Track “Facts”: Indianapolis Raceway Park

Nascar races on all sorts of tracks, from short to long, oval to road course, concrete to asphalt.  Here’s a bi-weekly look at all the tracks of Nascar’s National Touring Series.

LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK

0.686 mile asphalt short track

Opened 1960

Lights?  Yes

Series: Trucks

Nicknames: IRP, LORP, MEEP MORP

THREE FUN FACTS:

1. IRP is the only track Nascar races on that is owned by NHRA, a result of the huge drag racing facility on-site.  NHRA hosts its most-prestigious race here, The US Nationals, which kind of makes me want to see a low-level drag race on the Daytona backstretch.

2. The Xfinity Series used to race here before its race was moved to the much-larger Indianapolis Motor Speedway in order to give fans the chance for a two-hour nap on Saturdays.

3. Mario Andretti won his first-ever IndyCar race at this track, which must be confusing to open wheel fans.  It would be like if Richard Petty won HIS first Nascar race on, say, Deltona Motor Raceway.

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Does this track have lights?

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Chase Elliott Released from Hospital with New “Lead Foot” Implant

Less than 48 hours after he was admitted to the hospital with a serious leg injury from snowboarding, Chase Elliott is recovering at home in Georgia.  While his return to the Cup Series is unknown, he will be eventually doing so with a new, literal “Lead Foot” implanted in his right leg.

“This was really the best opportunity to get this done”, a convalescing Elliott said over Zoom.  “Nobody wants to get hurt—much less in-season—but the doctors told me this would be the best time to get the lead foot implant, seeing as how they’d be doing work on my leg anyways.

“Its kind of like how they remove your adenoids when you get your tonsils taken out—its just the most-convenient time to get it done”, Elliott said.

The new leaden-foot, weighing several hundred pounds, is a semi-permanent implant, one that cannot be removed temporarily.  However, Elliott said that the pros greatly outweighed the cons.

“Sure, it’ll make walking a bit harder to do—and my snowboarding days are over, for sure”, Elliott explained.  “But I’ll have a major advantage on the track, whenever i get back in the car.  And really, winning races is far more important to ANY racer than living a normal, fulfilling life.  Well, with the possible exception of Corey Lajoie.”

While Elliott’s return to active competition remains unknown, he is expected to receive a waiver to continue to compete for the season-long Cup championship, according to Nascar.

“We will welcome back Chase (Elliott) as soon as he’s medically cleared to do so”, said Nascar spokeswoman Theresa Martin, “and he’ll be able to compete for the championship so long as he wins a points-paying race in the 2023 regular season.  We view all elective surgeries as waiver-able situations—hey, we’re even preparing for Ross Chastain to have his head replaced by a genetically-altered melon.”

GET WELL SOON, CHASE!!!

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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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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Nascar Race Picks: Uncle Max vs. The Tarot Deck—Las Vegas

Doubt me if you’d like to, but I *swear* I was thisclose to picking John Hunter Nemechek in the Xfinity race, and considered picking Kyle Busch as my Cup race dark horse.  Oh well—no better place to get on a hot street than Las Vegas, right?

I ask because CONFESSION TIME—I’ve actually never been to Las Vegas.  Yeah, I know—surprising for someone so into gambling, but its just never really come up as an opportunity.  I always take one week off in the summer to go to my buddy’s beach house, so my other vacation week tends to go towards something either family-related or taking care of stuff around the townhouse.  Maybe if I win my main March Madness pool for this year I can afford to take a trip there this fall!

Friday Night TRUCK SERIES Victoria’s Voice 200: Grant Enfinger—a 9pm ET start time, THAT’LL juice the ratings.

Saturday Afternoon XFINITY SERIES Alsco 300: Kyle Busch—Groundhog Day is back again.

Sunday CUP SERIES Pennzoil 400:  The Tarot Deck selects The Knight of Swords, Noah Gragson.  FAVORITE: Joey Logano—no local connection, but his sponsor sponsors the race.  NEXT FAVORITE: Kyle Busch—local connection.  DARK HORSE: Ty Gibbs—and all heck breaks loose (as does the car he knocks out of the way for the win).

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