambeth: What year is it? I think we have stepped inside of a time machine. All jokes aside, it was good to see all four Hendrick cars running strong at Chicagoland. It appears that the team found something, improving the performance of their Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s last weekend. As we head deeper into the season, it will be interesting to see if the group continues to improve. Bowman, Johnson, Byron and Elliott enjoyed a successful race as a team. Lee: It’s been the year of Joe Gibbs and everyone else just somewhat shows up to the track. It was quite a surprise to see all four Hendrick cars running up front again. I thought it was good for them and something they definitely needed for the sake of team morale. This also couldn’t have come at a more perfect time with nine races to go before the playoffs. We shall see if this form continues for Hendrick through the rest of the season. 6. Recently, Charlotte Motor Speedway announced changes to the Roval layout, specifically the backstretch chicane. What do you think of the minor change to the Charlotte Roval? Lambeth: I like the change to the backstretch chicane. It will be wider and provide another overtaking opportunity. Last year, the chicane was a nightmare as some drivers tore up their cars, carrying an enormous amount of speed. The new layout should be positive for the Charlotte Roval weekend. Lee: I think the change to the backstretch chicane is a good one. This opens up the door for another passing opportunity for drivers. This gives a little more room for error, in comparison to last year. I enjoyed last year’s event so this one should be just as good if not better (Ask me again in September). 7. Do you think Justin Haley has potential for redemption at Daytona, following his penalty on the final lap of last year’s NASCAR Xfinity race? Lambeth: It would not surprise me if Justin Haley is contending for win for the second-consecutive year. Kaulig Racing has built some solid superspeedway cars this year. They are a three-car operation this weekend at Daytona with AJ Allmendinger and Ross Chastain joining Haley. Imagine the celebration if Haley wins on Friday night. Lee: Last year was a pretty crazy one in Daytona. Unfortunately, Justin Haley went down below the yellow line and gave up the victory last July. I think Kaulig Racing has some pretty good machines heading to Daytona. They should be a major threat when we head down this weekend! 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. Tyler Reddick’s mistake, on the final lap, benefited Cole Custer as he took the No. 00 Ford Mustang to victory lane, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. Was this one of the best Pocono finishes, in recent memory? Lambeth: Without a doubt, this was one of the most exciting Pocono finishes in a while. Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer put on a show for the fans, on the final lap. Reddick was driving so hard that he tagged the wall a bit, at the entrance of Turn 1, trying to defend Custer. Ultimately, a slight bobble in Turn 3 cost him the victory. Custer was in the right place at the right time. Nevertheless, these young guns are proving their worth in the sport. Lee: Although the Xfinity Series has a short bill of history at the “Tricky Triangle,” that was one of the most exciting races I’ve ever watched at Pocono in quite some time. Those final laps were so much fun, although Tyler Reddick almost kept it together after bouncing off the wall. Cole Custer managed to steal the win. That type of racing is what will forever give merit to the tagline, “Names Are Made Here” 2. Brandon Brown earned a 13th-place finish in last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Tricky Triangle. This ties his career-best result. Are you impressed with the performance of Brandonbilt Motorsports? Lambeth: It is always a nice sight to see one of the smaller teams, in the Xfinity garage, obtain decent results. Brandon Brown is displaying his talent behind the wheel, challenging quality competition in the Xfinity Series. This organization continues to improve each week. Lee: Solid finish for one of the smaller teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series garage! Brown has had a solid season as a whole. He currently has an average finish of 16.6, which is up seven positions, in comparison to last season (23.6) It’s always great to see smaller organizations make progress on a year-to-year basis. 3. Should we listen to Kyle Busch and stop asking “package questions?” Lambeth: At this point of the season, I think we should finally have enough information to make a fair evaluation of the package. In my opinion, it works well at some places but not others. One size cannot fit all. Honestly, I do not blame Kyle Busch for getting frustrated. I think we all know how he feels about the package loud and clear. Lee: Package? We talking about the package? Kyle Busch has had enough questions about it and he has all the reason to say that. The package won’t change and it’s what we will have until 2021 possibly. The speculation needs to just come an end on everyone’s end, if we're being honest. Bottom line is that the package has had some success and some failures so far this season. 