Latest news with #LateModel
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
NTSB determines that longtime dirt Late Model racer Scott Bloomquist likely intentionally crashed plane into barn
The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into longtime dirt racer Scott Bloomquist's fatal plane crash found that Bloomquist likely intentionally flew his plane into a building. Bloomquist's plane crashed into a barn next to an airstrip on his Tennessee property on August 16, 2024. Per the investigation report released on June 5, the NTSB said the probable cause of the crash was 'the pilot's intentional flight into a building as an act of suicide.' 'At this time, the family of Scott Bloomquist is not making any public statements regarding the plane crash or the recent NTSB findings,' a statement said (via Fox Sports). "They are focused on supporting one another and respectfully request privacy as they navigate this difficult period. We appreciate your understanding and ask that the media refrain from the further inquiries at this time.' Bloomquist, 60, is the winningest driver ever in the Lucas Oil dirt Late Model series and is also a World of Outlaws Late Model champion. He's regarded as one of the best dirt track drivers ever and was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002. He won over 30 Late Model races in the World of Outlaws and had over 90 wins in the Lucas Oil dirt Late Model series. In 2019, Bloomquist suffered significant lower-body injuries in a motorcycle accident in Daytona. A year before his plane crash, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer ahead of a scheduled back surgery. Not long before his plane crash, Bloomquist said he had to be hospitalized because he didn't notice a horsefly bite he had received on one of his legs because of continued numbness from the injuries sustained in the motorcycle crash.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
NTSB determines that longtime dirt Late Model racer Scott Bloomquist likely intentionally crashed plane into barn
The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into longtime dirt racer Scott Bloomquist's fatal plane crash found that Bloomquist likely intentionally flew his plane into a building. Bloomquist's plane crashed into a barn next to an airstrip on his Tennessee property on August 16, 2024. Per the investigation report released on June 5, the NTSB said the probable cause of the crash was 'the pilot's intentional flight into a building as an act of suicide.' 'At this time, the family of Scott Bloomquist is not making any public statements regarding the plane crash or the recent NTSB findings,' a statement said (via Fox Sports). They are focused on supporting one another and respectfully request privacy as they navigate this difficult period. We appreciate your understanding and ask that the media refrain from the further inquiries at this time.' Advertisement Bloomquist, 60, is the winningest driver ever in the Lucas Oil dirt Late Model series and is also a World of Outlaws Late Model champion. He's regarded as one of the best dirt track drivers ever and was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002. He won over 30 Late Model races in the World of Outlaws and had over 90 wins in the Lucas Oil dirt Late Model series. In 2019, Bloomquist suffered significant lower-body injuries in a motorcycle accident in Daytona. A year before his plane crash, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer ahead of a scheduled back surgery. Not long before his plane crash, Bloomquist said he had to be hospitalized because he didn't notice a horsefly bite he had received on one of his legs because of continued numbness from the injuries sustained in the motorcycle crash.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NASCAR Fines Drivers Following Intentional Wreck at Martinsville Xfinity Race
Three NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers have been penalized by the sanctioning body for their conduct during and after the Marine Corps 250 race at Martinsville Speedway. Sammy Smith was fined $25,000 and docked 50 driver points, while Jeb Burton and Taylor Gray were fined $5,000 each for their conduct at the infield care center. Smith and Gray, who have been feuding since their years in Late Model racing, confronted each other after the race, but were kept apart by security. Smith and Gray were in contention for the win until the final lap when Smith punted Gray as they entered turn three and he spun up the track. Smith then triggered a massive pileup on the frontstretch as the field charged to the checkered flag. After the race, Smith maintained Gray would have done the same to him if the roles were reversed because 'he's got no respect for me.' Smith also said Gray flipped him off during the race's red flag. He said, 'That was the line for me. I'm not going to let him have the last bite.' The race had 10 caution periods in the final 130 laps. At least 21 of the field's 38 cars were involved in accidents during the event.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Respect Be Damned: The Next Generation of NASCAR Drivers Have No Chill
