Oscar winners Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem are stars of “F1,” partially filmed in Volusia County, Fla., and at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway earlier in the year.
“F1” is directed by Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) and includes seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as a producer.
Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer served as the Grand Marshal for the 62nd running of the Rolex 24 in Daytona Beach.
Wave the checkered flags for “F1”! The racing movie is already a winner for Florida, where I lived part time for several years until my wife passed away two years ago, given that many scenes were filmed there.
Previously referred to as “Apex,” the action film “F1” stars Hollywood superstar Pitt as Sonny Hayes, an ex-Formula 1 driver who returns to the sport to mentor a rookie teammate. British actor Damson Idris plays Pitt’s rookie teammate on their fictional team APXGP, and fellow Academy Award-winner Bardem plays the leader of APXGP.
Other co-stars include Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Sarah Niles, Kim Bodnia and Samson Kayo.
The Apple Original film, in which Lewis Hamilton has a cameo. “F1,” is scheduled to open in theaters on June 27 of next year.
The NASCAR weekend in Indianapolis was the final before the Olympic break. NASCAR will return at Richmond on Aug. 10-11.
NASCAR partners seeking broadcasters
NASCAR’s new media rights partners are casting a wide net to find booth talent, with some expected names like Fox Sports’ Adam Alexander and unexpected names like ESPN’s Marty Smith among those in the mix, sources say.
Fox will still air the first several months of the NASCAR premier series season. Prime Video will follow Fox, and Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have already signed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to their respective booths.
Smith, who has become a jack-of-all-trades reporter for ESPN across several sports after the network lost NASCAR media rights in 2014, has had discussions with Prime Video and WBD about being part of their booths, sources say, a move that could involve hosting and play-by-play responsibilities. Smith was a longtime NASCAR reporter for ESPN on air and digitally but was not part of its booth. NASCAR is still one of his responsibilities for the network, but ESPN now covers NASCAR more sparingly.
Steve Letarte, the current NBC Sports broadcaster who is Earnhardt’s former crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports and former colleague at NBC, has also held talks with Prime Video and WBD. And Fox Sports’ Alexander, a versatile broadcaster who has called Xfinity Series races among other roles for the network, has likewise been a candidate for Prime Video and WBD, and has spoken with The CW, which is taking over full-season Xfinity Series rights next year. Alexander is seen as the favorite to take over the lead play-by-play commentator for The CW, some sources said.
The new-look broadcast teams will likely have a mix of traditional NASCAR talent and some untraditional names, as well as new production elements as they reimagine the experience of watching a race. For example, The CW will likely look to have more NASCAR household names like Alexander in its booth but could bring in talent that is new to the sport for pit road reporting or hosting roles. The media partners will be looking to fill other slots beyond the booth, such as for shoulder programming and studio shows.
NASCAR’S new electric race car
NASCAR has officially unveiled its prototype electric race car, the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype.
The unveiling took place in Chicago as Xfinity and Cup teams went through practice and qualifying sessions. The prototype race car, which NASCAR developed in partnership with its three OEMs (Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota), was built by the same engineers responsible for the Next Gen car and the Garage 56 entry.
The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype uses three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors (one front, two rear) supplying power directly to all four specially designed Goodyear Racing Eagle tires.
Anchored by a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery, the tunable powertrain can produce 1,000 kW at peak power. Regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into power. NASCAR says this makes the car ideal for short tracks and road courses.
The Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) body made of sustainable flax-based composite sits on a modified Next Gen chassis. The steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels are all derived from the current Cup car.
There are no current plans for an electric racing series despite Dana White saying that he was doing a deal with NASCAR regarding electric cars.
This prototype is just the beginning for NASCAR as it experiments with different powertrains. According to NBC Sports, NASCAR has mentioned sustainable fuel or hydrogen as options along with electrification via a hybrid system.
NJMP gets new sponsor
New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) and RK Auto Group are pleased to announce a partnership and sponsorship agreement that brings together the locally known dealer of trusted brands and the region’s premier road racing and motorsports facility.
RK Auto Group, based in Vineland, N.J., has been serving the community for many years, by stocking it’s showroom with various trusted and affordable car brands, like Chevrolet, KIA, and Subaru.
