Race (and Championship) Picks Homestead: 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.

ChatGPT (7 wins) sez: I'm going with Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Toyota!

Truck Series (3 wins) Truck Series Championship 200 Friday 7:30pm ET on FS1: KADEN HONEYCUTT—easiest way to clinch is by winning the race.

O’Reilly Series (4 wins) O’Reilly Series Championship 300 Saturday 5pm ET on CW: CARSON KVAPIL—BUT, Justin Allgaier wins the championship.

Cup Series Cup Series Championship 400 3pm ET on NBC  FAVORITE (2 wins): DENNY HAMLIN—but it’s too little, too late.  NEXT FAVORITE (3 wins): KYLE LARSON—your 2026 champion.  DARK HORSE (2 wins): SVG—ah, why the heck not?

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 Three 2026 Select “Blaster” Boxes—Pack 7 of 18

I’m moving away from Hobby Boxes to three “Blaster” Boxes this time for the 2026 Panini Select cards.  Join me as I go through all 18 packs!

Pack 7: Funk, junk, and bunk

First Look: I’m glad Parker has Funkaway sponsorship—Parker has too much funk for a Nascar driver as it is.

To the Back: Again, sorry about my horrible photography skills.

Say What: “I sure proved that guy who runs Spade Racing wrong when he predicted I wouldn’t make it through my first season.”

Final Rating: 2 cautions during commercials 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: Cup Series Non-Qualifiers Part 1

Now that I’ve gone through the entire starting lineup, let’s take a look at each driver who failed to make the field. 

(listed in order of second round qualifying speed)

Joe Ruttman #39 Roulo Brothers Racing Chevy—missed the race by less than two-hundredths of a second.

Dick Trickle #32 Active Motorsports Chevy—one of six 1994 DNQ’s.

Randy Lajoie #20 Moroso Racing Ford—finished 20th in both of his other 1994 starts for the Moroso team.

Jim Sauter #59 Dick Simon Racing Ford—Simon entered six cars (qualifying five) in the 1994 Indy 500.

The official program for
the 1994 Brickyard 400

Steve Grissom #29 Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevy—posted three top tens in 1994.

Davy Jones #88 US Racing Ford—Davy won the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished runner up in the 1996 Indy 500.

Bob Brevak #34 Brevak Racing Ford—five DNQ’s in 1994 for the 1990 ARCA champion.

Gary Bettenhausen #60 Barkdoll Racing Chevy—first Nascar attempt for Gary in twenty years.

Brad Teague's car being taken out for qualifying

Brad Teague #52 Jimmy Means Racing Ford—best finish in 1994 was a 22nd at his home track of Bristol.

Mike Wallace #90 Donlavey Racing Ford—a tough 1994 ended on a high note with a fifth place finish at the season finale at Atlanta.

Robert Pressley's car being wheeled out for qualifying

Robert Pressley #54 Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevy—one of three DNQ’s in a part-time 1994 schedule to prep Robert to take over for Harry Gant in 1995.

Bob Schacht #57 Balough Racing Ford—Schacht posted a career-best 16th place finish at Richmond in 1982.

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