Take a ride just south of Louisville to Nashville you will also experience plenty of excitement this weekend. The stars of the Indy Car Series will battle. There are only 5 races left in the highly competitive racing season. Expect the streets of Nashville to be packed on Sunday for race day. There is no doubt, so far, Alex Palou has to be the most dominant driver in the Indy Car Series. But don't count out Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden who swept the doubleheader at Iowa, He is second in points and Scott Dixon is third. Dixon is a 6-Time Indy Car Champion. After Nashville, the series hits Indianapolis again, this time on the road course, which also uses turns 1 and 2 of the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Time will tell if Palou can handle the late season pressure.
The action heated up at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. The last stop on a 3-event western swing. The biggest news, a rare tripleheader-sweep by Gaige Herrera in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle's. Not only did he take the top spot at the podium in Sonoma, Herrea won at the two other drag racing events in Seattle and Denver. Other Sonoma winners included Justin Ashley in Top Fuel, and J.R. Todd in Funny Car. Up next, the NHRA Kansas Nationals August 11-13.
It was a hot and long day for the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond. Brad Keselowski had the hottest car most of the afternoon. But a late pit stop slowed him down. Brad ended up finishing 6th. However, he did get to Victory Lane at Richmond as an owner. RFK racer Chris Buescher had a strong car for much of the day. He surged past Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch late to get the win. Buescher secured a playoff spot. What an amazing turnaround for RFK (Rough-Fenway-Keselowski) in the two short years since Brad joined the team as an owner. Barring major incidents, Brad will have enough points to make the post-season on points. He's been so consistent this season. Don't be surprised if he doesn't take the checkered flag soon. As for the actual Cup championship? We're not sure RFK is there yet. But Keselowski knows what it takes. He won the Cup title in 2012. As for Michigan this weekend, for nearly the past decade, a Ford has celebrated with a win there. Names to watch this weekend: Logano, Harvick, Keselowski, and Blaney. All Fords. As for Non-Ford racers, perhaps Stenhouse or Larson. There are just four Cup races left before the playoffs begin.
If you like Figure 8 excitement look to the Sportsdrome Speedway this weekend. The short flat track is just 5 minutes from downtown Louisville off Interstate 65. Saturday it is the mega Figure 8 Xtravaganza. Multiple races are on the schedule. Expect strong racing and plenty of wrecks as drivers cross the X! The next major event at the Salem Speedway is August 19th (There is Drifting this weekend). We do encourage you to check out local track websites and social media for last minute changes and tickets deals. When visiting tracks, you'll see Lucas Oil logos on walls and signage. Forrest, Charlotte, Morgan, and Katie Lucas, and the company, all strongly supports grass roots racing and drivers! Other tracks to visit include the Ponderosa Speedway is known as Baddest Bullring in the Bluegrass state. It is a short dirt track in central Kentucky at Junction City near Danville (About an hour and fifteen minutes southeast of Louisville). Drive south to Bowling Green (KY) and you'll enjoy Beech Bend. There is an amusement park, camping, and racing. The Beech Bend dragstrip brings in the fans and has a wide range of events. Just outside of Louisville in West Point Kentucky is the Ohio Valley Dragway. It is a 1/8th mile track on Dixie Highway.
It remains hot outside! Make sure your car, truck, motorcycle, boat, other vehicles, and lawn equipment are all running efficiently. Think Lucas Oil Products. They do so much for racing communities across America. Other sponsors of KMS include PNC Bank (Sponsor of Scott Dixon's Indy Car Series Car), Sportsdrome Speedway (Celebrating more than 77 years of Racing!), locally owned Bright Pest Control and Bright Retail in Louisville, (Offering Do-It-Yourself Professional Pest Products with a retail store), and Knox Ford in Radcliff, Kentucky) (It also has a sister dealership, Tri-County Ford in Oldham County, KY). KMS friends also include: VoiceTel Kentucky (Offering telephone service for low as $25.00 a line per month), Temco Roofing, Jim Ellis/Attorney-At-Law, ICA Dumpsters, Kentucky Raceway Ministries, Nimlok Kentucky, Dynamic Healthcare, Lyndon Mower Repair, and Kentucky Medicare Plans (Serving Kentucky and Southern Indiana with Health and Medicare plans). We also thank our media connections in all series, NASCAR and with NASCAR Media, Indy Car, Monster Jam, ARCA, and NHRA for helping us bring the sport to the fans!
Over the summer, more people will be getting outside. When out traveling or on vacation, we encourage you to look around. See the farms and ranches in America. Our farmers and ranchers are doing work hard and need support. Protect the Harvest backs them. It is a Lucas Oil backed initiative. Learn more at: www.protecttheharvest.com
