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 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 serves as the co-host of GRID Live. 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. Last Sunday, NASCAR hosted a tripleheader at Pocono Raceway with the three national series. Trucks, Xfinity and Cup put on a long day of racing at the Tricky Triangle. In the future, do you think NASCAR should look at tripleheader weekends? Lambeth: I think it would be interesting if they went down that route. By doing this, you will have a full day of racing. It might be good for the folks watching at home, but what about people at the track? I have no idea if they would be willing to sit in the grandstands for hours and hours, especially on hot summer days. We do not want them getting dehydrated or suffering an even worse fate. I like the concept of a tripleheader on the same day, but I think it truly depends on the track and time of year. Lee: It would be something to see a tripleheader in one day, but I don’t think it will happen like that very often in the future. While we got a very unique experience last Sunday to have all three series, I think some may find it as too much to handle in one day. Of course, there are a ton of factors that may cause problems, including weather, but I would rather have doubleheader days instead of triple. 2. Go Fas Racing announced that Patriots of America PAC has partnered with the team, sponsoring Corey LaJoie's No. 32 Ford Mustang for nine races, running a "Trump 2020" paint scheme. This generated mixed emotions from fans on social media. On the other hand, the FIA does not allow any sponsorship that relates to the political world. NASCAR does not have a policy against political sponsorship. Should NASCAR revisit this area? Lambeth: While NASCAR does not have a similar policy as the FIA when it comes to political sponsorships, I think it is definitely something they can revisit. Times are changing. In 2018, Santino Ferrucci tried to run a "Make America Great Again" livery on his Formula 2 car and it was denied by the FIA. Lee: With the current climate, it is something that should be taken into consideration just like the FIA does. However, I think this year it makes more of a difference, based on the current political climate. 3. In the All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR will introduce the "choose cone rule," which is commonly used in local short track racing. What do you think of NASCAR's decision to experiment this rule in the All-Star Race? If all goes well, should it become a common rule next season? Lambeth: It seems like the All-Star Race is becoming an event that is used to experiment with new ideas or concepts. The choose cone rule is popular in the short track community and makes things very interesting with restarts. If it works well in the All-Star race, I would not have an issue with it being introduced next season regularly at certain tracks. Lee: With the new rule, I think it gives some new spice to the race that people have been asking for a long time with the new venue. Adding what’s known at a Saturday Night Short Track and on the local circuit, it is a pretty cool thing to happen during the All-Star Race. 4. Lewis Hamilton unveiled a special helmet, bringing awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement. The six-time Formula 1 world champion has been very vocal about the fight against racism. In addition, Mercedes switched to a black livery to stand with Hamilton. Are you impressed by Mercedes for taking this matter very seriously? Is Hamilton doing a solid job showing leadership during these tense times? Lambeth: Yes, Mercedes does a lot of credit for standing with Lewis Hamilton. They are listening and willing to be a part of the change. Hamilton has shown tremendous leadership and is not afraid to speak his mind. Without a doubt, he will continue to be a strong voice as he uses his platform to fight for a better society for all. Lee: Absolutely, I don’t think once Lewis Hamilton has missed the mark in terms of making an effort to make a change. I’m sure in his time he’s heard a plethora of things but even then he hasn’t been scared to stand for social issues. He’s definitely been using his platform to bring awareness during these times and it’s greatly appreciated. 5. Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, meaning that he will miss this weekend's Brickyard 400. Justin Allgaier is set to replace him in the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. In addition, IMSA driver Felipe Nasr tested positive for coronavirus as well, with Gabby Chaves replacing him at Daytona alongside Pipo Derani at Action Express Racing. Was it inevitable? Lambeth: To be honest, I'm surprised that we have not seen something like this happen way sooner. At this rate, it was going to happen eventually. Unfortunately, Jimmie Johnson became the first NASCAR driver to test positive. Hopefully, the seven-time champion and his wife will recover soon and get back to doing what he loves. We will probably see more positive cases and people falling ill in the motorsports community soon. I wish I felt more optimistic but it just seems inevitable. Lee: This was the one thing everyone worried about as sports began to start back up. Now, for it to happen to one of your most famous drivers, I’m sure not too many could imagine when it comes to big name drivers listed. With people moving around in different places it was bound to happen to someone. It will be interesting to see how things move after this weekend. 6. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is preparing for a race weekend with a full schedule. On Saturday, the NTT IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will compete on the IMS road course. Meanwhile, the NASCAR Cup Series concludes the weekend with the Brickyard 400 on Saturday afternoon. Many fans are looking forward to the IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader. Do you think we will see IndyCar and NASCAR share the track more often down the road? Lambeth: With Roger Penske in control of the IndyCar side of things, I think we certainly have a better chance to see NASCAR and IndyCar share the track more often. When the fans are able to get back to the track and paddocks interacting with each other, I believe that it will be great for all involved. A lot of folks would love to watch crossovers occur too, with an IndyCar driver racing in NASCAR and vice versa. Lee: Just as Kobe said, with Roger Penske being in control, it makes for a world of a difference. I think with him at the helm, we will do something like this again at circuits that pair up with NASCAR and IndyCar. It’s already been cool to see the both combined, but I can’t imagine how it would’ve been with fans mixing disciplines for the entire weekend. 7. On Saturday night, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returned to action for the first time since the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January. 26 cars entered the WeatherTech 240. With several teams being affected by the global pandemic and a low car count, should we be worried about IMSA's future? Lambeth: It is certainly something to pay attention to. Before the pandemic struck, car counts were already declining. Now, other teams have been forced to change their racing programs, due to the pandemic. Sponsorship may be a little harder to find as many businesses struggle to get back on their feet. Hopefully, this is not the beginning of a sad situation unfolding in IMSA. Lee: It’s noticeable for sure, but I think this is partially a COVID-19 deal and part of an already declining car count. I think it hurts more in this time than anything but I wouldn’t worry fully about IMSA. I believe once things get back to normal it should be okay for teams once again when it comes to finding more sponsorship
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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 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 serves as the co-host of GRID Live. 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. In the closing laps of the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, Felix Rosenqvist tried hunting down Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon for the lead and crashed while trying to get around lapped traffic. Unfortunately, the result did not reflect the Swedish racing driver’s strong performance. As Rosenqvist enters his sophomore season of IndyCar competition, will there be some pressure on him to perform? Lambeth: I think we should see growth from Felix Rosenqvist this year. He showed some flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign. Notably, he came close to stealing the win at Mid-Ohio from Scott Dixon last season. Rosenqvist had a chance to win at Texas, but came up short with a wrecked car. He does not have to beat Dixon every weekend, but he must take care of the car and avoid losing valuable championship points. Rosenqvist seems capable of becoming a weekly contender, potentially having a breakout season. However, he cannot let incidents like Texas occur on a regular basis or pressure will start building. We saw how quickly Chip Ganassi Racing moved on from Ed Jones, with 2018 being his only season as a member of the organization. Lee: When you race for a big team like Ganassi, the expectations are always going to remain pretty high. Rosenqvist had a solid rookie year. Of course, he had some trouble in the final laps last Saturday night. With a long way to go in the season, he created a bar from his rookie season, so this year he’ll have to continue the same. 2. Ed Carpenter Racing rookie Rinus VeeKay endured a disastrous IndyCar debut, suffering a crash in practice and another one during the race that ended his night, which collected fellow IndyCar debutant Alex Palou. Putting limited track time and a revised schedule into consideration, do you think the rookies will struggle more this season with their development? Lambeth: This may be a challenging season for the IndyCar rookies. They will not be able to go through normal routines to fully prepare for each race. Unfortunately, limited track time can be detrimental in allowing the rookies to learn new tracks and make mistakes in non-racing conditions. While I do think this year's rookie class will have some promising moments, I expect growing pains as well. Probably more than a typical season. Lee: It was already a challenging effort for rookies coming into Texas Motor Speedway for the IndyCar season opener and sadly that was the fate of Rinus VeeKay last weekend. I’m sure not having a lot of track time will harm a bit of their development this season, with the absence of practice. However, this may also be a great learning tool for these drivers as they face tracks for the first time. 3. The 24 Hours of Le Mans virtual endurance race will be shown on ESPN2, in the United States, which gets underway at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, June, 13. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch 12 hours on the channel, while all 24 hours are available on the ESPN app. With this eSports event being broadcasted on the major sports network, could you imagine having the real 24 Hours of Le Mans on ESPN? Lambeth: During these strange times for the sports world, showing the virtual Le Mans race on ESPN2 became a reality, due to major shifts in the schedule. In a perfectly normal world, we would not see anything like this, especially on a major network like ESPN in the United States. Yes, it would be nice if ESPN could actually show the real Le Mans one day. Unfortunately, I am not sure if it would be doable. Assuming normal life returns, it would be interesting to see how they could fit a 24-hour endurance race in a busy schedule, with other sports holding priority. ESPN has done a solid job broadcasting the eSports racing events though. Lee: Something I didn’t expect to see is the 24 Hours of Le Mans on ESPN2, even with it being virtual. While it’s nice that it’s on a major network, I can’t imagine the real endurance race ever being shown on ESPN. Of course, ESPN has some very capable people to do so. However, I just don’t think the network's interest is there for motorsports, in general. 