MOORESVILLE, N.C. — This week’s Race Chaser Roundup began late Monday evening when SB Nation Motorsports scribe Jordan Bianchi broke the news (and with it, the Internet) that Matt Kenseth was rejoining Roush Fenway Racing to split time with Trevor Bayne in the No. 6 through the end of the year. Wyndham Resorts was unveiled as a new partner for the team in an official news conference on Wednesday morning. Kenseth will race Kansas and the All-Star race, but no word on which other events he will drive.
On Friday, social media was abuzz again, this time courtesy of NASCAR, who announced that they have purchased the ARCA Racing Series. The series will continue to operate independently until after the 2019 season. Few details were announced as to what the purchase means for the future direction of the series, but speculation is that NASCAR may want to blend the series together with the current K&N Pro Series.
Both of the above announcements have left more questions than answers, sort of like a TV show season cliffhanger. Stay tuned.
Anyone who thought Daryn Pittman’s sweep of last weekend’s World Of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series action was the dirt track equivalent of a flash fire might want to think again. Pittman struck gold once again at Devil’s Bowl on Friday night and is now three for his last four. Welcome back to contender status, Kasey Kahne Racing. It sure does look like Donny Schatz is finding plenty of competition as we head into the month of May and he will have to work even harder this year to win another championship.
Speaking of the Month of May, the only thing we know for sure about the IndyCar series as we head into Indianapolis is that the level of competition is as deep and wide as we’ve seen in years. Five different teams represented in the top five in driver standings – as in five different racing organizations. Josef Newgarden sits atop the board for Team Penske, 13 markers ahead of Andretti Autosport winner Alex Rossi. Tied for third are Sebastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan) and Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) while Schmidt Peterson Motorsports hotshoe James Hinchcliffe stands in fifth.
With rookie drivers Robert Wickens and Zach Veach showing strong and veterans Scott Dixon, Will Power and even Marco Andretti making it clear that you cannot count them out in any race, we go into May with more drivers capable of winning either on the road course or the oval than we’ve had in a long time. It seems like the new aero package IndyCar is using this year is working very well, but the final judgment will come of course, during 500 activities.