Grid & Garage: Mourning Kyle Busch, The Greatest Day in Racing, How Mercedes Shut Down a Bridge, “The Double,” and More

The greatest day in racing is upon us, but first, here’s everything happening this week, including who’s heading into the Hall of Fame, how Mercedes shut down a bridge, drivers attempting “the Double” (the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600), the Monopoly F1 edition, and the motorsports world mourning the loss of a legend.

234 Wins. Two Championships. Gone Too Soon at 41.

Kyle Busch died Thursday after being hospitalized with a severe illness, days before the Coca-Cola 600. His 234th and final win came at Dover six days earlier, where he told reporters, “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all.” He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a sport that will spend a very long time figuring out what comes next.

Scott Dixon is in the IMS Hall of Fame. While Still Racing.

Dixon became the first active driver ever inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. 

Harvick Got In on His First Ballot. Burton Waited Six Years. Both Deserve It.

Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and short-track legend Larry Phillips have been elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027. Legend has it, Phillips won somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 races in his career.

Mercedes Shut Down a Bridge, Brought Brad Pitt, and Called It a Car Reveal

For the debut of the new AMG GT 4-Door EV, Mercedes closed LA’s iconic 6th Street Bridge, put George Russell and Brad Pitt in the passenger seats for burnouts at sunset, then let Blink-182 close the night with a 30-minute set for 600 people.

Rossi Had Surgery on Monday. He Plans to Race Sunday. Starting Second.

After a violent practice crash left him needing surgery on his ankle and hand, Rossi told reporters he is “99%” ready and cleared himself to race the Indy 500.

Only 9 Women Have Ever Started the Indy 500. e.l.f. Is Betting on One of Them

e.l.f. Cosmetics is expanding its “Fuel Yours.e.l.f.” campaign through a full partnership with IMS, backing Katherine Legge and bringing an immersive glam garage activation to the Fan Zone for the Indy 500.

F1 and Hasbro Just Made Game Night a Lot More Competitive

The Monopoly F1 Edition is real, available for pre-order with a full release on July 15, and someone at your table is absolutely buying Monaco first with no apologies. