Blog

Dan McCarron in victory lane with his family and crew Saturday at Butler Motor Speedway. (Image courtesy of McCarron family)

Great Lakes Edition: Dan McCarron’s Emotional Return to Victory Lane at Butler

There are times where bad situations just end up working out well in the end. Dan McCarron has experienced that over the past two weeks with the lows of a grinding crash that took it’s toll on his race car and body to ending up in victory lane at the same racetrack two weeks later.

[…]

Tyler Roahrig (#56) passing Jake Trainor (#29) for the lead Saturday night at Berlin Raceway. (T.J. Buffenbarger Photo)

T.J.’s Takeaways from the 500 Tour Event at Berlin Raceway

Finding different ways to explain that Tyler Roahrig is a good race car driver, Jake Trainor’s rising star status, and hopes of a repeat of the 500 Sprint Car Tour weekend highlight’s T.J.’s Takeaways from Saturday night at Berlin Raceway.

[…]

Tyler Roahrig. (T.J. Buffenbarger Photo)

T.J.’s Takeaways from the 500 Sprint Car Tour Event at Kalamazoo

Even with all of his success is Tyler Roahrig still underrated, why Kalamazoo Speedway is the best pavement track for sprint cars, and how the Kenyon Midget program was a reminder of how far behind Michigan is with divisions for development of race car drivers.

[…]

Great Lakes Edition: 500 Sprint Car Tour Takes on Two Night Stand at Kalamazoo and Berlin

The focus of the Michigan sprint car racing scene focuses to pavement racing this week with only two races on the docket this weekend featuring the 500 Sprint Car Tour making a rare two-night appearance Friday at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Saturday at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.

[…]

T.J.’s Takeaways from the GLSS/410 Doubleheader at Butler Motor Speedway

After a couple of days of wondering if we would see any racing this weekend Butler Motor Speedway pulled off a sprint car double header on Saturday night featuring their weekly 410 sprint cars joined by the touring Great Lakes Super Sprints.

[…]

T.J.’s Notebook: Kelby Watt’s Crazy Summer

The story of Kelby Watt this year could be billed as a young driver navigating their way through the sprint car ecosystem down an unexpected, winding road through the 2024 season using an extraordinary amount of persistence that led to unexpected opportunities.

[…]

Steve Smith (right) and Max Stambaugh (Center) with family and crew in victory lane at Tri-City Motor Speedway earlier this season. (Jim Denhamer Photo)

Great Lakes Edition: Smith and Stambaugh’s Path to Becoming a Force on the Michigan Sprint Car Scene

One can make a strong argument that driver Max Stambaugh and car owner Steve Smith have become the sprint car team to beat on the 360-sprint car scene in the state of Michigan. In an era with as many good car owners and teams that are currently participating, the Smith/Stambaugh combination has been on quite a run over the past three years.

[…]

Rico Abreu (#24) racing with Carson Macedo (#41) Thursday at Knoxville Raceway. (Mark Funderburk Photo)

T.J.’s Notebook: Top Young California Open Wheel Talent Choosing Winged Sprint Car Racing

T.J’s commentary on how there has always been great west cost talent in the short track world, but they are choosing to stay in the winged sprint cars longer rather than jumping to another division to get noticed.

[…]

Seeding the 2024 Knoxville Nationals: The Results

Check out how everyone faired from the pre-race seeding for the 2024 Knoxville Nationals.

[…]

T.J.’s Takeaways from the 2024 Knoxville Nationals Finale

Finding more superlatives for Kyle Larson’s talent, why I’m excited about all the young stars that are running well this week, and why I feel the Knoxville Nationals A-Main on Saturday night needs to start 28 cars.

[…]

Donny Schatz (15) and Logan Schuchart (1S) (Serena Dalhamer photo)

T.J.’s Notebook: Lucky and Good is a Tough Combination to Beat

The theme of the Knoxville Nationals in 2024 could end up being, “I’d rather be lucky AND good”.

[…]

(L to R) Todd Carlise, Cole Macedo, and Wayne Johnson. (T.J. Buffenbarger Photo)

T.J.’s Notebook: Macedo and Johnson’s Journey to Pairing Up for the World of Outlaws Tour

A random need for a car ride and eventual dinner in February eventually turned into a dream opportunity for Cole Macedo over the summer to join the World of Outlaws tour full time for the 2025 season. That dinner along with other circumstances eventually opened the opportunity for Macedo to live out his dream of being on the road full time sprint car racing.

[…]

T.J.’s Notebook: Giovanni Scelzi in Prime Position to Contend for Elusive Crown Jewel Victory

Giovanni Scelzi has put himself in position to be in contention for winning one of the biggest sprint car races in the sport. It’s a place Scelzi has been in before sitting on the pole for the Knoxville Nationals in 2021 and leading the Jokers Jackpot earlier this year at Eldora Speedway before crashing out of the feature.

[…]

Sheldon Haudenschild (#17) racing with Anthony Macri (#39). (Mark Funderburk Photo)

T.J.’s Takeaways from the Opening Night of the 2024 Knoxville Nationals

After an unusual first night of racing to open the 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s, here are my takeaways from Wednesday’s program.

[…]

TJ’s Notebook: They Can’t All Be Classics