The sponsorship agreement includes branding and signage along the racetrack and the facility along with promotional digital campaigns provided by NJMP.
As part of this partnership, customers of RK Auto Group will have access to exclusive events, special promotions, and unique experiences at NJMP. This initiative reflects RK Auto Group’s ongoing commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering strong community relations in the months and years to come.
The agreement enables RK Auto Group to display and sell vehicles at NJMP along with the opportunity to host new events at NJMP such as an RK Auto Group Car Show, a Poker Night to benefit Breast Cancer Research, and even the development of an RK Subaru Dog Park within the NJMP facility.
Moreover, this collaboration will enable RK Auto Group to expand its cherished Breast Cancer Fund Raising Car Show. From its humble beginnings, this event has grown significantly, thanks to the unwavering support of our community. The vision is to elevate this car show into one of the premier annual events in South Jersey, drawing car enthusiasts from all over and raising substantial funds in the fight against breast cancer.
“We take immense pride in being the number one dealership in the country raising money to combat breast cancer,” Kennedy added. “Our Breast Cancer Fund Raising Car Show is a cornerstone of our community involvement, and we are committed to its growth and success. This partnership with NJMP will provide a fantastic platform to reach more people, raise more funds, and make a bigger impact.”
RK Chevrolet and the entire RK Auto Group are dedicated to making a positive difference, both on the road and in our community. NJMP and RK Auto Group look forward to a successful collaboration and the continued growth of their philanthropic initiatives.
HSR’s new series
NASCAR’s wild-card weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway will feature the past and present as the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage Series joins Bank of America ROVAL 400 race week.
The HSR NASCAR Classic will be part of HSR’s new series featuring the growing Group 8 Historic Stock Cars division within the HSR community and competitors. Fans will be able to see some of their favorite retired stock cars back in active competition as each car in the NASCAR Classic series must meet previous NASCAR rule book specifications for Cup, Xfinity, Truck and ARCA competition.
On-track schedules for the Oct. 11-12 HSR NASCAR Classic at CMS will be released at a later date. The CMS event is part of a three-race series with prior events at Virginia International Raceway (Aug. 23-24) and Watkins Glen International (Sept. 13-14).
The stockcars eligible to compete in the series must carry authentic and period-correct liveries previously seen in NASCAR competition over the years. Current editions of the rules-eligible cars in each series, such as the Cup series Generation 7 chassis, are not eligible in NASCAR Classic competition. Each round will feature a maximum of 30 selected entries by HSR for each round of the 2024’s HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Petty’s Garage.
In addition to the HSR NASCAR Classic, NASCAR’s wildcard weekend on the ROVAL™ at Charlotte Motor Speedway features the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff race and the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race. The ROVAL™ is the most unique track on the NASCAR circuit, combining a world-class infield road course with Charlotte Motor Speedway’s legendary oval. Drivers will battle 17 turns and a 35-foot elevation change over the 2.28-mile course with berths to the next round of the playoffs on the line in both the Xfinity and Cup Series.
Grandview action
Some great action at Grandview Speedway on Friday at 7 p.m. with Outlaw Enduro action, Vintage cars and Slingshots.
And a big event for the NASCAR Modifieds comes to Grandview when the 54th Annual Forrest Rogers Memorial is offered on Saturday, August 10th at 7:30 p.m.. This will be a 50 lapper paying some big bucks. T.P.Truck Equipment NASCAR Sportsman will also be in action. I find it hard to believe that I was the announcer for many Rogers Memorials including the first one.
You may want to include the Barry Skelly Memorial at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, PA on your schedule for August 17. The show featuring 410 and 358 Sprints will also be a York County Racing Club Night. It all starts at 7 p.m.
Ernie Saxton is an auto racing contributor for MediaNews Group. He co-founded the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, served as public relations director for Grandview Speedway for 47 years, and is in multiple halls of fame for his promotion and journalism related to the sport. He has announced races at more than 100 tracks, and he is the only person to have announced a race at Madison Square Garden. Email him at ESaxton144@aol.com.
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