Race Picks Kansas: 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.

AI (1 win) Claude (Sonnet 4.6) sez: “As for predicting a winner, I can't say with certainty, but here are some things to keep in mind heading into Kansas:

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile intermediate track, a style that tends to favor teams with strong aero packages and pit strategy.

Historically, drivers like Kyle Larson…have been strong at intermediate tracks in recent seasons.”

Truck Series (1 win) off

O’Reilly Series (1 win) Kansas Lottery 300 Saturday 7pm ET on CW: BRANDON JONES—benefitting Kansans everyday!

Cup Series AdventHealth 400 Sunday 2pm on Fox  FAVORITE (1 win): DENNY HAMLIN—MJ, I don’t think we’re in Kansas any—oh, wait, we are.  NEXT FAVORITE: WILLIAM BYRON—for Chevy its looking like it’ll be HMS and then the rest.  DARK HORSE (1 win): CHASE BRISCOE—fuel milage, perhaps.

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

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Spade Racing Opens 2 Blaster Boxes of 2025 Panini Prizm Cards—Pack 7 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 7: JHN, Jeff again, and clean shaven

First Look: The “car number on the pants” look is..odd.  It also doesn’t help that here he’s sponsored by a generic-sounding company.

To the Back: I think we all took Jeff Gordon’s success for granted in the 90’s.  Dude was nearly unstoppable until, well, life got in the way AND he hired the next great superstar.  Speaking of which…

Say What: “My face is so COLD!”

Final Rating: 7 firesuit patches 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: 15th, Michael Waltrip

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 15th: Michael Waltrip #30 Pennzoil Bahari Racing Pontiac

Finished: 8th

Michael Waltrip's 1994 car

Career Highlights: Four-time Cup Series race winner, 2001 Daytona 500 winner, 2003 Daytona 500 winner, subject of mock and ridicule most of his career.

Total Brickyard 400 Starts: 14

Best Brickyard 400 Finish: 8th (1994)

1994 Fun Fact: Mikey’s 1994 was a solid but unspectacular year, finishing 12th in season points with two top-five race finishes.  On the plus side, he once again won the Nascar’s Yellowest Car Award.

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