Bumping and shoving are a part of short-track racing, but 10 caution periods in 130 laps coupled with a multi-car crash on the frontstretch of the final lap in the Marine Corps 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway Saturday is ridiculous and disgraceful. Austin Hill survived the carnage from the fourth turn to the checkered flag to give Richard Childress Racing its 100thvictory in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. That moved RCR into third on the series all-time win list behind Joe Gibbs Racing (216) and Roush Fenway Racing (138). Unfortunately, RCR employees may be the only ones who remember that statistic due to the way the race ended in overtime. At least 21 of the field's 38 cars were involved in accidents. However, it was the feud between Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith that caught everyone's attention. One that actually goes back to their years in Late Model racing. They confronted each other after the race, but security kept them apart. Both led during the event. Gray set the pace on four occasions for 87 laps, while Smith led once for six laps. When the race restarted after the 13th caution period on lap 249, Gray led, and Smith was second. Then for the restart following the 14th caution period the role was reversed. On the final lap, Smith punted Gray as they entered turn three and spun him. Smith then triggered the massive pileup on the frontstretch as the field charged to the checkered flag. Hill, who was sixth on the final lap, sneaked underneath the spinning cars for the victory. After the race, Hill apologized to his team for damaging his car during the race, but they didn't mind because they were in victory lane. He also felt bad about accidentally wrecking RCR teammate Jesse Love on lap 217. However, it was the lack of remorse from the younger drivers that left everyone shaking their heads. 'I'm not proud of that,' Smith said about wrecking Gray, 'but if the roles were reversed, he would have done the same thing. He's got no respect for me.' Smith said Gray flipped him off during the 11 minute 27 second red flag that occurred late in the race for the clean-up of a six-car wreck on the half-mile track's backstretch. 'That was the line for me,' Smith said. 'I'm not going to let him have the last bite.' Smith also maintained, 'if you're not the one doing it, someone's gonna do it to you.' Hill said the teams know their race cars will be destroyed at Martinsville. He even admitted that with about 40 laps remaining he told his team 'I absolutely hate this place' because of the wrecks that were occurring. 'I don't see how I can put any blame on anybody,' Hill says. 'I feel like I've been pushed around a lot here at Martinsville, and this race I kind of put my helmet on with horns out of it. If I make people mad, I make people mad.' Fights after a race at Martinsville don't solve the issue. That's because, as Hill notes, the drivers who fought on Saturday will fight again when the series returns to Martinsville in October – 'They don't care.' Hill, like many, believes there needs to be a change but he doesn't know the solution. He notes it's a different era in which drivers don't respect each other. 'They're just holding the steering wheel,' Hill says. 'They don't have to fix the cars after the race.' Perhaps that is the solution – make them come into the shop and fix their damaged race cars. It worked for Jack Roush several years ago with two of his Xfinity drivers. NASCAR can issue penalties, but until the drivers understand the extensive work they have created for their crew members nothing will change.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Christopher Bell's long journey has him on a path to be first to win 4 Cup races in a row since 2007
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Do we hear four in a row for Christopher Bell? In an era where the cars are essentially the same — parity has been a catchphrase in the NASCAR Cup Series since the move to the Next Gen car in 2022 — Christopher Bell's three-race winning streak is remarkable. And it may not be over. The idea of him winning next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a fourth consecutive win seems, as they say in Vegas, almost even money, considering how good he has been at that track. He's scored two runner-up results in the last three races, including last year's playoff race when he led the most laps but was beat by Joey Logano, who stretched his fuel. Christopher Bell wins third consecutive in Cup, outdueling Denny Hamlin at Phoenix Raceway Joe Gibbs Racing star edges his teammate with a last-lap pass for the lead. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, Should Bell win this coming weekend at Las Vegas, he would be the first Cup driver to win four in a row since Jimmie Johnson did it in the 2007 playoffs. 'That's incredibly special to hear that and know that I have that opportunity ahead of me,' Bell said Sunday after his 12th career Cup win. 'We're going to a darn good place for it. 