Adam Sinclair
Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week.
Adam spent several years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.
Be sure to tune in for his sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
Contact Adam: Email
Zynga Celebrates CSR Racing 2 Seventh Anniversary
Today Zynga, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive, announced that its subsidiary NaturalMotion is celebrating the 7th anniversary of its popular mobile drag game CSR Racing 2 (CSR2) from June 27- July 7th, 2023.
In the game, players collect and tune the hottest and latest cars to compete on tracks – all in unsurpassed state-of-the-art graphics and high visual fidelity. Key milestones of the game’s 7th anniversary include:
- Players have raced almost 12 BILLION MILES - that’s 64 trips to the sun and back
- Over 32 BILLION RACES have been completed!
- 4 MILLION RACING CREWS have formed in-game
- The game includes OVER 500 CARS for players to race
- Cars from over 65 AUTOMAKERS are featured
To celebrate CSR2’s 7th anniversary, every player gets the 2024 Ford Mustang GT - the 7th generation Mustang - to race and customize for free!
Wendy’s Brings Home the Bacon at the Chicago Street Race
To drive home that the Wendy's® Baconator® is first place worthy, Wendy's is once again teaming up with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and NASCAR driver Noah Gragson to bring home the bacon at the first-ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend. Gragson's No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro will be transformed into the boldest and beefiest car on the track – nicknamed the "The Baconator" after the fan-favorite and iconic Wendy's Baconator. Paying homage to Wendy's signature half-pound of fresh beef**, American cheese, and crispy Applewood smoked bacon, fans can expect bacon, bacon and more bacon zooming around the first-of-its-kind track and throughout the city from July 1 - 2.
For fans watching the action from home, Wendy's is teaming up with DoorDash to bring the Baconator straight to your door! (To be clear – the hamburger, not the car, but wouldn't that be cool?!) From July 1 through July 3, all DoorDash customers can enjoy a FREE Breakfast Baconator® or Baconator with any purchase worth $20 or more on DoorDash.* Place your order on DoorDash and leave the driving to the pros! Want even more bacon? Say less. At Wendy's, we're always Baconating – from the AM until midnight or later***, Wendy's is here for all of your bacon cravings.
Check out the Wendy's app to rack up rewards and be the first to know about in-app offers.
Brittany Force nominated for ESPY
Reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force has been nominated for the 2023 ESPYS Best Driver Award for her record-breaking performance during her 2022 championship season.
Force claimed a second world title in her 11,000-horsepower Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
This is the second time Force has been nominated for the Best Driver Award, with the first coming after her 2017 championship season when she became just the second woman to win an NHRA Top Fuel championship and the first in 35 years. It puts her in in select company of NHRA stars who have been nominated two or more times for the prestigious award, joining the likes of her father, John Force, (2000-03, 2011, 2014), Tony Schumacher (2007-2010), Greg Anderson (2005, 2011), Erica Enders (2015, 2021) and Steve Torrence (2019, 2022) as NHRA drivers with multiple ESPYS nominations. Force’s sister, Ashley Force-Hood, was nominated in 2008.
“I am so excited to be nominated for an ESPY. This is an honor not just for me but for my team, John Force Racing, and NHRA. I’m so proud of the season my team and I had in 2022 to get us this nomination,” Force said. “Out of all the different series and motorsports, to be one of only four drivers nominated is huge. That in itself really elevates the sport of NHRA drag racing.”
Force enjoyed a spectacular 2022 season, setting records across the country en route to claiming her second world title. She finished the 2022 season with five victories and 10 No. 1 qualifying positions, setting 16 track records along the way. Among her biggest accomplishment was bettering her own national record speed with an incredible blast of 338.94 mph to close out the season at the NHRA Finals In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Force also currently holds the national ET record of 3.623-seconds, a mark she set in the 2019 season.
Joining Force on the ESPY Best Driver ballot are NASCAR’s Kyle Larson, IndyCar’s Josef Newgarden and Formula 1’s Max Verstappen.
“It’s also a big honor to be recognized next to the other nominees,” Force said. “They’re all such big names in the sports world, they’ve set records, won championships and it’s pretty crazy to be listed alongside this group of athletes.”
This year’s ESPYS will air on Wednesday, July 12, from Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans can vote for Force here from now until Sunday, July 9, at 8 p.m. ET.
(Courtesy of NHRA Communications)
Toyo Tires and “Mad Mike” Whiddett Set New Rotary Record at the 101st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Toyo Tires made a resounding impact at the iconic Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, showcasing its commitment to motorsports heritage and innovation. Attendees of the event in Colorado Springs witnessed an awe-inspiring performance by the talented "Mad Mike" Whiddett of Team Toyo. Whiddett’s “Bullet”, a 1400 horsepower, 4 rotor, twin turbo, rear wheel drive 2022 Mazda 3 built by TCP-Magic, ascended Pikes Peak and recorded an official lap time of 10:34.980. This set a record for the fastest Mazda and the fastest rotary engine in the event's 101-year history, forever etching Whiddett and his team’s groundbreaking performance in racing history.
Whiddett's triumph at Pikes Peak not only highlights his exceptional driving skills but also underscores the tireless efforts of Team TCP Magic, which is comprised of talented individuals from across the globe. Toyo Tires, as a valued partner, provided the necessary support, including cutting-edge tire technology, to enhance the performance and reliability of the record-breaking vehicle.
"The excellent performance of these tires instilled in me the unwavering confidence to push the limits up Pikes Peak, reaching speeds exceeding 140mph,” said Whiddett. “With predictable traction throughout the treacherous journey to the finish line, situated over 14,000ft in elevation, our wild 1400hp RWD Mazda3 built by TCP-Magic shattered records, claiming the titles of both the Fastest Mazda and the Fastest Rotary in the illustrious 101-year history of Pikes Peak."
“Through our involvement at Pikes Peak, we aim to celebrate the rich heritage and remarkable achievements of motorsports while pushing the boundaries of tire technology,” Stan Chen, sr. manager, events, sponsorships and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “We are thrilled with “Mad Mike’s” outstanding performance, as he fearlessly pushed the limits in his pursuit of a record setting drive.”
The Toyo Proxes line of ultra-high performance and competition tires are used by enthusiasts and racers alike. In addition to supporting Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Toyo Tires supports NASA – the National Auto Sport Association – and is the spec tire of the Mazda Spec MX-5 Challenge, BMW Car Club of America’s E36 and E46 classes as well as Porsche Club of America’s SP1 and Boxster classes. To learn more about the Proxes line from Toyo Tires, visit www.toyotires.com.
For more information about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, visit ppihc.org.
CrowdStrike Racing is ready to take on the world in its biggest event of the season. The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa is the crown jewel of the SRO Motorsports global calendar. As title sponsor, CrowdStrike, the official internet and cloud security provider for SRO Motorsports’ global championships, will play a massive role in the world’s premier GT3 race both on and off the racetrack.
CrowdStrike Racing will be featured in a highly competitive, 10-car class for Pro-Am entries. Drivers George Kurtz and Colin Braun – recent winners of the LMP2 Pro-Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and full-season teammates in Fanatec GT World Challenge America – will lead the driving lineup in the No. 4 CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The pair will team with Felipe Fraga and Ian James in the CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG to give the CrowdStrike Racing by Riley team one of the stronger Pro-Am lineups in the race. Kurtz’s victory last year in the Am class – also in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 – provided him valuable front-running experience ahead of this year’s race.
Also part of the Pro-Am class is the No. 70 CrowdStrike Racing by Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 of Gerhard Watzinger - making his first start in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa - alongside Brendon Leitch, Kerong Li and Jean-Francois Brunot. Although this is his first Spa 24 Hours, Watzinger is a veteran and winner of multiple 24-hour races in the Creventic 24H Series and the 24 Hours of Barcelona.
More than 70 GT3 cars will take part in this year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, which is also part of SRO’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.
A significant group of CrowdStrike employees, VIPs and guests will be among the huge crowds that will enjoy 24 hours of world-class GT3 racing. The cybersecurity company will hold a CXO Summit early in the event weekend where CrowdStrike executives will visit with guests to discuss trends and opportunities for cyber protection in a business-to-business environment. Shawn Henry, CrowdStrike Chief Security Officer, and Angelo Comazzetto, Senior Principal, Office of the CISO at AWS, are among the speakers that will address the CXO group at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
In addition, title sponsorship of the race ensures that CrowdStrike guests will enjoy premium-level hospitality and experiential activities at the track and surrounding the event.
CrowdStrike Racing by Riley competes at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa from Thursday, June 29 through Sunday, July 2. Live coverage – including a streaming on-board of the No. 4 CrowdStrike Mercedes-AMG GT3 – plus timing & scoring will be available at CrowdStrike24HoursofSpa.com and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
For more information, visit CrowdStrikeRacing.com. Follow #CrowdStrikeRacing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Watch WEC Full Access from 24 Hours of Le Mans
Abel Tops Opening Practice at Mid-Ohio
Driving the No. 51 Abel Motorsports entry, Jacob Abel turned the fastest lap of the 45-minute session at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at 1 minute 11.3899 seconds. Following him were Christian Rasmussen and rookie Nolan Siegel, members of HMD Motorsport’s eight-car program, and rookie Louis Foster, who drives one of Andretti Autosport’s four entries.
It certainly was a competitive session, with 11 drivers within a second of Abel’s best lap time on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course. Rasmussen (1:11.4291), Siegel (1:11.4583) and Foster (1:11.5715) turned a lap within two-tenths of a second of the pace setter.
Mid-Ohio is the track where Abel first completed a racing school, and this weekend he hopes it will be where he scores his first INDY NXT by Firestone victory.
“I’ve got a lot of experience at this track – I consider it my home track,” Abel said. “It’s the first place I ever drove a race car, (and) I used to work at the (driving) school here.