4. In general, what did you think of the first ever Martinsville night race for the NASCAR Cup Series? Lambeth: For the most part, I thought the action was decent. We saw a lot of comers and goers. Plus, it was much easier for the drivers to get to the bumper and make passes, due to lower levels of downforce and a small rear spoiler. The light show at the end when Martin Truex Jr. celebrated his win was an awesome touch. Sadly, the only thing missing was the fans. I think the atmosphere would have been electric with them in the grandstands. In 2021, I hope we can put this global pandemic behind us, so fans can attend next year's Martinsville night race. Lee: Low downforce, high horsepower and the “Paper Clip” lit up in the summer night sky, sign me up every year. I thought the first two stages were pretty entertaining and the final stage was so so. Overall, there was a ton of passing on track and a lot of bumping and banging as it should be. Hopefully, we can see that place under the lights with a packed house next year. 5. On Wednesday evening, NASCAR made the decision to ban the Confederate flag from the track. Last Sunday, prior to the Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR President Steve Phelps acknowledged the current state of America, taking a stand against racism and bigotry. Do you think this will end up being one of the most progressive weeks in NASCAR history? Lambeth: In the future, I think we will look back and reflect on this week as one of the most important ones in NASCAR history. Given recent developments in the world, NASCAR finally made the decision to get rid of the Confederate flag from the track. The symbol makes some folks feel uncomfortable enough to avoid coming to the races. By removing it, NASCAR wants to be more inclusive and create a welcoming environment. In addition, they showed support for the LGBTQ+ community too, not just the black community. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see if we are witnessing a culture change in NASCAR. Lee: In my years of supporting NASCAR, this was something I couldn’t imagine seeing in my lifetime. With the Confederate Flag being banned from all NASCAR events, I think it is a huge step in the right direction. I’ve had a lot of my friends and family reach out to me now because of this happening. We need the culture change if we want NASCAR to keep moving forward; it’s welcomed change. 6. Bubba Wallace has emerged as a leader, using his platform to speak out about racism, social injustice and police brutality. After he called for Confederate flags to be banned from all events, NASCAR listened and made the request a reality. Additionally, he started wearing a t-shirt that said, “I Can’t Breathe” and “Black Lives Matter,” while wearing an American flag mask. At Martinsville, Richard Petty Motorsports ran a Black Lives Matter paint scheme. Meanwhile, Wallace and other drivers standing with him started using their platforms to support this cause. What are your thoughts on the leadership of Bubba Wallace during these challenging times? What is the significance of having his competitors supporting his message? Lambeth: Bubba Wallace is a brave soul. In his current role, he has the platform to speak out and bring awareness to an emotional topic. Unfortunately, he received some backlash for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and changes in NASCAR. A lot of folks out there are clearly narrow minded, wanting no part in changing their ways and educating themselves. In 10 to 15 years, we may look back on Bubba Wallace as the man, who helped change NASCAR's image to the general public. Seeing other drivers standing with Bubba is definitely a wonderful sight. Together, they can change the sport for many decades to come. Lee: I think from the start of his career till now, Bubba Wallace has been through quite a few things as driver. Sadly, I knew the backlash was going to come to him for supporting Black Lives Matter. It’s pretty sad that people can’t take the time to see that it’s clearly a movement for positive reasons and not to exclude others. I think his role is huge as it is and years down the road we’re going to look at Bubba as part of a movement for not only a better space in motorsports, but in the world. 7. With NASCAR making significant moves to show a more welcoming atmosphere, professional athletes from other sports and celebrities voiced their support on Twitter. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman were among those to acknowledge the sport, especially Bubba Wallace for running a special Black Lives Matter paint scheme. With the sport being in the national spotlight, do you think NASCAR fans will become a more diverse group, years down the road? Lambeth: Without a doubt, I think this opens the door for more people to get into NASCAR. More eyes are on the sport as they are a constant sight in the headlines. This time it is for all the right reasons, minus the Ray Ciccarelli situation. When professional athletes and celebrities are chiming in, their fans are exposed to everything happening in NASCAR. Even if they do not have a good understanding of the sport, it should make them a little curious to learn more. It seems like NASCAR is more than willing to alienate the part of the fanbase that refuses to let go of the Confederate flag, in search of a more diverse group. They have so much to gain, with little to lose. In my opinion, this is a good risk to take. Exclude the bigots and keep promoting diversity and inclusiveness for all good souls. While there is certainly a long way to go, NASCAR taking a stand for what is morally right should pay dividends in the long haul. Lee: In the last four days, it’s been quite overwhelming to see how many athletes have reached out in support of Bubba Wallace. It’s been amazing to see the likes of Richard Sherman, LeBron James, Alvin Kamara and many more high profile athletes paying attention to NASCAR. When people have a high level of influence, they typically make their fans want to do the same exact thing. In the distant future, I think these moves will make people want to freely come to events and have a good time. 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 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. 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. At the end of the 2020 season, Porsche will end its factory GTLM program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Porsche’s withdrawal leaves Corvette and BMW as the only remaining full-time GTLM manufacturers, with an occasional entry from the Risi Competizione Ferrari. Given these recent developments, what’s next for the GTLM class? Lambeth: Porsche's withdrawal from GTLM was a massive blow to the entire category. At the end of last season, Ford ended their program, leaving six full-time entries in 2020. Assuming that Corvette and BMW remain, we are looking at four GTLM competitors in 2021. To be perfectly honest, that is not a good look at all. I am afraid that we are witnessing the death of GTLM in IMSA. For years, the category has produced some of the most exciting battles in motorsports. It is truly sad to see it in its current state. In order to fix this problem, I think IMSA may be forced to scrap the category altogether and focus on the GT3 platform. You can have a single GT formula, with driver lineups making the difference. GT3 Pro and GT3 Pro-Am could be the solution to the current platform. If it goes this way, I think the Corvette C8.R could be transformed into GT3-spec without having to build a brand new car. Lee: While the world has kept going, there has been a lot happening within the motorsports world. With Porsche planning to depart the GTLM class in IMSA, it was a major blow to the current field of cars. While Corvette and BMW remain the only two full-time competitors heading into next season, this may be the very end of the GTLM. I think the end all fix may be to create a GT3 Pro class to make it easier on teams if they move in that direction. 