The Future of Motorsports

       

     The young guns of motorsports are making their way to the top. In all forms of auto racing, the drivers are getting younger and younger. Many of the drivers in sports such as NASCAR, Indycar, and Formula 1 got their start in go karting. Drivers such as Dario Franchitti, Sebstian Vettel, Josef Newgarden, and Danica Patrick all got their racing start behind the wheel of a go kart. Young aspiring racers who wish to pursue a career in an open wheel or oval discipline can start around the age of five. There are thousands of kart tracks around the world, many of which have arrive and drive services that allow those curious about driving karts to test the waters before making a commitment. NASCAR drivers have also been known to get their start on the dirt. Bandolero and quarter midget cars have also become quite a popular path for those who want to end up racing stock cars.

         For those that live a quarter mile at a time. You have the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Jr Drag Racing League. Kids ages eight to seventeen can drive half scale versions of Top Fuel dragsters down the eight mile at speeds up to eighty five miles per hour in just under eight seconds. The Jr Drag Racing League has started the careers of professional drag racers such as, Erica Enders-Stevens, Morgan Lucas, Leah Pritchett, Shawn Langdon and many others. In the sportsman ranks of NHRA, there are seven divisions (regions) with hundreds of nhra member tracks that run throughout the United States. Those racing will compete against those in their own division and age bracket. At certain events, drivers who win their age class get to bring home a Wally, just like the professionals. The Western Conference Finals and Eastern Conference Finals are prime examples of races that have a huge payout and Wally for the winners. Jr drag racing is notorious for family bonding and the teaching of good sportsmanship.  

A New Beginning

       For Southern California drag racers these past couple years have been a doozy. Two major drag strips were closed down. Autoclub Dragway at Autoclub Speedway in Fontana and Irwindale Dragstrip in Irwindale closed up shop. Those affected were the sportsman and junior drag racers. There were only a handful of tracks left open, and the majority of them were only made to run 1/8th of a mile. Many drivers lost their entire racing season due to the shutdowns. Those financially sound were able to travel to Northern California, Arizona, and Nevada to compete in Division 7 and track races. Unfortunately, many Southern California drag racers had to pack it away and hope for a turn around. In 2012, Irwindale drag strip announced that they would reopen and run a limited schedule. News dropped in fall of 2013 that Autoclub Dragway would begin building a sound wall in order to reopen the track in early 2014. The drag strip is set to have an open house night on February 15th. Racing will resume a week later on the 22nd. Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School will make its return to Southern California, and SCEDA will run their series out of Autoclub Dragway as well. For the drag racing community, specifically those in Southern California, this is the best news anyone could ask for. With a full schedule set in place, it should get the blood of the SoCal drag racing community pumping. 

Inside Pit Row with Josef Newgarden

Over the weekend during the MAVTV 500 at Autoclub speedway, Inside Pit Row caught up with Izod Indycar driver, Josef Newgarden. Watch as we discuss Josef's plans for next year, his love for animals, and much more.

                            

One Last Go Around

Indycar is baaaack, and so are we! The MAVTV 500 is coming to Fontana, CA this weekend to close out the 2013 Izod Indycar Series. There will be quite an interesting and intense fight for the Indycar world championship between two time world champion, Scott Dixon and three time Indy 500 champion, Helio Castroneves. Castroneves had the points lead until the series landed in Houston, TX. Dixon took the points lead after winning the first race in the double header weekend in Houston. 25 points is all that stands between the two drivers. Helio is determined to win his first championship just as much as Scott is looking to win his third. This looks like the making of a great race! 

Inside Pit Row will also be at the MAVTV 500 giving you live updates, photos, videos, and a few surprises! To get the scoop on all things Indycar this weekend, follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @InsidePitRow. Stay tuned, we'll see you at the track! 

-Dallas Hollins

www.InsidePitRow.com

Indycar Testing at Autoclub Speedway

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to go to the Indycar open practice at Autoclub Speedway in Fontana, CA. We captured amazing shots and can’t wait for what is in store for the Indycar world finals race in October. Every single car out there looked fast which made for some great testing and great spectating. Only two races remain in the season and Helio Castroneves leads the standings by 49 points, with Scott Dixon in 2nd and Simon Pagenaud in 3rd. The next Indycar race will take place in  Houston, Texas on October 5-6. Two weeks after wrapping up the race in Texas they will be back in Fontana, California for the MAVTV 500 on October 19th for the conclusion of the 2013 IZOD Indycar Series.

Check out our photos from the test session at Autoclub Speedway: http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidepitrow/

-Dallas Hollins

www.insidepitrow.com

find us on twitter & instagram: @insidepitrow

The Trouble With the NASCAR Nationwide Series

The NASCAR Nationwide Series first came to life in 1982. It's seen as NASCAR's developmental series geared towards kickstarting the careers of future NASCAR stars. It allows drivers to hone their skills, grab the attention of potential sponsors, and start to make a name for themselves. The Nationwide Series runs at the same track, on the same weekend, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It allows fans to see both series run without much hassle given that Nationwide is on Saturday and the Sprint Cup is on Sunday. Sounds like the Nationwide Series is a great program for young drivers to evolve and progress, right? 

