Author Archives: PressBox

June 11, 2026

Karter Sarff Wins First USAC Midget Feature at Paragon

Karter Sarff captured his first USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature at Paragon Speedway during round two of Indiana Midget Week. He started sixth, slipped past Jakeb Boxell on lap 14 and led the final 17 laps to win the 30-lap feature by 2.274 seconds. Sarff, from Mason City, Illinois and nicknamed “The Shark,” drove the Paul May Motorsports (Peffley & Hinshaw Wrecker Service/Factory 71/Ripper/Speedway Toyota) entry. After the race he said, “It doesn’t even feel real,” and publicly thanked Paul May and his team.

Sarff had posted the LearnLab fast qualifying time of 15.383 seconds, his fourth consecutive fastest qualifier in Indiana Midget Week events, and collected the K&N Clean Air Award after leading 17 laps. He negotiated heavy lapped traffic while extending his lead in the closing stages.

The race featured early incidents: Zach Wigal led the opening lap before slipping off on lap 2, and Kyle Jones flipped on lap 4, bringing out the lone red flag; Jones was still listed as running after the incident. The top five finished Sarff, Jakeb Boxell, Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake and Jacob Denney, with Denney earning Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors after rallying from 19th to fifth.

Boxell finished runner-up, retained the USAC national points lead (277) and led Indiana Midget Week 139–135 over Sarff after Paragon. Sarff’s victory was the first driver since Gavin Miller in 2023 to record a first USAC feature during Indiana Midget Week, the first first-time USAC National Midget victory at Paragon Speedway since John Andretti in 1985, and marked car owner Paul May’s first USAC National Midget win. Gavin Miller set a new track record in the K1 RaceGear first heat with a time of 2:07.379.
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June 11, 2026

Hamilton eases retirement doubts after Monaco podium, vows to race on

Lewis Hamilton has staged a clear resurgence at Ferrari. He said he “couldn’t be closer” to a first win for the team after finishing second at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was his third podium this season, after China and Canada. The 41-year-old, seven-time champion has 90 points so far this season — his best start since 2021 — and the recent podiums eased short-term retirement doubts after a podium-less 2025. He has 105 career wins and said he intends to continue racing for years to come.

Hamilton credited Ferrari principal Fred Vasseur, a restructured engineering group and new race engineer Carlo Santi for improved reliability and performance, and said Ferrari are edging closer to victory. He acknowledged Mercedes still lead on downforce and traction; they remain unbeaten so far and are expected to benefit from ADUO rulings this season.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 19, has won the last five races and leads the Drivers’ standings by 66 points over Hamilton. Hamilton sits two points clear of George Russell, who failed to score at Monaco, and leads teammate Charles Leclerc by 15 points after Leclerc’s early retirement in Monaco. Pundit Davide Valsecchi said Hamilton has changed since 2025, calling the turnaround both personal and technical.
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June 11, 2026

Racing Bulls’ VCARB FC crest fuses chequered flag with three stars

Racing Bulls unveiled a FIFA World Cup–inspired “VCARB FC” special livery and matching teamwear for the Barcelona–Catalunya Grand Prix, timed to coincide with the start of the men’s FIFA World Cup. The one‑off design blends motorsport and football aesthetics and features a bespoke VCARB FC crest that merges a chequered‑flag motif with three stars representing the tournament hosts — the United States, Canada and Mexico. The design uses sharp geometry, angular shapes and bold contrasts aimed to read well on track and as streetwear.

Racing Bulls developed the rollout through its Creator Platform, crediting fashion designer Hattie Crowther, graphic designer Florence Burns and photographer Ezra Alexander. CEO Peter Bayer called the project a celebration of the crossover between F1 and football and a way to showcase emerging creative talent.

The team will apply the themed livery to both VCARB 03 cars during the Barcelona weekend, and drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will wear retro football kits and Barcelona‑themed apparel as part of the promotion. Racing Bulls framed the initiative as an event‑timed marketing activation and merchandise push that emphasizes visual storytelling and collaborative creative input rather than technical changes to the cars.

