THIS CAUGHT ME by surprise. Rockingham Speedway up for sale

Rockingham Speedway is officially on the market.

The North Carolina racetrack located in Richmond County, home to a 250-acre property replete with racing and community history, was put up for sale this week. This is the latest news in a consequential year for the racetrack — a year that in April saw The Rock’s return to the NASCAR Truck Series after more than a decade, as well as its first foray into the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2004.

The property is listed by CBRE Group, a commercial real estate services and investment firm. The move to put the property up for sale was separately confirmed by racetrack owner Dan Lovenheim, who bought the venue in August 2018 and helped in its resurrection.

“We’ve basically taken it in first gear as far as we can go, building it out, getting it ready for bigger and better hands,” Lovenheim told The Charlotte Observer. “And the time is right to pass the baton to someone who can take it further than we can.”

— Charlotte Observer —

Kyle Larson’s second attempt at the Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 double ended in disappointment—twice.

Larson crashed on Lap 92 at Indy, spinning in dirty air behind Takuma Sata. Out of the 500 early, Larson had plenty of time to arrive at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the start of the Coke 600, but he slapped the wall during the opening run and damaged the front suspension of his Chevrolet.

Later, on Lap 42, Larson spun through the infield grass, and on Lap 246 of 400, he was collected in a five-car wreck off Turn 4 and eliminated from the race.

As unflappable as Larson appears, he was clearly chagrined by the wreck at Indy. After the accident at Charlotte, he was already evaluating the wisdom of trying to run both races on the same day.

“I don’t know, it’s so fresh right now I don’t really have a good answer for you,” Larson said. “The double is just a tough undertaking. The window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck, I don’t think I would have made it here on time and probably would have had to end that race short anyways.

“So, I don’t really think it’s worth it. But I would love to run the Indy 500 again. Just doing the double, I think, is just logistically too tough.”

Larson is right. With a 12:45 starting time for the Indy 500, circumstances have to fall into line perfectly for a driver to complete both races, and in Larson’s two attempts, rain worked against him.

When Tony Stewart completed all 1,100 miles in 2001, the Indianapolis 500 started at its traditional time of 11 a.m. A 12:45 p.m. start means weather can’t be a factor at Indy, and nothing is more undependable than spring weather in the Midwest.

In addition, pulling off the double requires an enormous commitment of time, money and personnel on the part of Hendrick Motorsports.

It’s a glamorous undertaking that generates a treasure trove of publicity, but the cost is too high, given the risks inherent in the process.

UNLEASHING THE BEAST: INFIELD BLOCK PARTY TO FEATURE BANDS, COMEDY SHOW AND FIREWORKS DURING JUNE NASCAR WEEKEND

The Beast Infield Block Party will unleash eight bands, a comedy show and fireworks display over the course of three days during The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM NASCAR tripleheader set for June 20-22 at  Pocono Raceway.

Monster Brewing’s Beast returns as the block party title sponsor with an enhanced presence and a three-year partnership for the annual entertainment event in the center of the Pocono Raceway infield. The block party will feature exclusive product offerings and specials as well as product sales and samplings throughout the race weekend.

“We’re pumped to be renewing our partnership with Pocono Raceway and for the return of The Beast Infield Block Party!” said J. David Rich, Monster Brewing Company Regional Marketing Manager – East. “If there’s one thing this brand knows, it’s a good party, and last year showed us just how rowdy the party at Pocono is! We’re going bigger and better than ever with some new additions in both the infield and out in the Fan Zone, so the only way this year can get any better is when Tyler (Reddick) parks The Beast 45 in Victory Lane on Sunday! Really excited to get back to Pocono to Unleash the Beast with the fans!”

The Beast Infield Block Party actually gets the action – and party – started at Pocono Raceway before NASCAR even hits the track. On Thursday, June 19, alt-country music artist Jack Wilder will perform the opening set from 6-8 p.m. Wilder will be followed by M80, a multi-award-winning retro cover band that performs the best of the 1980s and ‘90s, from 8-11:30 p.m.

The next night – Friday, June 20 – will sandwich a comedy show in the middle of a pair of bands. The progressive pop punk band Don’t Wait Up opens from 5-8 p.m. They will be followed by the one-hour Laughs at the Track Comedy Show beginning at 8 p.m. The evening closes with the Philadelphia-based band Steal The Sky, who will mix pop, rock and dance music in an eclectic but accessible blend from 9-11:30 p.m.

The final day of The Beast Infield Block Party on Saturday, June 21, will be the busiest with four musical acts and fireworks. The day opens with Bethlehem-based DJ DizzyMop from 1-3 p.m. Lakini’s Rooster, a ‘90s best alternative rock tribute band from Stroudsburg, will follow from 5-7 p.m.

Up next will be South Penn Dixie, known as the premier country party band of the Northeast, from 7-9:30 p.m.Nazareth’s own Turning The Tide will bring a mix of the best of rock, pop and alternative from 9:30-11:30 p.m.The final night will be highlighted by a fireworks show beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m.

The Beast Infield Block Party also will have a variety of food vendors and displays. Please visit Pocono Raceway’s digital event guide on its website for more details at www.poconoraceway.com/eventguide.

Fans planning to camp in the infield to have easy access to The Beast Infield Block Party may want to act soon since limited spots remain.

For race attendees unable to visit The Beast Infield Block Party but a fan of Beast products, sales and samplings also will be available at the Fan Fair throughout the weekend. Also, fans in the grandstands will have access to The Beast Car Bar – a replica of Reddick’s 23XI Racing Beast race car – to purchase products.

The upcoming weekend will feature a NASCAR national series race each day, beginning with the CRAFTMAN Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 on Friday, June 20, at 5 p.m. That race will be followed by the Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 on Saturday, June 21, at 3:30 p.m. The weekend culminates with The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM on Sunday, June 22, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

For ticket information and news on the NASCAR race weekend, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

Richard Childress Racing and Kyle Busch have finalized a contract extension that positions the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet through 2026, continuing a partnership that combines one of the NASCAR industry’s most storied teams with one of the sports’ most successful modern era drivers.

“We’re proud to continue our relationship with Kyle Busch and remain focused on our shared goals of winning races and championships together,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Kyle is a tremendous racer and ambassador of the sport for our fans and partners. Everyone at RCR is committed to putting the pieces in place to enhance the competition side of our business.”

Busch, one of the most recognizable and successful drivers in NASCAR’s modern era, boasts a career that spans more than 20 years and includes two NASCAR Cup Series Championships and 63 career wins in NASCAR’s premier series. Since joining the RCR team and reuniting with Chevrolet in 2023, Busch has earned three Cup Series wins among 16 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes.

Tony Stewart Slams Cowardly Critics After Second NHRA Top Fuel Win

Susan Wade tells us current Top Fuel points leader calls them ‘dumbasses that sit in their mothers’ basements, don’t do a damn thing’

After his second NHRA Top Fuel victory in 35 days and the class points lead, Tony Stewart is starting to find his drag-racing groove.

And he has a message for his critics, whom he called “keyboard warriors that are dumbasses that sit in their mothers’ basements and don't do a damn thing and haven't accomplished anything in their life.”

“They literally can kiss my ass,” Stewart said after adding to his Las Vegas victory with one at Route 66 Raceway at Joliet, Ill. “And I'll sit there and stick it out for 'em, too, because they don't do a damn thing. They've never accomplished anything in their life. They don't know how to work hard to be successful in anything. That's why they say the shit they say on the Internet.”

What bugs him is that they “tell you how bad you are at what you do. But they can't tell you to your face. I've never stood at the ropes and had anybody come up there and go, ‘You really are bad at this and you should put your wife in the car.’ But I read it on the Internet: ‘Why is he driving the car? His wife's way better. She almost won a world championship.’ But now they can kiss my ass.”

Tony Stewart is the current points leader in the NHRA Top Fuel category.

Stewart said he’s motivated to “fight and prove these people wrong. That's the pride I take now.” He said he planned to celebrate the May 18 Joliet victory before the May 30-June 1 New England Nationals at Epping, N.H., “for all those people that say that I suck, I'm no good, I'm terrible, I've never been anything. This is for all those people. They don't have anything to show for. I got two silver Wallys [trophies] to show for it. We've proven these guys wrong, so they can say what they want to say now. Now they just look stupid when they say it.

“You’ve got to believe we’re real now at this point. It’s hard to be the points leader and not think you’re a contender now. It's no guarantee that it's going to stay this way, but to be six races in the season and leading the points, we got a lot to be proud of."

Tom Cruise confirmed that he’s in talks to shoot a sequel to “Days of Thunder,” as the chances of the NASCAR-themed movie’s return appear to be increasing.

The actor has been doing media rounds in recent days to promote his new film, “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” and there’s high interest in the racing world about whether one of his next projects will be a sequel to the classic NASCAR film that came out in 1990.

While NASCAR confirmed to SBJ multiple times in recent years that it is open to participating in such a sequel, and there’s been media reports about Cruise considering it, his interview this week is thought to be the first time that he’s confirmed as much on the record. Asked by the “Today” show in Australia whether he was thinking about working on another “Top Gun” film, Cruise responded in part: “All of these things we’re working on. We’re discussing ‘Days of Thunder’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ There are numerous other films that we’re actively working on right now.”

Teams ask to not be included in antitrust lawsuit

The 13 Cup Series teams that are not directly involved in the lawsuit and countersuit between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports versus NASCAR are effectively asking the court to not bring them into the matter.

On behalf of those teams, the Race Team Alliance (RTA) filed a motion for leave regarding a suggested brief as amicus curiae — meaning a way for the court to be able to solicit information from parties not directly involved but have a strong interest in the outcome of the case.

The RTA is asking the court to not be involved in the lawsuit on the basis of three reasons:

The other 13 teams signed the charter agreement, which formed the basis for the lawsuit

That the other 13 teams do not meet the legal standards (Rule 19) of involvement

Including the other 13 teams would result in a longer process that would likely spill into the 2026 season, past the intended December 1 trial

For those who may want to try something different.

With less than a month to go before the running of the 64th Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race, the elite participant roster is shaping up to be a competitive group including a group of Canadian elite runners. The elite field will also include last year’s winners, Joseph Gray, 41 of Colorado Springs, Colo., who won for a record setting eighth time, and Kayla Lampe, 32 of Shelburne Falls, Mass., who won in her first attempt at Mt. Washington. Both Gray and Lampe won last year by close to two minutes each.

Gray is already considered to be one of the best American mountain runners and is undoubtedly the greatest champion in Mt. Washington history. Gray has won the World Mountain Running Championship in 2016 and 2019 and finished 5th in 2023. Gray also just won the USATF Masters 10K Championship in April in a time of 30:58. After another convincing win in 2024 by close to 2 minutes and showing no signs of slowing down, it is hard to imagine anything other than a win for Gray in 2025.

Hoping to make it a race, however, is a good group of elite men who are all capable of winning. Leading the list of the returning elite runners is the ever present and legendary Eric Blake, 46 of West Hartford, Conn. Blake, a four-time winner, has perpetually finished in the top 4 and usually top 3 over the past 17 years or more. He is always consistent but has lost a few steps over the past couple of years. Even so, he was still good enough for 3rd last year. Last year’s second place finisher, Remi Leroux, 28 of Waterloo, Quebec is also back. Leroux followed up his second-place finish at Mt. Washington with a second-place finish at the Canadian Mountain Running Championships in both the vertical and the up/down race.

Among those runners making their Mt. Washington debut is Alex Ricard, 36 of Squamish, B.C. Ricard finished 1st in the 2024 Canadian Mountain Running Championships vertical race just ahead of Remi Leroux and is a member of the Canadian Mountain Running Team. Ricard also won the 2023 Sunapee Scramble and edged out Joseph Gray in that race. There are two other Canadian Mountain Running Team members making their debuts; J-Philippe Thibideau, 35 of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Quebec, and 20-year-old, Anselme Poher, of Sherbrook, Quebec. Thibideau has plenty of experience in trail and mountain running, with wins at the 2023 Ultra-Trail Harricana of Canada 125K and a 4th place finish at the Squamish 50 Miler in 2024. Poher finished second in 2024 in the Sunapee Scramble and was the first runner under the age of 20 at the Loon Mountain Race in 2023. Poher also competed in the 2023 World Mountain Running Championships as a junior. The last debut runner to be highlighted is Tristan Williams, 39 of Lancaster, N.H. Williams is considered “the best mountain runner that you have never heard of.” Williams will likely be a contender for both the podium and at least the Crossan Cup which goes to the top finishers from the state of New Hampshire.

On the women’s side, the 2024 champion, Kayla Lampe, 32 of Shelburne Falls, Mass., is back to defend her title. After her win at Mt. Washington, Lampe finished 7th at the US Vertical Mountain Running Championship at Loon Mountain in 2024. Lampe is a two-time Olympic Marathon Trial Qualifier with a personal best of 2:36:58 in the 2023 Philadelphia Marathon and clocked a winning time of 1:15:30 in the Revel White Mountain Half Marathon this year.

The women’s race returns the rest of the top seven finishers from 2024. Finishing second last year and breaking the 50-54 age group record by three minutes and forty seven seconds is Laura Manninen, 52 of Etelä-Savo, Finland. Manninen continues to perform at an elite level despite her age, and she just clocked a 9:59 3000m at the Finnish Indoor Championship in February. Last year’s third place finisher, Amber Ferreira, 43 of Concord, N.H., is a favorite to win the Crossan Cup for the top NH finisher. Ferreira is currently tied for the most top ten finishes at Mt. Washington, with ten and notched her first win at Mt. Washington in 2023. Hannah Rowe, 32 of Boston, Mass., finished thirteen seconds out of third place last year. Rowe was a standout track athlete at Dartmouth College and George Washington University. The fifth through seventh place finishers from last year were Jenna Gigliotti, 32 of Amherst, Mass., who just ran a 1:15:49 half marathon, Kasie Enman, 45 of Huntington, Vt., who has had nine top ten finishes and Rena Schwartz, 25 of Middlesex, Vt., who won the 2019 Loon Mountain Race at the age of 19 years old.

There are a couple of debut runners from the Canadian Mountain Running Team. Anne-Marie Comeau, 29 of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Quebec, competed in the 2018 Olympic Games for Team Canada in the 15km skiathlon. Comeau competed in the 2023 Mountain Running World Championships finishing 15th in the vertical race and 17th in the up and down race. The second runner from the Canadian team is Melodie Gilbert, 30 of Bromont, Quebec. Gilbert has extensive trail and mountain running experience including finishing 10th at the 2024 Canadian Mountain Running Championships and competing at the 2023 World Mountain Running Championships in the Short Trail Team event.

Sponsored by Delta Dental, the race ascends the Mt. Washington Auto Road from Pinkham Notch, N.H., to the 6,288-foot summit of Mt. Washington. Runners can expect to be challenged by the unrelenting grade (averaging 12%), Mt. Washington’s famously high winds, precipitation, and unpredictable temperatures which makes this race truly one of a kind. Prizes include $1000 apiece for the first male and female finishers, smaller cash prizes for the next five men and women and the top three male and female masters (over 40), prizes for the first male and female finishers from New Hampshire, and a $5000 bonus for setting a new course record.