Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide weekly commentary, discussing various topics in motorsports. The majority of our content will focus on NASCAR but other disciplines of motorsports will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major (mass media concentration) and minor in Journalism. In addition, he contributes to motorsports coverage at The Podium Finish and works with the UNC Charlotte Social Media Team. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. The No. 7 Team M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3 of Maxime Soulet, Jules Gounon and Jordan Pepper won the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. The British manufacturer scored a significant overall victory with the GT3 challenger. What makes Bathurst so special? Lambeth: Any win at Bathurst is special. It does not matter if you win the 12-hour endurance race or the Bathurst 1000 Supercars classic, just being able to say that you won at Mount Panorama should create a wonderful sensation inside. The Bentley boys finally earned a major endurance race win at Bathurst. The other competitors had a challenging time, taking the fight to the Continental GT3. Ultimately, Soulet, Gounon and Pepper formed a solid team and captured the ultimate prize. Lee: The Bathurst 12 Hour is an event that I’ve looked forward to watching over the past few years and it always delivers. However, after a wild week of racing at Mount Panorama, the Bentley got it done this year. I think this is a huge win whether or not it is the Bathurst 1000 or this event. It's always going to be special when you tackle this course and get a win. 2. The F3 Americas Championship and Honda are forming a partnership to create a scholarship for the 2020 F3 Americas champion. As a result, the champion will earn the necessary funding to compete for the 2021 Indy Lights title. In the current state of motorsports, why is this such an important move for the Road To Indy? Lambeth: In my opinion, this is a fantastic move by F3 Americas and Honda. In today’s climate, funding can be difficult to find. We often see some of the sport’s brightest talents sitting on the sidelines, due to a lack of funding. By offering an easier route to get on the Road To Indy, this presents a massive opportunity for one driver. All they have to do is win the 2020 F3 Americas title. Then, they will receive the funding to compete in Indy Lights next year. Ultimately, this could eventually lead to a seat in the NTT IndyCar Series. Hopefully, the new scholarship is the start of something beautiful within the open-wheel racing ladder system. Lee: At this level, I think moves like this are very important because it could help many drivers in the future. Funding is already hard enough to come so something like this is pretty huge. Perhaps, the next open-wheel star just needs a program like this to get his or her career underway. I can’t wait to see it make a difference in the open-wheel world. 3. World of Outlaws ace David Gravel will make his stock car racing debut this weekend. Gravel is set to drive the No. 28 KBR Development Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona. In addition, he will make select starts in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with GMS Racing. Do you think the dirt racing sensation will have a difficult transition to asphalt racing? Lambeth: David Gravel receiving an opportunity to try out stock car racing should attract some attention. The 2019 Knoxville Nationals champion is a well-known name on the World of Outlaws tour. Next, he will try to impress on asphalt, after showing his talents on dirt. It is difficult to determine how challenging it will be for him to transition. Throughout the course of history, we have seen quite a number of drivers from dirt racing come over to the stock car world. Some transitioned successfully, some needed time to develop, while others struggled. Anything can happen but I have a feeling that Gravel will be perfectly fine. Lee: David Gravel has been a big name buzzing on the dirt side. Gravel has always wanted to give asphalt racing a shot. Just a year after winning the Knoxville Nationals, he will be racing on the high banks of Daytona this weekend. I think there will be a learning curve as he transitions to stock car racing. However, I don’t think he’ll struggle a ton but expect mistakes during his first few events. 4. What are your three bold predictions, heading into the 2020 NASCAR season? Lambeth: First, I predict that seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will win two races, in his final season as a full-time Cup driver. While he will not claim his eighth championship, the 2020 season will be an enjoyable final ride. Next, two rookies will win at least one Cup race. I think the two victories will come from Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick or Cole Custer. Finally, at least two IndyCar drivers will compete in the Xfinity race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Raise your hand if you would like to see Conor Daly and James Hinchcliffe take on the Xfinity regulars at the Brickyard. Lee: First, Tyler Reddick will pick up a win in his first full-time season as a Cup driver. Second, I think Ty Majeski will have a knockout season in the Truck Series, after everything he’s been through in his career so far. I think he’ll take the 2020 championship this season with Niece Motorsports. Lastly, I think Jimmie Johnson will go out a winner and pick his 84th victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. 