NOVEMBER 8, 2023

(Formula1.com)

Max Verstappen (No. 1 Oracle Red Bull Racing) put in an assured drive to take a dominant victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, making it a record-breaking 17th win for the world champion in 2023. There was drama even before the race had gotten under way when Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) went off on the formation lap after losing the hydraulics, forcing him to retire. When the lights went out, Verstappen made a clean start into the lead, but a heavy collision between Alex Albon (No. 23 Williams) and Kevin Magnussen (No. 20 Haas F1 Team) behind resulted in the red flags being thrown. It was another strong getaway from Verstappen at the restart, who resisted a challenge from Lando Norris (No. 4 McLaren F1 Team) to hold P1 before going on to clinch his second win of the weekend after coming out on top in Saturday’s Sprint. Norris claimed a solid second place, while Fernando Alonso (No. 14 Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team) completed the podium after holding off Sergio Perez (No. 11 Oracle Red Bull Racing) in a thrilling battle to the line. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Formula1.com)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

When he took the checkered flag in second place in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Menards/Dutch Boy Ford) gave Team Penske its second straight title in NASCAR’s premier series and gave Ford a sweep of Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Oh, and as Blaney was pulling away from Kyle Larson and William Byron over a 31-lap green-flag run to the finish to claim his first Cup championship on Sunday, Ross Chastain secured his second victory of the season. In a fierce battle for the title against 2021 champion Kyle Larson, Blaney edged ahead of the Hendrick Motorsports driver on Lap 292 and secured second place behind Chastain, who grabbed the top spot from Denny Hamlin after a restart on Lap 282. Chastain crossed the finish line 1.230 seconds ahead of Blaney, whose elation wasn’t dulled one iota by the runner-up result, given the bigger prize he won by finishing second. “Unbelievable year, unbelievable playoffs for us,” said Blaney, who won last week at Martinsville to advance to the Championship 4 with Larson, Byron and Christopher Bell. “To win back-to-back Cup titles for (team owner Roger) Penske, that’s so special. Having my family here, winning my first Cup title, I got emotional in the car. I’m not a very emotional guy. You never want to count yourself out. I mean, I think in the summer we were struggling a little bit, but we never gave up. We just went to work. I’ve said that all week, like, this group goes to work, and they figure out problems. That’s why they’re such an amazing group to be with, with the Team Penske folks, ’cause they just put their head down and do the work, accept the challenge.” Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service)

(Trans Am)

Gar Robinson (No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro) dominated in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli race at Circuit of The Americas. Robinson led nearly the entire race in his first TA class event (he is a twice TA2 cahmpion), extending his family’s winning legacy in a new Riley Motorsports chassis. While he was briefly challenged by Boris Said (No. 79 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger), Robinson had a nearly perfect day at his home track. Robinson led the field to green followed by TA champions Boris Said (No. 79 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger), Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang), Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang) and Wally Dallenbach (No. 4 Ultimate Headers/Weaver Racing Dodge Challenger). It was smooth sailing for Robinson, who held the point position through the first full-course yellow on lap eight. Restarting on lap 11, Said was tight on Robinson’s tail, taking over the point position by the following lap. On lap 12, Dyson’s Ford Mustang spun, but the 2023 champion was able to keep moving, while Robinson and Said battled side by side, with Robinson reclaiming the lead on lap 13. Robinson and Said were in a class of their own in the front of the pack, while Dallenbach overcame issues in practice and qualifying, driving from the back of the field up to third place, passing a fast Drissi on lap 21. When the checkered flag waved, it was Robinson, Said and Dallenbach who took the podium spots, followed by Dyson and Drissi. (Thank you to Trans Am media)

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