IndyCar
Weekend Racing Recap: Lutz Wins At Jennerstown; PPMS Gets Rain And More!
PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Tuesday’s Racing Recap looks back at a busy weekend of racing and gets you up to speed both locally and nationally.
Joy, Weaver, Speer Victorious at Tri-City:
- Nick Joy earned his first Tri-City victory in the Modified division feature during “Sunday Thunder” at Tri-City Raceway Park. Jeremy Weaver won for the first time at Tri-City in the RUSH Sprint Car division feature. Dillon Speer continued to dominate the Mini Stock division by picking up his sixth win of 2020. The evening’s events were held in memory of Brandon Hawkins, the young Sprint Car ace who passed away recently. Sunday, August 30th, the BRP Modified Tour makes a first visit of 2020 to Tri-City, for the “Rick Hall Memorial Race”, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, the Junior Sprint Cars and Vintage Modifieds with racing action set to launch at 6pm. For more information visit, www.TriCityRacewayPark.com
Craig Lutz Takes NASCAR Whelen Modified Win At Jennerstown:
- Craig Lutz captured the victory in the inaugural running of the “Laurel Highlands 150” for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Saturday night at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex. Joe Maruca, of Slickville, PA parked in Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane for the first time in his Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model career, becoming the fifth different winner of the year. Five divisions of racing return Saturday night, August 29, at 6 p.m. After the races, the final round of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series will be contested. For more information visit www.jennerstown.org.
Greg Dobrowsky Captures The “Mav Classic” At Mercer:
- Greg Dobrosky beat Jim Morris, Jeremy Kornbau and John Partner to win the “Mav Classic” Saturday night at Michael’s Mercer Raceway. Jake Gomola appeared to be cruising to a victory when he made contact with a lap car coming out of turn 4 and couldn’t continue the race. The race was a tribute to the late 305 Sprints racer Brandon Hawkins. Over $4,000 was raised to benefit Hawkins’ son Maverick. Rex King Sr. won the Big Block Modified over Rex King Jr and Dave Murdick. Brian Schaffer won the FASTRAK modifieds feature.
Mother Nature Red Flags PPMS:
- Mother Nature spoiled a good start to a night of racing Saturday at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. The track was able to get the 410 Sprint, RUSH Sprint Cars, RUSH Late Model Series and Pro Stock heat races in before the skies opened up to ruin the night at “Dirt’s Monster Half Mile”. Carl Bowser and Jack Sodeman Jr. picked up 410 Sprint heat wins. Zach Morrow and Alan Dellinger picked up RUSH Sprint Car Series heat wins. Zach Gunn, Justin Lamb, and Ben Policz took wins in RUSH Late Model Series heats and Nick Kocuba took the heat win in the Pro-Stocks.
Fab 4 Friday At Lernerville:
- Friday night at Lernerville Speedway saw some familiar names visit Terry Bowser Victory Lane. “The Crusher Kid” Mike Norris picked up his second Late Model feature win of the season and Joey Zambotti managed his third “Action Track” victory of 2020. John Mollick picked up his second Big Block Modified win of the year. Dan Shetler picked up a popular victory in 410 Sprint Car action returning to Lernerville victory lane for the first time since 2017.
Takuma Sato Wins His 2nd Indy 500:
Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick wins NASCAR Cup Races At Dover:
- The NASCAR Cup Series visited Dover International Raceway this past weekend and two of the best Cup cars this season parked it in victory lane. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin won Saturday’s Drydene 311 and Stewart Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick won Sunday’s Drydene 311.
MOORESVILLE, NC (May 7, 2024) Team Penske has suspended four members involved in the push-to-pass cheating scandal including team President Tim Cindric.
Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, No. 2 Race Engineer Luke Mason and Senior Data Engineer Robbie Atkinson join Cindric on the sidelines for the next two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES discovered that Team Penske installed software that bypassed the push-to-pass system at the season opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and stripped race-winner Josef Newgarden of the victory and third-place winner Scott McLaughlin of his podium finish. The Series said the software was discovered prior to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
INDYCAR’s subsequent investigation and penalties were announced prior to last week’s race at Barber Motorsports Park and the series said it was over and done with, but not for Penske.
Team Owner Roger Penske, who also owns the series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, met with several team owners and team principals at Barber but apparently felt he needed to take further action.
“After a full and comprehensive analysis of the information, Team Penske has determined that there were significant failures in our processes and internal communications,” Team Penske said in a statement.
“I recognize the magnitude of whaat occurred and the impact it continues to have on the sport to which I’ve dedicated so many decades,” said Team Owner Roger Penske in the same statement. “Everyone at Team Penske along with our fans and business partners should know that I apologize for the errors that were made and I deeply regret them.”
LEEDS, AL (April 28, 2024) Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin put an emotional week in the rear-view mirror by winning Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix presented by AmFirst.
McLaughlin employed a three-stop, flat-out pedal to the floor strategy while several others attempted a two-stop strategy. McLaughlin’s move paid off with the victory, his second in-a-row at Barber.
McLaughlin, who led 58 of the 90 laps after earning the NTT P1 Award in qualifying Saturday, took the lead for the final time on Lap 76 after his final pit stop.
“Definitely one of my best drives in terms of execution and just knocking out the laps,” said McLaughlin, who had his third-place finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding stripped earlier in the week for illegal push-to-pass software and using it. “Very happy we could advance to the checkered flag there and bring home a W for Team Penske and for Roger (Penske).”
Will Power made it Team Penske 1-2 by finishing second in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, 1.3194 seconds behind McLaughlin.
“It was a hard-fought 1-2 for Penske,” Power said. “We were certainly fast, but obviously a lot of strategy played into that. We were able to use our speed to come out in front again.”
Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Linus Lundqvist rounded out the podium by finishing third in the No. 8 American Legion Honda, the best finish of his young career.
“Man, it was amazing,” said Lundqvist of his sixth career start. “I think for the first time ever I was not on the save fuel strategy. I was not the one being passed, which was nice.”
The next race for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, which kicks off the Month of May activities at IMS culminating in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 on the IMS oval.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 24, 2024) Scott Dixon and the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing team are leading the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship standings after Team Penske was penalized for violating the series ‘push-to-pass’ parameters.
INDYCAR disqualified Josef Newgarden’s win and Scott McLaughlin’s third place finish in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and docked Will Power 10-Championship points for the infractions.
Dixon’s epic win in this past Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach vaulted him into second position in the Championship standings, 12-points behind Newgarden. That changed following Wednesday’s penalties.
Dixon now holds a 2-point lead over Andretti Global’s Colton Herta and a 12-point lead over teammate and reigning INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward sits in fourth position, 15-points back, following his elevation to winner at St. Pete. Power sits in fifth position, 20-points behind Dixon despite the 10-point reduction.
Dixon heads into this weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park having never won at the picturesque 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course in Birmingham Alabama.
“Barber has been interesting,” said Dixon, a six-time series Champion. “Second six times. Never won there. The goal was always to try and step on the top step again.”
Dixon is hoping a recent test will help him park the No. 9 Honda in victory lane.
“We had a really good test at Barber,” added Dixon. “Only probably half of the grid did, so it will be interesting to see how that applies.”
The first 75-minute practice session gets underway on Friday from 2:40 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. and will be live-streamed on Peacock.
McLaughlin is the defending race winner.
Team Penske Suspends Cindric and Three Others Involved In Push-to-Pass Violation
Dewease and Hammaker Get First Wins for New Car Owners at Williams Grove Speedway
Mother Nature winning the weekend as local tracks cancel events
McLaughlin goes back-to-back at Barber Motorsports Park
Macri Gets Third Straight Kauffman Classic at Port Royal; Amantea and Craig Perigo Also Score
Borden Thrills at Port Royal; Robinson, Covert, and Hart also Score
Team Penske Penalized for St. Pete Infractions. Newgarden Stripped Of Win
Historic Stock Cars to run at Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Spithaler, Norris, Krummert, and Christian Schneider take Opening Night Wins at Lernerville Speedway