5. Prediction: 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion. Lambeth: Stewart Friesen Lee: Ty Majeski 6. Prediction: 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. Lambeth: Chase Briscoe Lee: Chase Briscoe 7. Prediction: 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Lambeth: Martin Truex Jr. Lee: Kyle Busch Bonus Point: Two-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin is set to make his NTT IndyCar Series debut, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He will drive the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske. What are your thoughts on this significant announcement? Lambeth: This is great news for the motorsports community. Having a two-time champion and active Supercars driver join the IndyCar grid should create a buzz. McLaughlin has enjoyed incredible success in the Virgin Australia Supercars, and posted impressive lap times at the IndyCar Sebring test. You can almost feel how much Roger Penske thinks of him, considering that he is letting McLaughlin make his IndyCar debut in a Penske car. To be honest, I cannot tell you the last time Team Penske let a series newcomer make their debut with the Captain. Nevertheless, I am curious to see how he performs at the Indy road course. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against teammates Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud. Lee: Like I said on Twitter yesterday, “YESUHHHHHH!” This is a pretty huge development in the motorsports world. After he tested at Sebring, it seemed pretty evident he would at least be given a chance to run in the series at some point. It’s been quite some time since a rookie made a debut for “The Captain,” so it speaks volumes. It should be a fun time when he makes his IndyCar debut. I’m super happy for McLaughlin; it should be a good opportunity for him.
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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 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. Wayne Taylor Racing recovered from a penalty, in the final six hours, to claim its second consecutive overall victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This is the third overall victory for the Konica Minolta-sponsored team, in the last four years. However, fourth, in total, for team owner Wayne Taylor. In the closing hours, Ryan Briscoe was issued a stop-and-go, plus 60-second penalty, for passing by the red light at pit exit. As a result, the No. 10 Cadillac DPi lost a lap. Luckily, a timely full-course caution helped them get back on the lead lap. Briscoe went on a tear, returned to the overall lead and the team never looked back. He handed the prototype over to Kamui Kobayashi, who ended up taking it to the checkered flag. Briscoe and Kobayashi shared the overall win with teammates Renger van der Zande and five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. Would you label Wayne Taylor Racing as one of the elite organizations in sports car racing? Lambeth: Wayne Taylor Racing continued its winning ways in the Rolex 24. Despite the penalty, the team refused to get denied the overall victory. Ryan Briscoe was lucky enough to get a full-course yellow, at the right time. He earned his way back to the lead and Kamui Kobayashi ended up finishing the race. It was another spectacular performance by Wayne Taylor’s team. In my opinion, I think his team is definitely an elite sports car racing team. They know how to put together strong lineups, win races, the big races and bring home championships. In the past few seasons, despite losing his sons Ricky Taylor to Acura Team Penske and Jordan Taylor to Corvette Racing, the team managed to keep its driver lineups stacked. With the likes of Jeff Gordon, Fernando Alonso, Scott Dixon and Kamui Kobayashi joining, in recent years, the team remains a destination for some of the most talented drivers. They are a well-respected team. Lee: It seems like nothing changed for Wayne Taylor Racing as we enter a brand new decade of racing. While running into the problem, in the final six hours of the event, they managed to bounce back and simply show the reason why they are one of the elite teams of sports car racing. Even after his sons left the team, they’ve still remained in tip top shape. They’re definitely a team that will win many more races and more championships to come. 2. For the second consecutive year, DragonSpeed took home LMP2 class honors in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ben Hanley, Colin Braun, Harrison Newey and Henrik Hedman’s No. 81 Oreca 07-Gibson outlasted PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports. Do you think LMP2 will bounce back this season? Lambeth: LMP2 was way more competitive in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. Luckily, DragonSpeed, Era Motorsport and Starworks joined the category, giving Performance Teach and PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports some competition. With a bronze driver being required for every lineup and a six-race championship, maybe this will convince more teams to put together an IMSA LMP2 program. While it is hard to say if it will bounce back, in a major way, I believe that everything is heading in the right direction. Lee: LMP2 had a few more dogs in the fight