Monday
Nov072022
NOVEMBER 9, 2022
Monday, November 7, 2022 at 07:15AM 
(Photo of Francesco Bagnaia by AE Special Correspondent Whit Bazemore)
Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) has won the 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship by finishing ninth in the final race of the season at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. It is the first title for the man mentored by Valentino Rossi. Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) started the Grand Prix needing nothing less than victory to have any hope of a second straight crown but finished a fighting fourth in a contest won by Alex Rins (No, 42 Team Suzuki Ecstar). Brad Binder (No. 33 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Jorge Martin (No. 89 Prima Pramac Racing) rounded out the podium after 27 laps around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to MotoGP.com)
Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) has won the 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship by finishing ninth in the final race of the season at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. It is the first title for the man mentored by Valentino Rossi. Fabio Quartararo (No. 20 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) started the Grand Prix needing nothing less than victory to have any hope of a second straight crown but finished a fighting fourth in a contest won by Alex Rins (No, 42 Team Suzuki Ecstar). Brad Binder (No. 33 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Jorge Martin (No. 89 Prima Pramac Racing) rounded out the podium after 27 laps around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to MotoGP.com)
(Trans Am Series)
2022 TA Champion Chris Dyson ended the season just like he started it: with a victory. Coming into the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s season finale at the Mission Foods Austin SpeedTour at Circuit of The Americas, Dyson had already clinched the championship, so his CD Racing team had their eyes on a win to cap off the year. After starting third, Dyson picked off his competitors in his No. 16 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang and cruised to the win. The victory was Dyson’s sixth of the season. After setting a new track record in Saturday’s qualifying session, Boris Said (No. 2 Accio Data/Technique Chassis/STEEL-IT/Weaver Dodge Challenger) led the field to green next to Dyson’s teammate Matthew Brabham (No. 20 CD Racing Concord American Flagpole Ford Mustang). Said jumped out to the lead as the field splayed out behind him, and the top-three leaders avoided getting caught in a Turn 1 pileup when Gustavo Ortega (No. 17 Chocron Racing Team Corvette) spun after starting fourth. Caught up in the fray were Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang) and Ken Thwaits (No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Camaro), both of whom were fighting for second place in the standings. Drissi incurred damage to his left-front fender, but both contenders soldiered on.
2022 TA Champion Chris Dyson ended the season just like he started it: with a victory. Coming into the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s season finale at the Mission Foods Austin SpeedTour at Circuit of The Americas, Dyson had already clinched the championship, so his CD Racing team had their eyes on a win to cap off the year. After starting third, Dyson picked off his competitors in his No. 16 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang and cruised to the win. The victory was Dyson’s sixth of the season. After setting a new track record in Saturday’s qualifying session, Boris Said (No. 2 Accio Data/Technique Chassis/STEEL-IT/Weaver Dodge Challenger) led the field to green next to Dyson’s teammate Matthew Brabham (No. 20 CD Racing Concord American Flagpole Ford Mustang). Said jumped out to the lead as the field splayed out behind him, and the top-three leaders avoided getting caught in a Turn 1 pileup when Gustavo Ortega (No. 17 Chocron Racing Team Corvette) spun after starting fourth. Caught up in the fray were Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Lucas Oil Ford Mustang) and Ken Thwaits (No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Camaro), both of whom were fighting for second place in the standings. Drissi incurred damage to his left-front fender, but both contenders soldiered on.
Said held the lead until lap eight when Brabham worked his way around him, with team owner Dyson hot on his tail. Brabham outpaced Dyson until lap 16, when the champion claimed his spot at the front of the field. Once Dyson inherited the point position, he led until the checkered flag, crossing the finish line followed by Brabham and Said, the latter of which earned the TA Masters Award. Behind the leaders, Drissi, Thwaits and Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co. Corvette) battled it out on the racetrack in the closing laps, with Drissi also fighting against his car’s failing power steering. With only 11 points separating the three at the start of the race, Drissi’s perseverance paid off, and an eighth-place finish secured him the runner-up position in the TA class standings. Ruman ultimately took third in the points, and Thwaits took fourth.