4. Racer.com’s Marshall Pruett revealed a plethora of information within the motorsports community, specifically dealing with the future of hybrid technology. What are your thoughts on this type of technology? Does anything surprise you from Pruett’s piece? Lambeth: I think hybrid technology is the inevitable future of motorsports. Whether you like it or not, it is definitely going to happen someday. It is a matter of when, not if. As long as we find a way to prevent what happened with the LMP1 hybrid class, I think the major series in motorsports should evaluate the move. We cannot have teams trying to outspend one another or it will kill the sport. You do not want a two-car Toyota LMP1 race. The most surprising thing from Pruett's article is near the very end. It concerns the possibility of the ACO separating itself from the WEC and realigning with IMSA. If that turns out to be true, it would send massive shockwaves throughout the sports car racing community. Talk about a game changer. Lee: Based on the current state of the world, none of that surprises me that the thought of hybrids continue to spark within motorsports. Hybrid technology is going to come in full force within the next decade or so. The one thing that also stuck out to me is the likelihood of the ACO splitting from away from it’s “baby,” the WEC and trying to make ties with IMSA. That itself could be a groundbreaking moment if it does happen in the future. 5. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East put on an entertaining show last Saturday evening at Memphis International Raceway. With just 20 points separating the top-5, in the championship standings, do you think the K&N level produces some of NASCAR’s closest racing? Lambeth: If you are not watching the K&N Series East and West, then you are truly missing out on some of the best stock car racing. Despite low car counts, the drivers put on a show. Plus, both championships remain wide open, so it is anyone's game. The schedules consist of short tracks, road courses and a dirt track. Honestly, it does not get much better than that! Lee: The NASCAR K&N Series has been rather good this season and, thanks to FansChoiceTV, we are now able to witness and be part of the entire season. I think this series and the NASCAR Pinty’s Series are the most underrated divisions in stock car racing. If you haven’t watched yet, you get a plethora of tracks, drivers and just flat out great racing! 6. In a rare moment, Scott Dixon crashed out of Race 1 at Belle Isle, leaving him in quite a hole for the championship. However, the usual Dixon showed up to win Race 2, recovering from the poor, previous result. The Iceman is now 52 points behind championship leader Josef Newgarden, heading into Texas this weekend. When things seem to go south, how does Dixon continue to salvage something out of nothing? Lambeth: Simple. His name is Scott Dixon. He is a five-time IndyCar champion for a reason. Whenever you think he is going to have a bad weekend, Dixon always pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Crashing out of Race 1 put him in a hole. However, he managed to pull himself out a bit by winning Race 2. Despite being 52 points back, do not count him out for the championship. We still have a good amount of races remaining. Do not be surprised if the Iceman heads into the season finale at Laguna Seca, fighting for his sixth title. Lee: In this moment, I think people need to realize that Scott Dixon is one of the most underappreciated drivers at times and let alone champions of IndyCar. The five-time champ has won at least one race for the last 14 years and he will continue that streak after winning at Belle Isle. At age 38, he is quite the savvy veteran. It almost seems like he has never lost a step and is always a threat to win the race or championship. 7. Marcus Ericsson earned the best result of his IndyCar career, in Race 2 at Belle Isle. The Swedish racing driver crossed the finish line in second-place. The series rookie picked up his first podium, since his days over on the European racing ladder. How significant is the result for an ex-Formula 1 driver, who came across the pond to continue his career? Lambeth: This is a huge result for Marcus Ericsson. The ex-Formula 1 driver has shown signs of decent speed throughout the season. However, luck usually does not fall his way. In Race 2, Ericsson put together a complete race and stood on the podium. This should give him some confidence as we enter the second half of the season. It must be a wonderful feeling to come from the F1 environment to IndyCar, where a driver stands a better chance of making a difference behind the wheel. In the future, I think IndyCar will continue to attract drivers from the F1 world. Lee: The young Swedish driver came home in second-place in Race 2. His constant growth this season has finally paid off. It will be interesting to see how the former Formula 1 driver performs for the remainder of the IndyCar season! |