at Daytona. Credit to DragonSpeed for leading the way at Daytona, despite having some added competition along the way. As for the remainder of the season, it will be interesting to see how things unfold for the 2020 season. Due to rising costs, it makes one wonder how long the LMP2 program will last in IMSA. 3. The two GT classes produced exhilarating action, in the closing hours of the race. GTLM and GTD did not disappoint. BMW and Porsche fought hard, in the final hours. Ultimately, the No. 24 Team RLL BMW M8 GTE came out on top in GTLM, with John Edwards, Jesse Krohn, Augusto Farfus and Chaz Mostert. In GTD, Paul Miller Racing enjoyed a fierce battle with GRT Magnus to take home class honors. Bryan Sellers, Madison Snow, Corey Lewis and Andrea Caldarelli shared the class victory. Would you consider these battles as peak GT racing? Lambeth: Absolutely. GTLM and GTD put on an absolute show for the viewers. The fierce battles produced incredible action. It left people on the edge of their seats. This is exactly how GT racing should be defined. Lee: I think as far as peak GT racing, I could definitely agree and say it’s the peak of GT racing. The battles in GTLM and GTD put on quite a show for race fans. I hope we can get more of that throughout the 2020 season. 4. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch made his Rolex 24 debut with the AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC-F GT3 program. He teamed up with Jack Hawksworth, Parker Chase and Michael De Quesada, earning a ninth-place finish in the GTD class. How would you rate the NASCAR driver’s debut, in the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic? Lambeth: Kyle Busch did Kyle Busch things, to say the least. He got in the Lexus RC-F GT3 and did exactly what he needed to do. Busch took care of the car and set consistently fast lap times. For some reason, people tend to think that NASCAR drivers have a much harder time adapting to this discipline. However, it is hard to deny Kyle Busch’s talent. He looked like a sports car racing veteran behind the wheel. Lee: He went into the weekend and did what a talented race car driver has to do. I thought he kept the car clean, ran well all day long and just once again proved how talented he is as a race car driver. It wouldn’t surprise me if he tries to get back in a sports car again. 5. Some people were concerned with the car count, heading into the race. Only 38 cars competed in the 58th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is an all-time low for the event. In reflection, would you say quality over quantity prevailed? Lambeth: Although the field spread out a little more than usual, the quality of the field produced a decent show. All four classes had good battles. While we do want car count to improve, the 38 teams that competed in this year’s Rolex 24 showed us that you do not need a 60-car grid to produce a good race. Lee: One of the biggest things talked about was the all-time low car count. I thought for a 38-car field, it produced a pretty entertaining race. A field with 70 cars can be a total wreckfest or a field half the size can put on a quality show. While it can be great to see more cars, I can take the quality over quantity any day of the week. 6. IMSA and the ACO agreed to a prototype convergence, which will see a new generation of top-flight prototypes called Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) compete alongside the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class. LMDh will be eligible for both IMSA and WEC events. For the first time, in a long time, manufacturers will be able to fight for overall victories at places such as Daytona, Sebring, Spa and Le Mans. LMDh’s eligibility in WEC is set to begin during the 2021-22 season, while their IMSA debut will wait until the start of the 2022 season. After years of disagreements about the top prototype class, on both sides of the Atlantic, would you call this announcement a “monumental, historic day” for sports car racing? Lambeth: Without a doubt, this has to be one of the greatest moments in recent sports car racing history. Many people dreamed about the possibility of watching IMSA DPi teams take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the latest agreement between IMSA and the ACO, the next generation LMDh cars will be able to compete in marquee events in IMSA and WEC competition. Speaking hypothetically, imagine the sight of Acura, Cadillac and Mazda LMDh cars flying down the Mulsanne Straight, beginning in 2022. While it is too soon to say if LMH will be permitted to race in IMSA, we can only hope that the WEC prototypes can join the grid for the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona. We could be in for a special era of prototype action, if we can get Aston Martin, Peugeot and Toyota Hypercars taking on the high banks, alongside the IMSA LMDh entries. Lee: It’s been a long time coming for the ACO and IMSA. Last Friday was a landmark moment in sports car history. We’ve finally gotten to the point where cars from IMSA’s prototype class will be able to compete in WEC competition as well. This will open the door for more manufacturers with them knowing they can compete on multiple circuits around the globe. It should be a very intriguing time for fans over the next few years. Special Topic: Nobody could have imagined the unbelievable news that broke on Jan. 26, 2020. It proved to be a day that millions will never forget. NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. The stunning news rocked the world as many people were in complete disbelief and shock. Reflecting on his impact, what did Kobe Bryant mean to you? What impact did he have on your personal life?
Lambeth: I had just finished up my Rolex 24 coverage, so I decided to get a cheeseburger from the dining hall. I was planning on watching the Pro Bowl with my roommate in our suite, but I wanted to get a quick snack. At 2:30 p.m., I headed to the dining hall. I sat at a table by myself, scrolling through some post-race tweets. As I am enjoying my lunch, I received a notification on my phone. I did not want to believe it. When I saw that the source was TMZ, I was hopeful that the information I saw was completely incorrect. I told myself, “If I do not see a tweet from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, then I refuse to believe it.” At that very moment, my worst fears were realized. “Woj” sent out a tweet confirming the horrific tragedy. My childhood hero Kobe Bryant had been killed in a helicopter crash. I sat there in utter disbelief, shock and denial, with a few tears in my eyes. I could not believe it. I stared at my phone as the dining hall’s noise diminished quite a bit. At that moment, I called my mom and she was just as upset as me. Kobe Bryant was one of her favorite players. She idolized him. Therefore, she named me after the NBA legend. Without Kobe Bryant, there would not be a Kobe Lambeth. Due to sharing the same name as an all-time great, many people were always intrigued when I told them my name. Some folks were genuinely excited to know someone named Kobe, so they actually started talking to me. This may sound crazy but I do not believe that I would have met certain people, if I did not share Bryant’s name. Whenever you mentioned the name “Kobe,” people always seemed intrigued to say more than just “hello.” In elementary school, I participated in a summer basketball camp for three years. Why? Because I wanted to be like Kobe Bryant, like many others that looked up to the global icon. Although I was probably one of the worst players there, I never gave up. I listened to the coaches, tried my hardest and got a wonderful compliment, at the end of three years. One of the coaches said I was the most improved player. That meant a lot to me. I brought the “Mamba Mentality” that Kobe Bryant lived by. In my life today, I still use elements of that mentality. I always work hard and try to improve each day. For those who know me, I typically just focus on my business and move on, unless we have a special connection or something. Otherwise, I am completely focused on working towards my lifelong dreams. I would not be where I am today in motorsports without his influence. The Mamba Mentality taught me that dreams are not too big when you put in the work and effort. The Mamba Mentality is not just a term. It is a way of life. You can use it in so many situations. Hopefully, it will carry me far as I seek success and happiness from my hard work. In addition, a few months ago, I started working on a personal brand called “The Motorsports Mamba.” How did I come up with this name? I was inspired by Kobe Bryant. Since we shared the same name, with my strong passion for motorsports, I thought the name suited me. To be honest, I never really liked any of the nicknames that other people gave me so I created my own. In my desired career field, I hope that I can achieve my own form of greatness. Ultimately, Kobe Bryant taught me to avoid wanting to be like others. While he inspired me a lot throughout my life, I want to write my own story. I want to use that Mamba Mentality to keep pushing forward and never lose sight of the big picture. It is sad that I never realized how much of an impact that Bryant had on my life until now. I am still shocked that he is no longer with us. However, his legacy shall live on forever and we will never forget how he touched millions of lives, even folks that he never knew. Lee: On Sunday morning, I had just got home from church and finished watching the remainder of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Shortly after that, I was getting ready to play my favorite basketball game NCAA College Hoops 2k8. Then, my friend Dontre texted me “Kobe.” He sent me the link from TMZ and I absolutely couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was and still feels almost impossible to process the fact that it was a real story. As more outlets dropped details, throughout the day, it just got worse and worse and just left me in pure disbelief. I’ve personally grown up a basketball fan and if anything, it was one of my first loves when it comes to sports. I was a big Allen Iverson fan, still an Oklahoma City Thunder fan and I rooted against Kobe because he wasn’t on my team. I always respected him as a player though. Let alone, he was an amazing player to watch from the emphatic dunks to the signature leaning faders. His game was beautiful. I still remember being a junior in college, going crazy in his final game at the Staples Center. It was a very special moment that certainly holds even more weight now. As time moved on, I gained even more respect for him with his attention to the women's game of basketball. He had been truly working with his daughter, their team and trying to help promote it at the college and pro level. So, it was amazing to see him make the transition from player to a “mentor” or coach. I think what also set him apart was his “I don’t give a damn” attitude and he would just flat out BALL OUT. I’m not a pro player by any means but I definitely apply that same mentality to every day life. Kobe Bryant will be missed dearly. *We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims as we remember Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.* Welcome to The Motorsports Mamba Podcast! This podcast will address specific topics related to motorsports and explore other areas as well. Episode 1 focuses on Jimmie Johnson's legacy as a seven-time NASCAR Cup champion. At the end of the 2020 season, he will retire from full-time NASCAR competition. *MRN's Kenneth Lee Jr. contributed to the production of The Motorsports Mamba Podcast.*
Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. Most content will focus on NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major with a concentration in mass media and minor in journalism. He contributes to motorsports coverage at The Podium Finish. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. Kyle Busch earned his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. He finished the 2019 season with five wins, 17 top-fives, 27 top-10s, a pole and 1,582 laps led. Also, he picked up four Xfinity wins and won all five of his starts in the Truck Series. How would you rate Rowdy’s season? Will a second Cup title silence some of his doubters, who felt like he did not deserve the 2015 title? Lambeth: Without a doubt, the 2019 season was a good one for Kyle Busch. Despite going a few months without winning a Cup race, he won the race that mattered the most, taking the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Once again, the eventual Cup champion had to win the race, in order to secure the title. I remember when he won his first championship, in 2015. Since he only competed in 25 races, due to injury, he was not viewed as a legitimate champion, in the eyes of some. In my opinion, the statistics and his talent behind the wheel speaks for itself. You have to give him credit for everything he has accomplished throughout his career. It would not surprise me if Rowdy picks up a few more titles, and puts himself in conversation as one of the all-time greats. Lee: He certainly wasn’t my pick to take home the championship on Sunday if I’m being honest. Busch last won at Pocono, in the summer, before taking the Ford EcoBoost 400. A lot of people have a gigantic asterisk marked on the 2015 season because he didn’t compete for the entire season. Personally, he played to what the rules were and took home the championship, so I’m not sure why there’s anymore to that. However, 2019 should be enough to completely lock himself conversation with being one of the all-time greats. The crazy thing is that he isn’t even done yet and probably won’t be for quite some time. He’ll be a driver people will appreciate once he hangs it up for good. 2. Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Cole Custer won a combined total of 21 races on the 33-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. 64 percent of the time, the Big Three were pulling into victory lane. In 2020, they will graduate to the Cup Series together, competing for Rookie of the Year honors. Do you think this could be one of the greatest rookie battles that we have seen in quite some time, at the Cup level? Lambeth: I am incredibly excited for next year’s rookie class. Reddick, Bell and Custer dominated the Xfinity field this season. It was fitting to have the Xfinity championship decided among the three, young drivers. They will be a fantastic addition to the Cup Series. This battle has potential to be a thrilling one. I am planning to follow it closely. There is no reason to doubt their readiness for Cup competition. All three proved that they are capable of taking on the best drivers, on any given Sunday afternoon. It will be interesting to watch them develop at the next level. Lee: What a year of Xfinity racing we got and the “Big Three” of the series dominated by winning 21 races this season. To back those wins up, they gave us a world class race last Saturday at Homestead and I enjoyed every minute of it. Having them all move up to Cup should bring quite the battle for Rookie of the Year. I think we may finally have something rival the Newman vs Johnson battle back in 2002. I can’t wait to see how this pans out next season! 3. Speaking of Xfinity, the action at Homestead-Miami Speedway did not disappoint. Was this race the prime example of peak stock car racing? Lambeth: What. A. Race. This was one of the most exciting races of the season. It had everything you would want to produce a solid stock car race. Low downforce, small spoiler, horsepower, tire wear, older surface and multiple grooves. That is the recipe for a dream come true. The Xfinity season finale at Homestead reminded me why I fell in love with NASCAR as a little boy. Lee: It’s exactly what you want in a season finale of any capacity. The best of the best created a true “Game 7” moment on Saturday afternoon. That race is an example of what I’ve grown and always loved about stock car racing. 16 years later, I can still say Homestead going to this configuration was one of the best things ever. I absolutely loved that race; a golden way to end the season! 4. Matt Crafton became a three-time NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion. In 2019, he did not win a single race but took home the prize that mattered the most. On Twitter, some fans felt like he was not deserving, due to Crafton’s winless season. Do you think the criticism is fair? Lambeth: Hate the game, not the player. It was only a matter of time when something like this happened with the current playoff format. Plus, Crafton is not the first winless champion in NASCAR history. He was consistent too, scoring an average finish of 8.8. I understand why some people might criticize his winless championship season, but Crafton will forever and always be the 2019 Truck Series champion in the record books. You cannot change the final result. Lee: Well, it finally happened. The one thing fans feared the most, a winless champion under the current format. While he isn’t the first winless champion, I can get people’s frustration just based on the format alone. Once again, Crafton just played to the system and won the championship solely off being consistent all year. I totally understand where folks are coming from, but at the end of the day, he is the champion no matter what. 5. Stewart-Haas Racing will promote Xfinity driver Cole Custer to the Cup Series next season, replacing Daniel Suarez in the No. 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang. How do you think Custer will perform during his rookie year? Did Suarez deserve more time to grow at SHR? Lambeth: Cole Custer definitely deserves the promotion to the Cup Series next year. He has proven himself worthy of the No. 41 Ford Mustang, after three full seasons of development, in the Xfinity Series. Being a Cup rookie, I think he will have solid days, then he will experience some growing pains on other days. However, I do think a top-20 points finish is possible. Unfortunately, Suarez was just another victim of a cruel thing called business. Haas ran out of patience waiting on sponsorship so they decided to move on. In my opinion, Suarez was rushed up to the Cup level, due to Carl Edwards’ shock retirement. I think it impacted his development. Also, he just needs more to grow and find consistency with the same team. However, business in modern society does not always allow drivers the time needed to improve their skills. Lee: Without question, I can see why Cole Custer has been moved up to the Cup level. After hearing the rumors floating around all season long, it has finally happened and what time it is for him. His best season in the Xfinity Series couldn’t have come at a better time and he should be ready to go for next season. I think he’ll be fine, but like most rookies, there will be growing pains. I think it sucks for Suarez to be out of the ride in just a season. Daniel Hemric has faced the same fate and sometimes that’s how the business goes. Who knows, it could be the best move for him moving into 2021 with a brand new car. 6. To say the least, the Brazilian Grand Prix produced a thrilling finish with Max Verstappen ultimately claiming the victory. Pierre Gasly, who got sent back to Toro Rosso by Red Bull, finished second and scored his first career Formula 1 podium. Following the race, you could hear Gasly’s excitement on the radio. How special was this result for him personally, given everything he has been through this year? After a post-race investigation, the stewards awarded Lewis Hamilton a five-second time penalty for a collision with Alexander Albon, ruining the Red Bull driver’s strong afternoon. Therefore, the Hamilton penalty promoted Carlos Sainz and McLaren to the podium. Do you believe that McLaren is getting closer to potentially challenging F1’s Big Three? Lambeth: Gasly’s post-race reaction was a special moment for the Frenchman. You could hear the beautiful, raw emotion on the radio. This result meant the world to him. After struggling at Red Bull and getting demoted, Gasly’s form improved with a return to Toro Rosso. Thanks to some collisions, Gasly took advantage of the opportunity to score his first career podium. This is the perfect way to redeem himself. For the first time, since 2014, McLaren returned to the podium. Carlos Sainz finished third, which is the first podium of his Formula 1 career. I do not believe that McLaren can challenge Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull yet, but I think the gap is only going to get smaller. In general, the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos was a spectacular race. Lee: Gasly’s celebration at the end of the race was everything any fan could have wanted to see! After all he’s been through this season, it’s what he deserves along with his improvement, since he got back to Toro Rosso. While already having quite a conundrum of a race, Sainz being added to the podium was the icing on the cake. I don’t know if they are going to be a Mercedes or Ferrari, but they definitely are making improvements. All-in-all, it was a very fun race to watch. 7. It was a double disaster for Scuderia Ferrari at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Late in the race, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc collided, forcing both cars to retire. What are your thoughts on this bizarre incident? Lambeth: I would love to be a fly on the wall at the next Ferrari team meeting. It was an embarrassing moment for the Italian manufacturer. You never want teammates to crash out of the race together. Ferrari was in position to score points, not that it matters now, but they left Interlagos empty-handed. I am curious to see how this incident impacts the relationship between Vettel and Leclerc moving forward. Things seem a bit tense at Scuderia Ferrari. Lee: It’s been an odd season with all the drama in the Ferrari camp. In this type of racing, contact really isn’t the way to go overall and definitely not hitting your teammate. I don’t know how the relationship between those two are at the moment but I’m sure it can’t be good. It’ll be interesting to see how they move forward into 2020. Bonus Point: Ex-Red Bull Junior driver Richard Verschoor won the 66th running of the Macau Grand Prix, defeating current Red Bull Junior Juri Vips. How sweet is it for Verschoor to beat a driver affiliated with the program that ultimately dropped him? American Logan Sargeant earned a third-place finish at Macau. Could he become America’s next Formula 1 driver? Lambeth: It is quite fitting that a driver Red Bull effectively gave up on won the Macau Grand Prix over Juri Vips, who currently has Red Bull support. Winning at the famous Guia Circuit was the perfect way for Richard Verschoor to respond. Only time will tell if Red Bull made a mistake by not continuing to provide backing to the talented driver. Logan Sargeant gave American fans plenty to get excited about. In his first Macau Grand Prix, he made some solid moves and took the final spot on the podium. Scoring a decent result at a tricky track like this requires skill. Hopefully, his career is managed properly and receives opportunities to develop as he moves up the European open-wheel racing ladder. In my opinion, he is currently the best young American prospect out there, with hopes of potentially making it to Formula 1 someday. Lee: The Macau Grand Prix is an interesting race and has always provided some pretty interesting results. I think it has to feel really good for him to beat the team that dropped him. He probably cracked a larger than normal smile accomplishing something like that. Logan Sargeant ended the day with a podium and it shows he very well could be the American answer to Formula 1. It’ll be cool to see how he does moving forward in his career. Bonus Point: Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will retire from full-time racing, at the end of the 2020 season. Are you shocked by the news? Do you think Johnson will find victory lane in his final season? How will you remember him? Lambeth: Honestly, Johnson’s retirement is not a major surprise to me, considering the rumblings I heard (from a very reliable source) in the garage about 2020 being his final season, during the inaugural Charlotte Roval weekend, in 2018. However, the shock factor is definitely felt with the news being official now. If Hendrick Motorsports can continue showing improved speed, similar to the last half of the 2019 season, it would not surprise me if he finds victory lane at least one final time. In my opinion, Jimmie Johnson is one of the greatest talents in NASCAR history. He will be missed dearly when he hangs up the helmet. Winning five championships in-a-row, seven total, tying legends such as Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. is very impressive. Plus, he won titles in different championship formats. Johnson has always conducted himself as a true gentleman on and off the track. In the end, he should be remembered for his competitive spirit, accomplishments and being a wonderful ambassador for the sport. We will probably never witness another driver come close to matching Jimmie Johnson. Imagine if he turns things around in 2020, scoring a record eighth championship. That would be the ultimate storybook ending. Hopefully, more folks will appreciate and respect a historic career, with this chapter set to end in Nov. 2020. Lee: Well it has finally happened, the seven-time champion has decided to give it one more run in 2020. The news is very shocking to say the least, I’d imagine he was going to give it at least two more years. I think 2020 will be the year when Hendrick will go all out for the 48, so a win should be on the cards for next season. I’ll definitely remember Jimmie Johnson for his championship run; I think it will be appreciated long after he’s done. Watching something like that doesn’t happen often. I never got to see Earnhardt or Petty win theirs but I did see his run. I’m sure he’ll enjoy retirement but quite an end to a storybook career. Special Note: Thank you for supporting the Seven Points column throughout the 2019 racing season. We will return in 2020 for another season of discussing hot topics. Have a wonderful holiday season! For my Communications and Mass Media class, we did a group presentation in our labs on a specific topic. My group studied the pros and cons of "Cable vs. Streaming." After presenting as a group, we had to create an individual product relating to our topic. I decided to experiment with a podcast, making it related to NASCAR. Shocker, right? Thanks to Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano's post-race altercation, at Martinsville Speedway, it gave me a vision of how I wanted to create my product. Enjoy a mix of education and NASCAR fun from the First Data 500! Keep in mind: This podcast is not too serious but I know that you will laugh at various points. I'm a fun guy.
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