By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio FORT WORTH – Himself the subject of hero-worship from his legion of NASCAR and NHRA fans, Tony Stewart quickly deferred to Marine Corps veteran Don Graves the moment they were introduced at Texas Motor Speedway. The occasion was the 14th annual Tony Stewart’s Smoke Show fund-raiser, during which paying participants sampled a day in the life of a NASCAR stock car driver – from pre-race introductions to hot-lapping the high-banked/1.5-mile oval to riding alongside Stewart and his heavy right foot. Program beneficiary Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter invited Graves to sing the national anthem…
Author: John Sturbin
John Sturbin
John Sturbin is a Fort Worth-based journalist specializing in motorsports. During a near 30-year career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he won the Bloys Britt Award for top motorsports story of the year (1991) as judged by The Associated Press; received the National Hot Rod Association’s Media Award (1995) and several in-house Star-Telegram honors. He also was inaugural recipient of the Texas Motor Speedway Excellence in Journalism Award (2009). Email John Sturbin at jsturbin@hotmail.com.
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio FORT WORTH _ INDYCAR’s colorful and controversial 27-year history at Texas Motor Speedway officially has run full-circle with the confirmation of an NTT IndyCar Series street-race scheduled for Arlington’s Entertainment District in March 2026. Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment _ official events partner of the Texas Rangers _ announced a joint venture Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 establishing and operating the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington in that springtime slot. A 2.73-mile course will be featured against the backdrop of a pair of sporting venues recognized by fans around the world…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Open-wheel superstar Alex Palou was honored for his third NTT IndyCar Series championship in the past four years during Monday’s Victory Lap Celebration in Indianapolis, where the mercurial Spaniard put an exclamation point on an incomparable 2024 season for Chip Ganassi Racing. Palou won two races in the No. 10 DHL Honda and scored 13 top-five finishes in 17 races to become just the 13th driver in history to earn at least three INDYCAR championships. The Spaniard is just the seventh driver to win three titles in four years and first since Scotsman…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Alex Palou continued to embellish his INDYCAR resume Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway, where the Spaniard’s methodical drive to a third championship in four years is drawing comparisons to domestic open-wheel racing’s all-timers. Palou placed 11th in the 2024 season-ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, a finish more than enough for the Chip Ganassi Racing ace to secure his third Astor Challenge Cup. At 27 years, 5 months and 14 days, Palou is the second-youngest driver to win three INDYCAR championships. Only Team Penske’s Sam Hornish Jr. was younger _ 27 years,…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Alex Palou’s NTT IndyCar Series championship mettle _ the Spaniard’s world-class race craft _ will be tested to the max Sunday during the 2024 season-ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Palou, of Chip Ganassi Racing, was among five series regulars slapped Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway by INDYCAR’s paddock police with nine-position grid penalties for unapproved engine changes. Originally gridded 15th after a two-lap average of 199.532 mph around the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Lebanon, Tenn., Palou will start 24th in the 27-car field Sunday afternoon. The two-time/reigning series champion, Palou leads fellow…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Santino Ferrucci and his aggressive, on-track attitude will return to A.J. Foyt Racing and the NTT IndyCar Series in 2025 under terms of a “multi-year” contract to drive the No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet. Ferrucci sits 10th in the point standings heading into this weekend’s season-ender at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. Ferrucci, 26, will be paired with 22-year-old native Chicagoan David Malukas in Foyt Racing’s second entry beginning next season. Malukas, currently of Meyer Shank Racing, signed with the Waller, Texas-based organization owned by open-wheel legend A.J. Foyt Jr. last month. “I’m…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Midwest weather permitting, NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson will get a second chance to contest and complete “The Double” on Sunday, May 25th, 2025. Larson’s bid for a pair of marquee Memorial Day Weekend victories again will involve a collaboration between Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and Hendrick Motorsports. In what has been dubbed the #Hendrick1100, Larson will attempt to complete 1,100 miles of INDYCAR and NASCAR racing beginning with the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway _ crown jewel of the NTT IndyCar Series season. Larson will then be flown…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Native New Zealanders Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon spent Sunday afternoon interrupting an NTT IndyCar Series title chase between Alex Palou and Will Power that will be decided during the 2024 season-finale. McLaughlin held off six-time series champion Dixon to win Race 2 of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s doubleheader in West Allis, Wis. McLaughlin earned his series high-tying third victory of the season in the No. 3 Gallagher Team Penske Chevrolet, finishing 0.4558-seconds ahead of fellow-Kiwi Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Colton Herta completed the podium…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Englishman Louis Foster’s title-deciding drive in the INDY NXT by Firestone Milwaukee 100 was an absolute no-doubter. Foster went wire-to-wire for his series-leading seventh victory of the season Saturday afternoon, leading all 90-laps/91.35-miles around the historic 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wis. A 21-year-old native of Odiham, England, Foster secured the 2024 championship for Andretti Global in the series’ penultimate round. Foster’s seven wins (and counting) are the most by any INDY NXT driver since current NTT IndyCar Series regular Kyle Kirkwood won a series record-tying 10 races en route to the title…
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio Pato O’Ward and his Arrow McLaren crew emerged from a three-race, summertime swoon Saturday afternoon with a victory in Race 1 of the Hyvee Milwaukee 250s in West Allis, Wis. O’Ward scored his third NTT IndyCar Series victory of the season on The Milwaukee Mile’s historic 1.015-mile oval, finishing 1.8215-seconds in front of championship contender Will Power of Team Penske. O’Ward’s seventh career victory and 25th-career podium finish put a definitive end to a frustrating stretch that had seen him finish 17th on the Streets of Toronto on July 21; second-to-last 26th on…