“I’ve been wanting to win here for years, and I finally got it done,” said Dyson in Victory Lane. “Matty [Brabham] set the stage last year with a great last-lap pass for the win, and it was a great debut for him. It’s awesome having him back with us this year and getting a 1-2 finish. I’m so thrilled with the team’s success. I’m really honored to give Riley Technologies their first win with the new chassis; I think it’s going to be the first of many. I have to say thanks to my CD Racing team for the support all year. It’s unbelievable coming out here, racing with Boris [Said], racing with Matty. The talent here in Trans Am is fantastic. These cars are the most fun cars I’ve ever driven. We’ve had a lot of success and I’m looking forward to building on it. I just want to say thanks to everybody who has made this possible for us.” Congratulations to Chris and his CD Racing Team from all of us here at AE! (Thank you to Trans Am Series Media)
(NASCAR)
Dominating the action in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Shell/Pennzoil Ford) started on the pole, won the first stage, led a race-high 187 laps, won the race and claimed his second series championship (2018, 2022). Logano joins two-time champion Kyle Busch as only the second active driver in the series to hold more than one title. The victory was his fourth of the season, his third at Phoenix and the 31st of his career in his 507th Cup start. Logano finished 0.301 seconds ahead of Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford). Championship 4 contender Ross Chastain (No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) was closing fast in the final laps and came home third, 1.268 seconds behind Logano on the track and one spot behind the driver of the No. 22 Ford in the final standings. “We did it,” exulted Logano, the first Ford active driver to hold two championships since David Pearson in 1968-1969. “We’re champions again—yes. Oh, my God, I’m so excited. Thank you to everybody, my team. You guys are amazing. Gave me a good race car, good pit stop there at the end, got us up in front. Boy, that was just intense there at the end. It’s all about championships. That’s what it’s all about, and we worked so hard the last couple weeks trying to put ourselves in position.” Roger Penske becomes the first team owner in history to win the INDYCAR and NASCAR Championships in the same season. Watch a video here. (Thank you to Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service)
Dominating the action in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Shell/Pennzoil Ford) started on the pole, won the first stage, led a race-high 187 laps, won the race and claimed his second series championship (2018, 2022). Logano joins two-time champion Kyle Busch as only the second active driver in the series to hold more than one title. The victory was his fourth of the season, his third at Phoenix and the 31st of his career in his 507th Cup start. Logano finished 0.301 seconds ahead of Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford). Championship 4 contender Ross Chastain (No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) was closing fast in the final laps and came home third, 1.268 seconds behind Logano on the track and one spot behind the driver of the No. 22 Ford in the final standings. “We did it,” exulted Logano, the first Ford active driver to hold two championships since David Pearson in 1968-1969. “We’re champions again—yes. Oh, my God, I’m so excited. Thank you to everybody, my team. You guys are amazing. Gave me a good race car, good pit stop there at the end, got us up in front. Boy, that was just intense there at the end. It’s all about championships. That’s what it’s all about, and we worked so hard the last couple weeks trying to put ourselves in position.” Roger Penske becomes the first team owner in history to win the INDYCAR and NASCAR Championships in the same season. Watch a video here. (Thank you to Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service)
(INDYNXT)
The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series has a fresh, more youthful and energetic final level: INDY NXT by Firestone. INDY NXT (formerly known as Indy Lights) will feature a new generation of global racing talent, competing for podiums and the opportunity to join the elite ranks of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The presenting sponsor and Official Tire of INDY NXT will be Firestone, also the Official Tire Supplier and longtime partner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDY NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development, while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience. The re-branded racing series will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, and competing on a diverse set of ovals, road courses and street circuits. The 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone championship still will compete on the same tracks and on the same weekends as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, providing further exposure to the series. As in 2022, the schedule consists of three doubleheader weekends: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Streets of Detroit and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the 2023 INDY NXT champion will be crowned. Additionally, coverage of all 14 races once again will be available in the United States via Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. For more information about INDY NXT by Firestone, visit www.indynxt.com.