The VCARB FC design is Racing Bulls’ third special livery of the season, following one‑offs in Japan and Miami. Racing Bulls said Barcelona’s high‑speed layout suits the VCARB 03 and cited earlier testing; the team hopes fan engagement from the Barcelona activation will build on momentum from a productive Monaco weekend. As of the report, Racing Bulls sit sixth in the Constructors’ standings, with Lawson ninth and Lindblad thirteenth in the Drivers’ standings.
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June 10, 2026

14-race Summer of Money opens at Huset’s with biggest purse

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will run a high‑purse “Summer of Money” stretch June 17–Sept. 19. The 14-race sequence will guarantee minimum $20,000 winner payouts and includes four six‑figure winner paydays. The stretch will open at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., and will include the largest winner’s purse in series history.

The Hefty Seed Huset’s Hustle on June 17–18 will pay $20,000 for the preliminary and $150,000 for the finale. The BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals on June 19–20 will pay a $20,000 preliminary and a $300,000 main and will carry a $100,000 bounty for any non‑full‑time driver who wins Saturday. That Huset’s prize structure will create nearly $1 million in total purse money and could top $1 million if the bounty is claimed.

Other marquee dates include the Kings Royal at Eldora on July 17–18, which will pay $25,000 for the Knight Before and $200,000 for the finale. The NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway on August 12–15 will pay $200,000 to the champion and will distribute more than $700,000 for the Championship Feature. Attica’s Brad Doty Classic will run July 14.

Additional events at Ohsweken, Weedsport, Williams Grove and I‑55 will carry payouts in the $15,000–$25,000 range. The season‑closing Dennis Roth Classic at Stockton on September 18–19 will pay $83,000 to the winner. Huset’s Labor Day weekend shows will round out the stretch.
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June 10, 2026

Hall of Famer Chad Reed concludes ClubMX consulting stint

Chad Reed completed his consulting commitments with ClubMX Yamaha following the conclusion of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season, the team announced from Chesterfield, S.C. Reed, a Hall of Fame motocross rider, joined ClubMX ahead of the 2026 Supercross campaign in a consulting and support capacity. In that role he worked with riders, staff and management on race-day preparation, rider development and broader team operations.

The original agreement was scheduled to end with the Supercross season so Reed could spend the summer supporting his children’s racing, and the team framed his departure as the fulfillment of the agreed role rather than a personnel dispute or a long-term separation. Team owner Brandon Haas publicly thanked Reed for his work, citing confirmation of the program’s direction and professionalism. ClubMX said it will shift focus to the upcoming motocross season and aims to build on the momentum generated during its 2026 Supercross efforts.
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June 10, 2026

Hayden Reinbold wins Indiana Midget Week opener at Circle City

Hayden Reinbold won the USAC Indiana Midget Week opener at Circle City Raceway, starting seventh and using the low line to take the lead from Brecken Reese on lap 19 and hold it to the finish, crossing the line 2.836 seconds ahead. The victory was Reinbold’s first Indiana Midget Week win and his second USAC National Midget feature victory; it gave him the Indiana Midget Week points lead with 78 points and extended Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports’ run of feature wins to include all three USAC national divisions this season.

Zach Wigal led the opening lap and Brecken Reese led a race-high 17 laps (laps 2–18) before falling back to finish fifth; Reese collected the K&N Filters Clean Air Award. Logan Seavey finished second, Kevin Thomas Jr. third and Wigal fourth. Thomas recovered from 14th to third and earned Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors.

On lap 17 Jacob Denney flipped after contact with Justin Grant; there was no red flag and Denney recovered to finish 11th. Grant’s car sustained heavy damage and he finished 15th. Karter Sarff posted the LearnLab fast qualifying lap of 12.620 seconds.

Rain began about five minutes after the checkered flag and did not affect the outcome. Reports varied on the impact to the national standings: one outlet listed Thomas with 220 points and remaining the national championship leader, while another account said his result vaulted him into the USAC National Midget points lead. USAC is scheduled to race next at Paragon Speedway.
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June 10, 2026

Knoxville Raceway draws one of the year’s toughest sprint fields

A large field of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series entries will converge on Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on June 12–13 for the final leg of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash — the last official tune-up before the 65th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s (Aug. 12–15).

Organizers expect one of the year’s toughest fields as regional and local contenders mix with national talent and World of Outlaws tour regulars. That depth should produce intense heat races and high-stakes battles for position and pride, and the weekend will serve as a key barometer of form and a final opportunity for many teams to fine-tune cars and strategies. The turnout underscores Knoxville Raceway’s continued role as a central venue on the sprint car calendar.
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June 10, 2026

Albon overtakes Mansell as Williams’ most-capped driver

Alex Albon became the most-capped driver in Williams history at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, making his 96th start for the team and overtaking Nigel Mansell’s long-standing total of 95 Williams appearances. To mark the milestone Albon planned to race with a bespoke blue, white and red helmet modeled on Mansell’s 1992 championship design as a tribute. Albon described it as “incredible” to have raced for Williams more often than “one of the true greats,” calling Mansell “an inspiration” and “a true fighter and a legend for both Williams and Formula 1.”

Albon had equalled Mansell’s 95 Williams starts at the Monaco Grand Prix, where he climbed from 11th on the grid to finish eighth and score four points. Since joining Williams in 2022 he has helped guide the team from the back of the grid into the midfield, recorded multiple fifth‑place finishes and scored 121 points for the Grove squad. He is on track to reach 100 Williams starts at the Hungarian Grand Prix later in the season. Fewer than 30 drivers have achieved 100 race starts with a single team.

The milestone and Mansell‑inspired helmet drew public praise from Williams team principal James Vowles and from Nigel Mansell. The record and the tribute were presented as recognition of Albon’s commitment and of the team’s progress rather than as a single isolated result.
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June 10, 2026

Teams use FP1 to test reserves, gather 2026-regs data at Barcelona

Teams are using Friday FP1 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix to run reserve and junior drivers for talent evaluation and to collect setup and performance data under the new 2026 regulations. These short, purpose-driven outings let engineers gather live-weekend data while keeping confirmed race seats unchanged.

McLaren confirmed 21-year-old Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning FIA F2 champion, will make his FP1 debut, taking Lando Norris’s MCL40, car 67. The brief session follows extensive simulator work, prior Testing of Previous Cars outings with McLaren and on-track testing; it will allow engineers to collect setup and performance data and evaluate Fornaroli in a live weekend environment. Fornaroli, who joined McLaren’s driver development programme in December 2025 and was promoted to a reserve role in 2026, said he was “very excited.” McLaren framed the run as a typical step from F2 toward on-track F1 experience, and Invicta Racing boss James Robinson publicly backed Fornaroli as a likely candidate for a future race seat.

Cadillac confirmed Colton Herta will make his FP1 debut for the Cadillac entry, standing in for Sergio Pérez. Cadillac said Herta prepared with simulator time in Charlotte and team sessions at Silverstone and Barcelona; Herta said his aim is a clean session to gather data and acclimate to the car while he continues his F2 campaign with Hitech.

Williams announced reserve Luke Browning will run Alex Albon’s FW48 in Barcelona — his first outing in a 2026-regulation car and part of mandatory rookie running and broader evaluation. The 24-year-old has three prior FP1 appearances, races in Super Formula with Team Kondo, and, according to Williams, is scheduled to run Carlos Sainz’s car in FP1 at the Austrian GP later in the season.

Teams described these Friday programmes as low-risk ways to prepare race weekends, collect setup information under the new rules and give practical seat time to potential future race drivers without altering confirmed race seats.
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