Race Picks Charlotte: Spade Racing vs. AI

Join me as I test my wits against various AI programs in picking the 2026 Cup races.  Once they’ve made their picks, I’ll make my normal Favorite, Next Favorite, and Dark Horse picks (in addition to my regular O’Reilly & Truck Series picks).  At the end of the year we’ll see who knows more—me, or a soulless machine gobbling up water and electricity.

Grok (1 win) sez: My pick: Tyler Reddick has the best shot if his car is anywhere near as fast as it has been most of 2026.

Truck Series (1 win) NC Education Lottery 200 Friday 8pm ET on FS1: KYLE BUSCH—Groundhog Day in May.  UPDATE—KADEN HONEYCUTT due to Kyle Busch being out.

O’Reilly Series (1 win) Carbroil 300 Saturday 5pm ET on CW: ROSS CHASTAIN—too bad the Trackhouse guys are only doing well when they don’t race Trackhouse cars.

Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 6pm on Prime  FAVORITE (1 win): RYAN BLANEY—rebounding from last week’s crash-fest at Dover.  NEXT FAVORITE (2 wins): CHRISTOPHER BELL—Toyota keeps up their fever pace.  DARK HORSE (1 win): an AUSTIN—Cindric or Dillon, take your pick.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com

Spade Racing Opens 2 Blaster Boxes of 2025 Panini Prizm Cards—Pack 12 of 12

Rather than a “hobby box”, I decided to go with the more economical choice of two “Blaster Boxes” for the 2025 Panini Prizm cards (although they were bought in January 2026.  With six packs of five cards each in each box, that’s twelve packs to open!

Pack 12: Two cars, future stars, and reputation mars

First Look: I’m a sucker for the classic “profile shot of a car” card.

To the Back: In theory Jesse is setting himself up to take over the 8 car once Kyle Busch retires of leaves.  Well, unless Ty Gibbs wants the ride.

Say What: “Maybe I shouldn’t have complained as much over the years”.

Final Rating: 4 post-race interviews out of 10

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com

Foundational Bricks—The 1994 Brickyard 400: 20th, Hut Stricklin

Join me as I take a look back every Monday at the starting lineup for one of the biggest races in NASCAR history, the inaugural Brickyard 400. 

Starting 20th: Hut Stricklin #23 Smokin Joe’s/Camel Travis Carter Enterprises Ford

Finished: 36th (DNF—Oil Line)

Stricklin's 1994 race car

Career Highlights: Fourth-place finish in the 1993 Daytona 500, one-time Cup pole winner, last top fives for the King Racing team, kept losing his rides to Jimmy Spencer for some reason.

Total Brickyard 400 Starts: 7

Best Brickyard 400 Finish: 14th (2000)

1994 Fun Fact: Hut finished 26th in points in 1994 driving the Smokin’ Joe’s Camel car.  And yes, I also find it odd that they had a driver who neither smoked nor was named Joe.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com