2. On Monday, the 2020 Indy Lights season was officially canceled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series is planning to return in 2021, following a year on the sidelines. On Thursday, the W Series announced they would be on hiatus this year, promising a “bigger and better” 2021 season with plans for at least two support races on the Formula 1 calendar at COTA and Mexico City. Are we going to see more racing series end up canceling their seasons altogether? Should we be concerned? Lambeth: Given the current situation, it would not surprise me if we see other racing series around the globe cancel or shorten their seasons. It is certainly easy to understand why they decided to focus on 2021, instead of moving on with the 2020 season. This new development is a massive blow to everyone involved in Indy Lights and the W Series. Hopefully, they will be able to bounce back from the unfortunate effects of this global pandemic. At this point, we have no idea what the future holds, so I think we definitely have good reason to be concerned. Lee: With the way things are happening, at the moment, I think we will see more feeder series cancel throughout the summer. Of course, this is disheartening as a fan of motorsports, but it is probably going to be at the best interest of the teams going forward. It’s going to be a tough time but hopefully they will bounce back in 2021. 3. Formula 1 released a revised calendar for the 2020 season. Starting with the first eight races, they will visit the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone twice, while hosting single weekend events in Hungary, Barcelona, Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. Do you think the teams will be prepared for the grind across Europe as they get back into the swing of things? Lambeth: While I believe that the teams will be fully prepared, I expect a ton of pressure on all 20 Formula 1 drivers for the first eight races. We only need a minimum of eight events for it to be considered a world championship season. With many unknowns, you cannot afford to make mistakes, even this early in the season. F1 is a global racing series, traveling to many places all over the world. If COVID-19 becomes a hot spot in certain parts of the world, F1 could be forced to shorten their season. Anything can happen. Therefore, being in a good position after eight races would be ideal. Lee: These are some of the greatest teams in the world, so I expect them all to be ready to go. But there will be a lot of high pressure moments. I think teams are going to have to be on the money just in case the season does end up shortened. I expect teams to be on their A-game during this short period of time. The next two months could make the next season of Drive to Survive must see television. 4. On Saturday night, the NTT IndyCar Series returns to action at Texas Motor Speedway for their season opener. Given the intimidating nature of the 1.5-mile, high banked, fast oval track, are you a little concerned about the drivers starting off the 2020 season in the Lone Star State? Lambeth: Typically, at this point of a normal IndyCar season, the teams and drivers are well into their routine. Racing on a mix of road and street courses, then a lot of time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month of May. By the time Texas rolls around, the chemistry is already present and the drivers are "in the zone." I think there is some reason to worry, since the last IndyCar race occurred last September. It has been a while since the drivers were on track in racing conditions. Starting the season at a high banked oval, without enough time to get into a rhythm makes me a little nervous. Rookies Alex Palou, Rinus VeeKay and Oliver Askew are making their IndyCar debut at Texas. I bet those three will have their eyes wide open all night long. I am a little concerned about limited practice time for these drivers to get a feel for the track. I think some folks will worry about the potential of a massive accident, due to the lack of track time to fully prepare. However, we can only hope that all drivers bring it home safely. Lee: IndyCar has joined the racing world once again as they make their return to Texas Motor Speedway. Typically, by this time, teams are in quite a groove and have seen each type of course at this point. Going in fresh to a high speed oval like Texas is going to be quite a feat. While there’s a limited amount of practice for the race, it will be interesting to see how the rookies handle it. I think the veterans will roll right out the gate without any problems, but the concern for rookies is fair. Wishing for a safe race on Saturday night. 5. In the closing laps of Monday evening’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, contact between JR Motorsports teammates Noah Gragson and Justin Allgaier sent the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro spinning into the inside wall on the backstretch, prematurely ending Allgaier’s night. Do you expect tension between the teammates in future races? Lambeth: While I would not be surprised if the drivers race each other a little harder moving forward, do not expect any major conflict between Gragson and Allgaier. I am sure that JR Motorsports will put the unfortunate incident at Bristol behind them and move on. You cannot let something like this become a distraction to the entire organization. The Xfinity championship is the main goal. Lee: Sometimes, I feel like no matter what Justin Allgaier does, it seems like he runs into trouble that’s not his fault. However, knowing Allgaier’s character, I don’t think there will be any retaliation between him and his teammate Gragson. I’m sure they’ll bounce back as a team and move on. 6. Last Sunday, Brad Keselowski won his second NASCAR Cup Series race of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, in a thrilling finish that resulted in Joey Logano and Chase Elliott getting all tangled up. As the two leaders