Race Picks WWT/St. Louis: 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.

Claude AI Sonnet 5 (5 wins) sez: Since you're asking for my genuine read rather than just facts: I'd lean toward Denny Hamlin.

Here's my reasoning — he's been remarkably strong at WWT Raceway specifically: he finished second, second, and first in his last three races there before winning last year's Enjoy Illinois 300 by 1.6 seconds over his own teammate, earning his first win at the track and 59th of his career. That kind of track-specific pattern (rather than one-off luck) is one of the more reliable signals in NASCAR, and intermediate 1.25-mile ovals tend to reward strong aero/handling packages that Joe Gibbs Racing has consistently had there.

Truck Series (2 wins) off

O’Reilly Series (4 wins) Nu Way 225 Saturday 7:30pm ET on CW: SAM MAYER—its about time, Sam.

Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 3pm ET on USA  FAVORITE (1 win): CHRISTOPHER BELL—Two in a row.  NEXT FAVORITE (2 wins): KYLE LARSON—actually closing the deal this time.  DARK HORSE (2 wins): BRAD KESELOWSKI—fuel mileage is the only way.

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 a 2026 Donruss Hobby Box of Cards—Pack 16 of 16

NEW SET COMING SOON!

It’s back to a hobby back for the first official 2026 cards.  Join me as I go through all 16 packs of 8 cards each!

Pack 16: Delaware, Quality Care, and The Finish—We’re There!

First Look: I’m going to take a guess and say this firesuit is in a frame in an office somewhere in Wilmington Delaware right now.

To the Back: Y’know, Ford’s plan of poaching drivers from other development systems isn’t elegant, but you can’t argue with the results.

Say What: “V for Victory, V for Vroom, V for Voluminous autograph requests after my first win.”

Final Rating: 6 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: 36th, Kyle Petty

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 36th: Kyle Petty #42 Mello Yello SABCO Racing Pontiac

Finished: 25th

A 1994 Kyle Petty Costcos
Brothers poster, via eBay

Career Highlights: Eight Cup Series race wins, 1987 Coke 600 winner, six-time “person of the year” winner (various awards), NWO member.

Total Brickyard 400 Starts: 13

Best Brickyard 400 Finish: 13th (1997, 2005)

1994 Fun Fact: Following back-to-back fifth place points finishes, Kyle slumped to a 15th place finish in the final 1994 points standings.  But his performance would improve…um…well…ok, never really.

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