Hello, motorsports enthusiasts! Welcome to the another edition of Seven Points with Kobe Lambeth and Kenneth Lee Jr. We will provide a weekly discussion each Wednesday on various topics in motorsports. Most content will focus on NASCAR but other racing series will be discussed as well.
Lambeth is a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who is a Communications major with a concentration in mass media and minor in journalism. He is a contributor to The Podium Finish and RockinghamNow. Lee is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in Communications, an alumnus of the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, and an Associate Producer in Content Development for the Motor Racing Network. 1. Keating Motorsports will become the first customer team with support from Ford Performance in the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. Representing the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the No. 85 Ford GT is set to be driven by Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Felipe Fraga in GTE Am. How do you think the Keating entry will perform at Le Mans? Lambeth: After running a factory program with Chip Ganassi Racing for several years, Ford is shifting gears, allowing customers to race the Ford GT. Like years in the past, I expect the Keating entry to be strong. Ben Keating, in particular, continues to improve as a driver year-after-year. For a bronze-rated driver, his performances rival some higher rated drivers. In this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, he was racing with a few household names in GT3 racing. When you add the blistering, fast Jeroen Bleekemolen and Brazilian stock car racer Felipe Fraga to the mix, do not be surprised if the No. 85 Ford GT is contending for GTE Am class honors. Lee: While Chip Ganassi has had plenty of success with the factory Ford GT program, it will be interesting to see another team take a go with the machine. Given the talented lineup of Keating, Bleekemolen and Fraga, Keating Motorsports will be one to watch in June. They will definitely have a chance at scoring a podium finish in the GTE Am class at Le Mans. 2. Patricio O’Ward and Harding Steinbrenner Racing have parted ways, prior to the start of the 2019 NTT IndyCar season. What’s your take on the latest development out of the IndyCar paddock? Lambeth: The split between Harding Steinbrenner Racing and Patricio O’Ward is devastating for each party involved and the NTT IndyCar Series, in general. In his IndyCar debut, last season at Sonoma Raceway, O’Ward qualified in the Firestone Fast Six. That is something that simply does not occur without possessing a special talent. Unfortunately, unless something comes together, this late in the game, the 2018 Indy Lights champion will be on the sidelines. However, he does have prize money from his championship season. It will be interesting to see if he can at least pick up a ride for the 2019 Indianapolis 500. O’Ward is potentially a future IndyCar star. The series cannot afford to lose him. Lee: Honestly, you hate to see when deals fall apart like this, especially with St. Petersburg right around the corner. I’m sure going into the offseason, knowing that you have a ride and then it’s taken away so close to the season is probably mentally taxing. O’Ward displayed a spectacular pace last year at Sonoma and turned a few heads. There’s still a lot to unfold from this situation. Surely, later on, more will be explained on why the deal went sour. 3. Many Formula 1 teams are unveiling their 2019 car to the public. We have just over a month until lights out in Melbourne. Heading into the new season, what intrigues you the most? Lambeth: I am curious to find out if the new aero changes will improve the on-track product. It is not a secret that Formula 1 lacks parity. Kimi Raikkonen is the last non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull driver to win a race. Raikkonen won the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, driving for Lotus. SIX years ago! We will find out if the changes to the front nose, in particular, will affect the racing as the season progresses. Lee: The biggest conversation during the offseason has been the tweaks to the aero package, in an effort to improve the racing. I’m really wondering if the simplification of the aero package will be as groundbreaking as the say it will for this upcoming season. 4. Contact between Jimmie Johnson and Paul Menard ignited the Big One during the Advance Auto Parts Clash. Menard was not pleased with Johnson’s move. Soon, after that, Mother Nature put the nail in the coffin to end the race. Jimmie Johnson was declared the winner after completing a total of 59 laps. What are your thoughts on “the clash” between Johnson and Menard? Lambeth: We already knew that the race could end at any moment, due to incoming rain. Jimmie Johnson made a move to pull out of line, made contact with Paul Menard and the majority of the field wrecked as a result. Honestly, it is just the nature of restrictor plate racing. Sometimes, you get it right. At other times, you get it wrong. At the end of the day, you have every competitor fighting to win a race. Lee: After a eventful day at Daytona, during The Clash, the single-file racing soon turned into a gigantic mess entering turn 3 on Sunday afternoon. The incident between Menard and Johnson was an example of what plate racing has been as of late. After a conga line, Johnson made quite an aggressive move and unfortunately it resulted in a huge pileup. I understand the anger from people, but at the same time, people would have also been angry if it stayed single-file until the end. 5. Big news dropped hours before the ARCA race at Daytona. Menards went from a presenting sponsor to the entitlement sponsor. The series will be known as the “ARCA Menards Series,” effective immediately. How significant is the deal for ARCA moving forward? Lambeth: It is fantastic for ARCA and Menards to grow their partnership together. Having an entitlement sponsor for the foreseeable future is always a good deal. I am interested to see what NASCAR’s plans are for the ARCA Menards Series in 2020 and beyond. Lee: I think it’s huge for Menards to continue to be involved in racing. I am very happy that ARCA was able to make a deal with a brand that has spent a great deal of money in motorsports. A great influx of sponsorship dollars as they continue to move towards the NASCAR ownership phase in 2020. 6. What's so special about nine consecutive days of racing at New Smyrna Speedway? Lambeth: It is certainly a perfect way to begin the racing season if you love stock car racing. Of course, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race is always entertaining. But you also get to watch Pro Late Models, Modifieds and Super Late Models, which is something that I do not watch often. It is nice to step outside of my comfort zone and learn new disciplines. Nevertheless, the tradition at New Smyrna is great for all involved. Come out and support your local short tracks! Lee: In the last few years, I’ve spent time during Speedweeks watching the Asphalt World Series and the K&N Series. From the “ground pounders” to the late models, they all manage to put good shows for nine consecutive nights at the famed short track. Honestly, for anyone who has time to be in Daytona during Speedweeks, making a visit to see at least one race at New Smyrna is well worth your time! 7. Name your picks for the remainder of Speedweeks. Lambeth: Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott will sweep the Gander RV Duels, officially giving Hendrick Motorsports a 1-2-3-4 start for the Great American Race. I think Brett Moffitt will start his GMS Racing tenure with a victory in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season opener, riding the momentum from his 2018 championship season. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I believe the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, with Chase Elliott, will drive into victory lane. For the Daytona 500, I am making a bold prediction with back-to-back wins to kick off the 50th anniversary season of Richard Childress Racing. Daniel Hemric is going to finally secure his first NASCAR victory, in the top three divisions, on the biggest stage. Lee: For the Gander RV Duels, my picks are Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano. I feel like the Penske camp has a really good superspeedway program. The Ford Mustangs, as a whole, have a decent amount of pace and I don’t think enough people noticed them during The Clash. For the Truck Series season opener, I’m going to pick Harrison Burton, after he drove a great race last Saturday in the ARCA Menards Series. For the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I think the 2018 series champion Tyler Reddick will win, earning his second-consecutive win in the Daytona season opener. Lastly, the 61st running of the Daytona 500 should be an exciting one. I’m going with Brad Keselowski to earn his first Daytona 500 win this coming Sunday.
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