“It’s good to start (the weekend) off well. The track is ever-changing and the conditions here change a ton for how you set up a car and how you drive it a lot throughout the weekend, so to be ahead of that and on top of that is really important for qualifying and in the race on Sunday. We could have a completely different formula there.
“Yeah, I think it will be a pretty good weekend. (This is) definitely a good start.”
Siegel, who has won the past two races in HMD’s No. 39 car, holds a 40-point lead over Rasmussen, the driver of the No. 6 entry. Andretti Autosport’s Hunter McElrea, who was sixth in Friday’s practice, is third in the standings, 56 points in arrears. Abel is fourth, trailing Siegel by 61 points.
McElrea won last year’s Mid-Ohio race from the pole, leading all 35 laps.
There was one red flag in Friday’s practice, as Ernie Francis Jr. spun at the entrance of Turn 9 and slid backward into the sand trap. The driver of HMD Motorsport with Force Indy's No. 99 car, who is still rehabbing a broken wrist from earlier in the season, said he was “trying to come to grips with the track pretty quick” when the incident began.
INDY NXT will stage the weekend’s second practice Saturday at 8:35 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. ET. Both sessions will air on INDYCAR LIVE and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Sunday’s 35-lap race, the seventh in a 14-race season, is set for 11:40 a.m. (Peacock, INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Capturing Speed: Insta360, GoPro, and more
Since the dawn of time, humanity has tried to capture the essence of speed. From cave paintings depicting herds of wild animals bounding across the plains, to elaborate decorations on the walls of tombs depicting chariot races, to the early photographs of cars attempting to set records on the measured mile, men have always dreamed of better ways to convey movement for the ages.
Now, in the digital age, we have more options than ever to try and save for posterity the world of motion that we live in.
For many, their first choice is their trusty cellphone. It is, by far, the most convenient, and something that virtually everyone from toddlers to the elderly have at their side every waking moment. Many modern phones are far superior for photography than the average camera of the film age. They can augment the image with filters, edit out what they don't want, and ever try to make the subject more photogenic. That's great and all, but it isn't the best.
For others, they turn to the GoPro. The original action camera, GoPro is wonderful in its simplicity. It can be used above and below water. It is pocket sized, and is very easy to travel with. However, it seems a bit awkward to hold, unless you use the convenient molded stick, or any of dozens of harness based devices. It also isn't the best in terms of digital images, though it is excellent at video.
Others still choose a trusty digital camera. This is a great choice, but not necessarily the most ergonomic or lightweight. Better cameras weigh you down, but the options they provide simply do not exist on other platforms. Cameras are king, but their thrown is definitely shaky.
In comes Insta360, and one of their newest models. the x3. Designed with action in mind, this small, handheld (and pocket sized) camera easily switches from video to still images, although you might need to practice to figure out how it works. That's the same with everything, though, am I right?!?
Perhaps one of the most amazing things about this little camera is the invisible selfie stick. You read that right - invisible! I'm still not 100% sure how it works, but when using it, the stick doesn't show up in video or still images. Check out this video from View From the Cheap Seats to see what I mean. It's amazing!
I will be using this camera for all of my YouTube videos in the future, and have already tried it out at Barrett Jackson Palm Beach. Keep in mind that this was my first attempt with the device, so it has issues, but I attribute them entirely to user error. LOL
If you're looking for the answer to the mystery of how to best capture speed, there isn't one clear winner. But for my money, I think Insta360 has something special, and is worth giving a shot!
With Max Verstappen dominating the grid, MyBettingSites.co.uk talked to two-time World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi who was of the opinion that Verstappen can break Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton's record of seven world championships.
The Brazilian great also expressed his admiration for the Dutch driver and pointed out how he has matured this season.
Here's what he said:
- Max Verstappen has the potential to win more than seven World Championships
“I think it’s too early to say if Max can break Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton’s record but he has the potential."
“Any sport, Olympics, World Cup football, tennis, when someone establishes a record, you think it is impossible to break but history has shown us otherwise.”
“He has the potential to break that record for sure. His age, his physical fitness, his training and his mental strength. He has the potential to win more than seven World Championships.”
- I admire the way Max is performing - he has overcome any difficulties he's faced
“I think Max is doing brilliantly. It’s amazing the work that he’s been doing. He’s so focused. Any different circumstances or difficulties that he faces, he’s overcoming.
“He deserves to be there. He’s doing the hard work with precision. I admire the way he’s performing.
“As a defending World Champion, all the pressure he has, it’s tremendous. He’s there, he’s more mature and he’s doing a fantastic job.”
- I really like how Max takes control of his races
“The team is behind him a hundred percent and sometimes I can see his comments on the radio where he takes control of his race. I like that. His personality is strong now. At his level, he can do that. If a rookie driver tries that, it’s difficult.
“The team knows they have to listen to him. He’s driving and he knows what he’s doing. He has very strong opinions.”
You can find the entire interview here.