The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series has a fresh, more youthful and energetic final level: INDY NXT by Firestone. INDY NXT (formerly known as Indy Lights) will feature a new generation of global racing talent, competing for podiums and the opportunity to join the elite ranks of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The presenting sponsor and Official Tire of INDY NXT will be Firestone, also the Official Tire Supplier and longtime partner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDY NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development, while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience. The re-branded racing series will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, and competing on a diverse set of ovals, road courses and street circuits. The 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone championship still will compete on the same tracks and on the same weekends as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, providing further exposure to the series. As in 2022, the schedule consists of three doubleheader weekends: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Streets of Detroit and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the 2023 INDY NXT champion will be crowned. Additionally, coverage of all 14 races once again will be available in the United States via Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. For more information about INDY NXT by Firestone, visit www.indynxt.com.
(Road America)
A ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 3, at Road America - "America's National Park of Speed" - commemorated the completion of the long-anticipated replacement project of the racing surface that has not been overhauled since 1995. Milling and grinding the entire 4.048-mile racetrack, including the pit lane, began on October 3. Fine grading, a new base layer and a new final surface asphalt layer followed in late October. Now the all-new race surface has the entire off-season to cure before the 2023 season. The big news is that aside from the opportunity to make minor adjustments, the original configuration of the entire racetrack remained the same. Advanced Materials Services consultants, Walbec Group engineers and their Northeast Asphalt team were mindful of the track's history and authentic character. Before milling off the old surface, the entire racecourse was surveyed to allow the engineers and Road America to review the track's unique characteristics and make decisions that guided the grade control process during each step of the repaving process. Over 7,000-grade control points were set to direct the grading and paving process to ensure that the track width, camber angles, and curbing locations were accurate within a tenth of an inch.
A ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 3, at Road America - "America's National Park of Speed" - commemorated the completion of the long-anticipated replacement project of the racing surface that has not been overhauled since 1995. Milling and grinding the entire 4.048-mile racetrack, including the pit lane, began on October 3. Fine grading, a new base layer and a new final surface asphalt layer followed in late October. Now the all-new race surface has the entire off-season to cure before the 2023 season. The big news is that aside from the opportunity to make minor adjustments, the original configuration of the entire racetrack remained the same. Advanced Materials Services consultants, Walbec Group engineers and their Northeast Asphalt team were mindful of the track's history and authentic character. Before milling off the old surface, the entire racecourse was surveyed to allow the engineers and Road America to review the track's unique characteristics and make decisions that guided the grade control process during each step of the repaving process. Over 7,000-grade control points were set to direct the grading and paving process to ensure that the track width, camber angles, and curbing locations were accurate within a tenth of an inch.
"Our goal was to put the track back exactly as we found it to maintain its distinct features and preserve the track's significance in the racing world," said Craig Donze, Engineering Manager for the Walbec Group. "High-quality aggregates were locally sourced from Wisconsin, and the team used a highly polymerized asphalt mix to maximize durability. Multiple tests were performed throughout the project to ensure the surface would handle the weather and racing stresses. Teamwork from initial planning through construction resulted in a racing surface that will provide competitors and racing fans enjoyment for years to come."
Engineers and Road America worked collaboratively throughout the project to improve drainage around the property and upgrade features that cross beneath the racing surface before paving. This included increasing the size of culverts and running new conduits under the track to support the facility's events. Over 800 truckloads were removed during milling, with nearly the same number of trucks bringing in the new asphalt racing surface for paving. During the project, two paving machines ran in an echelon (side-by-side) pattern to minimize the center seam visibility and maintain a consistent density.
"This was a massive endeavor, and we are extremely excited to have a new racetrack for competitors and fans to enjoy," said Mike Kertscher, Road America's President and General Manager. "The goal was to keep it the same as our founder Clif Tufte envisioned, and we're certain we met that goal. We look forward to the future with this all-new track and pit lane, and we encourage everyone to get their season passes, tickets, and camping for what we anticipate will be an incredible season in 2023."
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG
