Kurt Busch passed Kyle Larson with seven laps left in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway for his first win of this season, and his 34th career vistory in the NASCAR Cup Series. It was Busch’s first win with 23XI Racing, the team owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. He also passed his brother, Kyle Busch, on lap 246.
“But this is 23XI,” Busch said. “This is our first win with the 45 car, and with Jordan Brand on the hood, I felt like I had to play like the GOAT, race like the GOAT. I had to beat the Kyles. I beat both.”
Larson finished second, followed by Kyle Busch, Hamlin, and Christopher Bell. After 13 races Chase Elliott sits atop of the season standings, with Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, William Byron, and Ross Chastain rounding out the top 5.
It was madness at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course with Colton Herta winning the GMR Grand Prix that was filled with rain, eight cautions, 10 lead changes, and six different race leaders. With the extensive chaos throughout the afternoon the race was called when it reached its two-hour time limit. It was Herta’s first win of the season, seventh of his IndyCar career and he currently sits sixth in the season standings.
“This is the hardest race I think I’ve ever done,” Herta said. “Wet to dry, dry back to wet.”
Simon Pagenaud finished second and Will Power rounded out the podium for Saturday’s race. After five races Will Power is on top of the season standings, followed by Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Scott Dixon.
“I’ve never been in a race like that in my life,” Conor Daly said. “That was the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Formula E had a double header over the weekend at Berlin. On Saturday Edoarda Mortara won from the pole for his second win of the season and fourth of his career. Jean-Eric Vergne finished 1.782 seconds behind Mortara and Stoffel Vandoorne finished third.
On Sunday, reigning series champ, Nyck De Vries cruised to victory, 2.454 seconds ahead of Mortara, for his second win of the season and fourth of his career. Vandoorne captured his second podium finish of the weekend.
After eight races Vandoorne is in first place of the season standings followed by Mortara, Vergne, Mitch Evans, and Robin Frijns.
News and Notes:
McLaren Racing is joining Formula E in 2023.
“I firmly believe that Formula E will give McLaren Racing a competitive advantage through greater understanding of EV racing,” said Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO.
The McLaren Formula E Team will be established through the acquisition of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team. The transaction is expected to be completed later this year and will see the reigning series championship team transferred to McLaren Racing.
Up Next:
NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR All-Star Race, Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 22, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Formula 1: Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Sunday, May 22, 9:00 a.m. (ET)