slid up the hill, Keselowski was in prime position to take full advantage of the situation. Any thoughts on the final laps in Thunder Valley? Lambeth: The finish to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol was very entertaining. In general, the race itself was pretty good. We saw lots of action, passing and drama. Chase Elliott is very lucky that NASCAR installed social distancing because Joey Logano was not happy at all. Under normal circumstances, it probably would have ended with a post-race altercation between the 9 and 22 teams. I would not be shocked if Logano pays him back at some point. Drivers always remember incidents, even the smallest ones. Lee: Bristol put on a very good show last Sunday afternoon. While some people love the old Bristol (myself included), I thought we got a great deal of action with two racey lanes. The final laps were pretty entertaining and left me on the edge of my seat. Of course, the drama between Logano and Elliott just ramped everything up even more. 7. Following the death of George Floyd, many figures in the motorsports community have spoken out against racism and social injustice in the United States and around the world. Six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton called out the F1 paddock for remaining silent, while NASCAR drivers Bubba Wallace and Ty Dillon engaged in respectful dialogue on Instagram Live. While professional athletes usually face criticism for taking a stand on social issues, being in the public eye, why do they need to use their platform for this very emotional topic? Lambeth: Regardless of what your opinion is on this particular subject, you are always going to make someone happy or mad. There is no in between. Everyone has different views and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. When people in the public eye speak up, I think it carries more weight than your normal individual. In my opinion, Bubba Wallace, Ty Dillon and Lewis Hamilton displayed an incredible act of leadership by speaking up. Hamilton's words carried throughout a silent Formula 1 paddock. After calling out his peers, we saw multiple drivers begin to acknowledge George Floyd's death and the social injustice in the world. Without Hamilton speaking up, I do not think that others would have said anything at all. I think Hamilton's criticism put pressure on them to make a statement. His impact is large. While covering the Xfinity race, I took a break to watch Wallace and Dillon have a respectful conversation about race on Instagram Live. These discussions are some of the toughest ones to have. However, they are necessary to move forward. Both NASCAR drivers provided good perspective and you could really learn a lot if you truly listened. Honestly, I think using your platform to speak out against racism and social injustice has more pros than cons. Will you lose some fans? Absolutely. Let the bad apples disappear. We are better off without them. The world is changing and people are beginning to open up their minds. I believe that people with larger platforms can be a benefit to everyone fighting for the same cause. However, every platform is important. Big or small. We have the power to change the world for future generations. Personally, as a black man in the motorsports community, it means everything to me watching many people speak out against racism. For years, my peers never understood why I chose motorsports, due to the common stereotypes. Without a doubt, it is a good feeling when people have your back and stand with you. Lee: As “uncomfortable” as this conversation comes across to people, I think it’s something that needs to be discussed, in general. What’s been going on in this country has been going on for a long time and it’s something that isn’t just seen in the United States. To see Ty Dillon, Bubba Wallace and Lewis Hamilton use their platform to provoke and educate people who may not understand is key. Someone might listen to any of those drivers before they do anyone else so it’s always something that helps out. I’m thankful for those who have been willing to speak up about it across the motorsports community. As time moves on, I hope that it’s a conversation that continues to echo inside and outside the motorsports world. *Check out a special program on GRID Tonight with Joe Samaniego and Kobe Lambeth, discussing racing and racism.* https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s9LzIzbvBEI 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. Last weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race produced some solid results for a few underdogs. Who stands out to you and why? Lambeth: Josh Williams. He scored the second top-10 finish of his Xfinity career. In my opinion, he is one of those drivers that can maximize his equipment. It would be interesting to see what he could do in equal equipment, competing against the top Xfinity teams. However, Williams can punch above his weight and get respectable results for his current team. Without a doubt, his result was a good day for Mario Gosselin's operation. Lee: Ryan Sieg. He finished in the top-five at Las Vegas and kept the momentum going into Fontana. After finishing fourth, in Saturday’s race, I think it was great to see the RSS Racing entry put together another solid finish. His team has trended in the right direction so far this season. It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses in 2020. 2. After failing to make the playoffs last season or win a race, in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Harrison Burton scored his first career Xfinity win at Auto Club Speedway. How do you think he will fare with Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program and beyond? Lambeth: Despite a disappointing 2019 season, I believe that Harrison Burton has a bright future in NASCAR. His first Xfinity win last weekend in Fontana will be followed by more trips to victory lane. Honestly, I do not think that his Kyle Busch Motorsports tenure was any indication of his talent or potential. I feel the same way about Todd Gilliland, who is now driving for Front Row Motorsports in the Truck Series. In all honesty, I think Burton is in a good position to be successful for years to come. Lee: Harrison Burton picked up a big time win at Fontana, after having a rough 2019 season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. He moved up to the Xfinity Series to join Joe Gibbs Racing. In just the third race of the season, he was able to capture his first career win. I think the lack of immense pressure is going to help the young driver develop moving forward. There’s a long way to go in the season but I don’t think it’ll be a single win season for Burton. 3. Alex Bowman dominated the Auto Club 400, winning his second career NASCAR Cup Series race last Sunday at Fontana. In a contract year, do you think we will see a more determined Alex Bowman? Lambeth: With this being a contract year for Bowman and many others, in the Cup garage, there will be obvious pressure to perform. Winning races is definitely a good way to start building a case to stay. Bowman's victory at Fontana was a huge statement. When given a competitive piece, he can go out there and dominate. So far, I have seen a different Alex Bowman. He seems more determined and locked in. If he can have more races like Fontana, it would not surprise me if we eventually see a contract extension. However, as we all know, you need sponsorship to compete. That could be a factor in determining the driver of the No. 88 car next year. Lee: Heading into 2020, Bowman was already facing pressure after Nationwide departed as a sponsor. Doubling down on that, it is a contract year. He had a fast car all weekend from practice to the race itself, leading a total of 110 laps. An early win isn’t always an indicator for long-term success but it’s good to get a win on the board early. Hendrick Motorsports, in general, looks good so far. It’ll be interesting to see how the remainder of the year goes. 4. As a new addition to the Next Gen car, NASCAR confirmed the switch to a single lug-nut design, which is a departure from the longtime use of five lug nuts on each tire. Based on some fan reactions on social media, this move will not please everyone. Do you think the switch is a good move for NASCAR? Lambeth: If you look at other disciplines, they use the single lug-nut design and have been doing it for numerous years. NASCAR is finally catching up with times. Personally, I do not have a problem with it at all. As we know, a good number of fans have expressed their displeasure about the change. In general, folks are not always open to change when it occurs. My best advice is for NASCAR fans to appreciate the pit stops all year long, and the skills that tire changers must possess to hit all five lug nuts, getting them tight during each pit stop. This will be the last year that we will see the "traditional" pit stop in the Cup Series. When 2021 arrives, we will enter a brand new era with the Next Gen car. Ready or not, this move is going to happen and there is nothing we can do to change NASCAR's decision. Lee: A lot of people knew it was coming, but it has finally been made official to the public. Of course, in the long history of NASCAR, a multi-lug wheel has always been the design but that will change heading into 2021. While the choreography of a pit stop will remain, it still left many people mad. My thought initially as much as people want the cars to appear like each car's respective counterpart is another step closer. Down to the style of the BBS rim, this should be the last thing people should be vexed about. Most of those people should’ve been gone when template bodies, electronic fuel injectors and digital dash came around (@ me I’m serious). 5. Multiple Cup drivers have accepted Kevin Harvick’s challenge to beat Kyle Busch in any NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race that he enters. While some folks do not agree with Cup drivers entering Truck or Xfinity races, is “The Bounty” a good thing for NASCAR, in terms of exposure for the Truck Series? Lambeth: I guess you could say that we are set to have some "Buschwackers" enter the Truck Series, in the next few weeks. Any full-time Cup driver has an opportunity to win $100,000, if they can beat Kyle Busch in a Truck race. While it is awesome watching the regulars form their own identities, this could be a great way to further expose the Truck Series to fans missing out on the action. I know that some folks primarily focus on the Cup Series only. Having drivers such as Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in the field provides potential to bring more eyes to the series. I cannot wait to see if any Cup driver or regular can take down the mighty Kyle Busch. Lee: I think it will bring some extra attention to the Truck Series for the next few weeks. This is also good for the series since they are coming off their small break after the Las Vegas race. All of the names involved are already household names in NASCAR and should draw some extra eyeballs to the series. I wish there were more things like this being done just like the old Winston Million and the No-Bull 5. 6. Recently, Carlin Racing completed a successful IndyCar test session, with drivers Max Chilton and Felipe Nasr posting solid lap times at Sebring International Raceway as the team prepares for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series season. Focusing on Nasr, do you think his impressive testing numbers will earn him IndyCar seat time throughout the year? Lambeth: After reading the story of Nasr's unique journey to the most recent Sebring test, it is quite evident that he truly wants to be an IndyCar driver. According to RACER, team owner Trevor Carlin called him at the very last minute and Nasr made his way to the bumpy Florida circuit. On such short notice, Nasr arrived at Sebring and put up decent lap times. It is hard to question the Brazilian driver's talent behind the wheel. I feel that he was robbed of showing his true potential in Formula 1. Then, he arrived in America and won the IMSA DPi title with Action Express Racing in 2018. All Nasr needs is an opportunity and his testing performances during the offseason is a strong case for him to get some IndyCar starts. Lee: Nasr has had quite a journey alone just to get to IndyCar as it is. He’s clearly a talent that the series would appreciate over time and his lap times from Sebring are a clear indication of his pace. 7. The opening round of the 2020 Super Formula season at the Suzuka Circuit has been postponed, due to the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak. Other races around the globe have been called off as well. In addition, we could see more auto racing events face potential cancellations if the virus continues to spread. As members of the motorsports community, should we take this stuff seriously? Lambeth: For starters, I do not have the expertise to speak intelligently about this subject. However, I can recommend that folks in the motorsports community should pay attention to the Coronavirus outbreak. Some racing events overseas have already been postponed as a safety measure to prevent the virus from spreading. Will it eventually impact NASCAR, IndyCar or IMSA races in the United States, since the virus is beginning to spread across the country? We do not know yet. But I will advise that race fans educate themselves about the virus, be prepared for the worst possible outcome, avoid panic, do not completely dismiss the threat and WASH YOUR HANDS! Lee: Personally, I don’t have the expertise either to speak fully on what to do and not do in this situation. However, I think it should be something to pay attention to for any racing series across the globe. Of course, I think it will be interesting to see if it has an impact anywhere else. If you aren’t washing your hands for some reason, please do as you move around from one place to another. Bonus Point: Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will come out of his stock car racing retirement, entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series road course race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart-Haas Racing is set to field an extra Ford Mustang for the Indiana native alongside Xfinity regular Chase Briscoe. Despite being out of a stock car for a while, do you think Smoke will be a contender for the victory? Lambeth: Since nobody can rely on a notebook, it should make things interesting when Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR competition. Stewart has remained active on the dirt racing scene, so he has not completely stopped racing yet. However, 2016 was the last time he competed in a NASCAR race. A lot has changed since then, but I am confident that we will see a competitive “Smoke” at the Indy road course. Fans in Indiana are probably planning a trip to the Brickyard to see their hometown driver race in NASCAR for the first time in a few years. Lee: On Wednesday morning, we got a surprising announcement that Tony Stewart would participate in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis this summer. I think the Indiana native will perform well on the road course at Indy. It should be a fun rave and adding “Smoke” to the show should make it more fun. Bonus Point: Beginning in 2021, the Busch Clash will no longer run on the Daytona oval as NASCAR switches to the same road course layout as the Rolex 24 endurance race. In addition, Speedweeks will transition into a single-week event. What are your thoughts on the changes? Lambeth: Given the recent nature of the Busch Clash, I think most people would agree that a change was necessary. It is quite refreshing to see NASCAR decide on using the Daytona road course for the exhibition race. I have always wondered what a stock car race would look like on the road course and it will finally become a reality. In addition, it will be the first time we have seen a road course race under the lights in NASCAR history. As for Speedweeks transitioning to a single-week event, I think it will take some time getting used to, but I think there are definitely some positives. From Tuesday through Sunday, there will be on-track activity. I like the idea of an Xfinity/ARCA doubleheader on Saturday. I bet the 2021 schedule will be full of surprises. Lee: It was quite a shocking development. Honestly, I thought the tweet dropping the news was from a parody account. But heading into 2021, NASCAR will use the road course for the Busch Clash on a Tuesday night. I think it’s quite a shakeup that people have been asking for, since it seems to be a wreckfest during the Clash. Perhaps, this gives it a bit more meaning for drivers to be the first group to compete on the road course. With just a month before the 2021 schedule is set to be announced, it should make fans wonder what other changes will happen soon. 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. Kyle Busch won his seventh consecutive NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race last Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Later on, Kevin Harvick had a little fun on Twitter, offering $50,000 to any full-time Cup driver, who can defeat Busch when he competes in the Truck Series. If you had to pick a Cup driver to beat Rowdy in a Truck race, who would it be? Lambeth: I think Christopher Bell could take the fight to Kyle Busch in the Truck Series, if this little bet were to become a reality. During his time there, Bell won seven races and earned the 2017 series championship. If there is one driver, who could threaten Rowdy’s winning streak, I strongly believe that Bell would be his toughest competitor. Lee: I think the bounty is a pretty cool deal. It reminds me of the “No Bull” from the Winston Cup days. If I had to pick a driver that could do it, I’d go with the young gun John Hunter Nemecheck. I’ve always thought he was a solid driver and when given the right equipment, I think he could take Busch down and claim the cash prize. 2. Chase Briscoe was victorious over Austin Cindric in last weekend's NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Sin City. With last year's Big Three off to Cup, which drivers could effectively become the next trio of dominant Xfinity pilots? Lambeth: Previously, I predicted that Chase Briscoe would be the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. I truly believe in his ability to take the next step in his career this season. Without a doubt, he should solidify himself in the conversation as one the top full-time Xfinity drivers. In addition, I would include Austin Cindric and Noah Gragson as the next young talents poised for a breakout season. I think Cindric, who is an incredibly gifted road course racer, will finally win an oval race. As for Gragson, 2020 should be a significant improvement over his rookie campaign. Lee: It was a huge win for Briscoe to kick the season off as he’s now locked into the playoffs. He’s certainly one of the most talented guys in the field. I think this could be the start of a great 2020 season for him and the No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang team. If I could add two more drivers to become the next trio of dominant Xfinity drivers, I would add Noah Gragson and Austin Cindric to be in the mix. 3. Ryan Sieg finished third, in last weekend's Xfinity race, which proved to be one of the best drives of his racing career. Sieg's No. 39 Chevrolet Camaro SS was very competitive, mixing it up with top notch organizations such as Joe Gibbs Racing and JR Motorsports. Should we expect more performances like this from Sieg throughout the season? Lambeth: Ryan Sieg was one of the top storylines of the Xfinity race. His family-owned team displayed a strong performance against multiple race-winning organizations. 2019 was a career year for the Georgia native. It would not surprise me if he shows more improvement this season. Over the years, he has progressed naturally up the grid. If his Las Vegas form is any indication of things to come, Sieg is a driver that could continue to turn heads moving forward. Lee: Ryan Sieg picked up a solid finish for his team at Las Vegas. Running in the same car that Austin Dillon won with previously at Las Vegas truly paid off. He’s always been a strong driver and makes the most out of his equipment, so I don’t think this will be the last time you see his name in the top-five. 4. The NASCAR community is planning multiple tributes for the late Kobe Bryant this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, who died in last month’s tragic helicopter crash will be honored. A very classy gesture, right? Lambeth: I really appreciate the NASCAR community for finding multiple ways to honor Kobe Bryant, Gianna and seven others in the deadly helicopter crash. Personally, Kobe was a childhood hero of mine, which makes this gesture a very special one to me. Looking at the bigger picture, honoring him in southern California makes perfect sense. This is the region where he found most of his success on and off the court as a Laker. Fontana is not too far from Los Angeles. In addition, I am sure that plenty of fans are looking forward to the Kobe tribute cars, set to be driven by William Byron and Ryan Blaney. Imagine if Byron or Blaney goes to victory lane this weekend, driving such a special paint scheme. Lee: I’m super happy to see the NASCAR community doing something to honor Kobe Bryant, Gianna and seven others that were involved in the helicopter crash. While it still feels unreal, I’m glad teams have come together to do an honor like that. I’ve grown up a huge basketball fan. In my generation, Kobe was my Jordan as a kid. It would be something if either Byron or Blaney won, so I can’t wait for the weekend to get underway. 5. NASCAR Cup Series organization Rick Ware Racing earned an invite to the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, due to capturing the 2019-20 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Am title with driver Cody Ware. What does it mean to be a team based in North Carolina, representing the entire country at Le Mans? Lambeth: Having the privilege of being invited to Le Mans is quite an honor, regardless of where you come from in the world. Many teams and drivers dream of participating in the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic. After earning an invite, the dream of going to Le Mans is a few months away from becoming a reality for Rick Ware Racing. I am sure that some folks in the NASCAR community will pay closer attention to the crown jewel endurance race with RWR on the grid. Lee: Rick Ware Racing has made some interesting moves in the last year and I think what tops everything is getting an invite to Le Mans. I think it will turn some heads in the NASCAR community, so it will be interesting to see how they perform. 6. The 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars season got underway last weekend, with a pair of races at Adelaide. Seven-time champion Jamie Whincup took the opening race of the season, while back-to-back champion Scott McLaughlin won the second race. Opening weekend produced two competitive races throughout the field. Given the new rule changes, do you think we will see greater parity this season? Lambeth: Last year, Scott McLaughlin and DJR Team Penske dominated the championship. McLaughlin scored 18 wins, 15 poles and an average finish of 2.3 to score his second consecutive Supercars title. Nobody could stop him last season. It was truly Scotty Mac’s show. However, with changes to the rules, I think he will have a tougher fight on his hands this season. While I do believe that McLaughlin stands a good chance of accomplishing the three-peat, his competitors will not make it an easy ride to the championship. Looking ahead, I think the parity will improve in 2020, in comparison to last season. The drivers definitely know how to put on a competitive show Down Under. Lee: Last weekend, there were two competitive races to kick off the Supercars season with champions Scott McLaughlin and Jamie Whincup winning the opening rounds. I think the new rule changes will produce more parity throughout the field. While rule changes will never completely knock off the cream of the crop, it should make for some great battles. 7. Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will return to the Brickyard, attempting the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP. In his third attempt, he seeks to compete in the race for the second time. Alonso is set to drive the No. 66 Chevrolet as a teammate to rookie drivers Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew. Do you think his years of experience as a racer will benefit the young McLaren drivers? After getting bumped from the field of 33, in 2019, will Alonso face any dangers of missing the race for a second consecutive year? Lambeth: Fernando Alonso and McLaren are joining forces yet again for this year’s Indianapolis 500. His experience as a driver should be very beneficial for young McLaren teammates Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew. Alonso has so much knowledge that is waiting to be passed down to the next generation of racing drivers. O’Ward and Askew have tons of potential to be a pair of special talents. Despite failing to qualify for the 2019 Indianapolis 500, I think Alonso can rest easy this time around. Instead of McLaren coming as a solo team, they partnered Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson, who have years of IndyCar experience. Joining forces with a current team that already discovered success was a smart move on McLaren’s part. Altogether, I believe that Arrow McLaren SP will be perfectly fine on when qualifying rolls around. However, as they say on Big Brother, “expect the unexpected.” Lee: I’m sure getting bumped humbled him to some degree, at least most people would likely believe that. I think he may approach making the field a lot differently than he did in 2019. To McLaren’s benefit, partnering up with Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson was a smart move, given their success in IndyCar. However, we can't get complacent at all, knowing that Indy 500 qualifying is a beast of it’s own and it won’t be an easy task. |