Race Picks Martinsville: 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) Meta sez: “Okay, so if we're picking for fun and not necessarily who's the ironclad favorite, we could go with…The Martinsville Master (Denny Hamlin): He's got a bunch of wins at Martinsville and always seems to be up front. Picking him is like betting on the home team, a solid, classic choice.

Meanwhile, here’s MY human picks:


Truck Series (1 win) off


O’Reilly Series NFPA 250 Saturday 3:30pm ET on CW: JUSTIN ALLGAIER—back to back on two classic tracks.


Cup Series Cook Out 400 Sunday 3:30pm on FS1  FAVORITE: CHASE ELLIOTT—maybe he tangles with Denny on his way to the win.  NEXT FAVORITE: TYLER REDDICK—23XI domination returns (or continues).  DARK HORSE: ROSS CHASTAIN—Trackhouse is back to Dark Horse territory.



www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


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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 4 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 4: Tyler twice, Hailie’s nice, and a high price


First Look: Yet again I must ask, how is it 2025/6 and we’re still getting repeats of the same card type in the same pack?


To the Back: So she’s nice.  Ok, that’s good to hear.  Now if she could just, y’know, race better.


Say What: “I really shouldn’t have had that five alarm chili for lunch”


Final Rating: 2 annoying 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

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Foundational Bricks—The 1994 Brickyard 400: 12th, Rusty Wallace

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 12th: Rusty Wallace #2 Miller Genuine Draft Penske Racing South Ford


Finished: 4th


Wallace's 1994 car
Career Highlights: 1989 Cup Series champion, 55 Cup Series wins, most Cup wins for Pontiac, somehow went his entire career with a single “major” race win.


Total Brickyard 400 Starts: 12


Best Brickyard 400 Finish: 2nd (1995, 2000, 02)





1994 Fun Fact: Rusty bounced back from a last place finish the previous week to come home fourth in the 1994 Brickyard 400.  And now his team owner owns the entire track!



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

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