Maybe. Maybe not. Sure the series has launched the racing careers of pretty big names like, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Brian Vickers, to name a few. They all went on to have successful Sprint Cup Series careers. However within the past five years more drivers from the Sprint Cup Series have come down to join the Nationwide Series to compete, taking on double duty. Many never left the Nationwide Series, even once they made it to the “Big League”. Kyle Busch, Brad Keslowski, and Clint Bowyer are just three of the many big names that currently compete in both series. It makes it a lot harder for younger and newer drivers looking to work their way up the ladder. All of the Sprint Cup guys bring the best equipment, the most money, and not to mention they already have the driving skills to be incredibly successful. It’s an incredibly difficult uphill battle for upcoming drivers to be successful in the Nationwide Series, they have to race guys that have way more money, way more backing, and way more experience than them, instead of racing guys that are on the same level as they are. This begs the question, Should NASCAR allow drivers that race in the Sprint Cup Series to race in the Nationwide Series as well?

NASCAR makes more money off of drivers that race both series, not to mention ticket sales go through the roof when drivers race both series. Fans get to see their favorite racecar drivers more often and the drivers get more seat time and exposure.  However it’s a double-edge sword for sponsors. Their name is thrown out there twice as much drivers that only race in one series. It’s also twice the risk because if their driver gets hurt in the Nationwide Series or the Sprint Cup Series, and can no longer compete in either series, the sponsor loses money and their advertising space for an indefinite amount of time. NASCAR’s Nationwide Series seems to be more about making more money, than it does helping drivers develop. The MLB doesn’t allow its Major League players to actively play in the Minors at the same time, they understand it’s a league that lets amateur players polish their skills before they step up to The Show. Fresh young talent in the Nationwide Series doesn’t get that chance because NASCAR enables professional drivers to steal the spotlight away from the semi-professional drivers, even though NASCAR calls Nationwide their “minor league” series. Should NASCAR stop Sprint Cup drivers from racing in the Nationwide Series, or should NASCAR keep the Nationwide Series the way it is and establish a real developmental series where up and coming drivers can fine-tune their craft? 

It would greatly help the future of the sport. Kids at the kart track get to see drivers that are 10-15 years older than them making names for themselves on their journey to the Sprint Cup Series instead of seeing racecar drivers that are 30-35 years older than them racing in both a developmental series, as well as a professional series. Not only would it motivate the next generation of racecar drivers of all disciplines, it would get NASCAR fans of all ages excited about where their beloved sport of oval track racing is headed. Marketing and sponsorship would change greatly if the sport had new fresh talent like Trevor Bayne as the face of the sport. Maybe that’s just what NASCAR needs. What do you think?

-Dallas Hollins

www.insidepitrow.com

Find Us On Twitter & Instagram: @InsidePitRow

Kimi Raikkonen to Return Home to Ferrari

Out with the old, in with the new! (kinda) It was announced wednesday afternoon that Brazilian Formula One driver, Felipe Massa, will make his departure from Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the 2013 season. The announcement came after a lackluster performance in the first half of the 2013 Formula One season. Felipe has had an uphill struggle to match the performance of his teammate two time Formula One world champion, Fernando Alonso. 32 year-old Massa started racing for Ferrari in 2006 and hasn't won since 2009. For all of you wondering, that's 79 races (so far) without gracing the top step of the podium. That's the longest winless streak of any Ferrari driver in the team's 63 year history in racing. 

Ferrari expects that all to change next year. 2007 Formula One world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, will return to Scuderia Ferrari, the team that helped guide him to his illustrious world championship winning season in 2007. In order to fill the gap left by Massa, Kimi will be expected to perform, well, like Kimi. He has the upfront race experience, resume, and confidence that Felipe Massa always seemed to lack. Raikkonen will finish out the 2013 season at Lotus before returning home to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. Given the budget that Lotus has, Raikkonen has done quite well scoring a win last year while finishing third in the points and scoring a win this season in Australia, currently seated fourth in the points with seven races to go. 

Kimi Raikkonen's move to Ferrari could definitely be a potential roadblock for Fernando Alonso. We all know Raikkonen won't allow himself to play second fiddle to the Spanish champion and fernando alonso won’t allow himself to play second fiddle to the finnish champion. However both Alonso and Raikkonen are optimistic about what the future will hold for them next year. Kimi commented on the move, "I can't wait to be driving a Prancing Horse car again and to reacquaint myself with so many people with whom I had such close links, as well as working with Fernando, whom I consider a great driver, in order to bring the team the success it deserves." Needless to say, every Formula One fan will be interested to see what magic they’ll bring to the table next season, but will it be enough to bring down the Red bulls’ of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo?  

-Dallas Hollins

www.InsidePitRow.com

find us on twitter & Instagram: @InsidePitRow

Photo Credit: Ferrari Spa/ Ercole Colombo