'This sport has become so incredibly tough with the parity that we have. The teams are so tight. The cars are really tight. The drivers are tight. Like, everybody performs at a high level. … I'm just kind of in disbelief that I have that opportunity, but I'm looking forward to it.' Bell's path to three in a row and maybe more shows the growth of a driver who was taken into Toyota's development program in 2014. Toyota has not invested more in any driver than Bell. ButBell admits there was a time when he wondered if he would make it in asphalt racing after a youth spent racing on dirt. 'Between Tyler (Gibbs, Toyota Racing Development president ), Jack Irving (TRD general manager), David Wilson (retired TRD president), they were the three guys that took a chance on me back in 2014,' Bell said. 'It's unbelievable to look back. In 2014, it seemed like it was so far away to be here today in this moment. 'Looking back at it, it felt like it happened overnight. I just remember going through those years of the dirt cars and getting that first contract that I got from Toyota Racing Development saying I was going to run 15 Late Model races. We're going to try to make you a stock car driver. I'm like, How is this going to happen?' Bell won five of his first 10 Late Model races and began his journey to being a stock car driver — a top stock car driver — but it wasn't easy. He moved to the Truck Series in 2016 with Kyle Busch Motorsports. William Byron was his teammate. Byron won seven races that season and moved to the Xfinity Series. Bell won once and stayed in trucks. 'He kicked my butt,' Bell said of Byron, who at age 18 at the time was three years younger than Bell. Bell felt the pressure to succeed at age 21 with Chase Elliott (then 20) already in Cup and Erik Jones (then 20) announced in August 2016 as moving to Furniture Row Racing's Cup team for the following season. 'I was like, 'Man, I have to get to the Cup Series tomorrow, otherwise I'm not going to make it,'' Bell said. When the season ended, Bell had a talk with Busch. 'I said, 'Kyle, I have to be paired with (Byron's) team, I need to prove to myself or learn to myself if I can do this or not. If I can't do this, I'm going to try and be a sprint car driver,'' Bell said. 'Kyle I think had reservations of pairing me with (crew chief) Rudy Fugle for 2017. Thank God he did. It elevated me to become the Truck Series champion and on to the Xfinity Series. What NASCAR drivers said after Phoenix Cup race won by Christopher Bell Here is what drivers were talking about after Sunday's NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix Raceway. Nate Ryan, Nate Ryan, Bell moved to Cup in 2020 with Leavine Family Racing. He joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2021 and was paired with crew chief Adam Stevens, but things were challenging. COVID in 2020 led to reduced weekend schedules for Cup and the end of practice at most tracks. The lost track time stunted Bell's growth. Bell was still behind in 2021 without that additional track time. As Bell worked to build results, Kyle Larson, who also had come from the dirt ranks and been a rival to Bell, was dominating in Cup. On the way to a 10-win season and the championship, Larson won three races in a row. He was the last Cup driver to do that before Bell's feat. 'I will never forget 2021, my first year with Adam Stevens,' Bell said. 'Kyle Larson won three straight. Me and Adam got off to a rocky patch, rocky start. We're sitting in his office there at JGR. He looked at me and he said, 'We can do this. 'He said, 'I've won three straight sitting in these exact same two chairs,' talking about him and Kyle Busch. 'I know we can do it.' Took a while to get here, but we finally did it.' Bell has gone on to make the Cup championship race two of the last three years and nearly made it last year. He entered this season as one of the championship favorites and has shown no reason to doubt that when the series returns to Phoenix in November he'll be among the four racing for a title. 'Christopher Bell is just a ridiculously talented driver,' said Chris Gabehart, JGR's competition director. 'I can't say enough about how good he is as a driver. When you sprinkle a little confidence on all that, I don't care if all the parts (of a car) are the same, … (Bell's team is) just executing really well right now.' The result is a team that didn't win the final 18 races of last season — although it had some opportunities to do so — has won three of the first four races this season. 'I think you saw a lot of speed out of the 20 team and the other JGR cars on occasion down the stretch,' Stevens said of the organization's win drought the second half of last year. 'We just weren't able to convert those into wins. Extremely frustrating. It weighs you down. 'The (playoffs), we had so many opportunities and did everything we needed to do. It just didn't go our way. What we've seen this year, three out of four times it's gone our way. You have to put yourself in position. Man, you can replay any one of those wins, change one or two things, it's not you that day.' But to win this one, Bell had to beat his teammate, Denny Hamlin, passing him on the final lap in an intense battle. 'Whatever they're doing is just working well,' Hamlin said.
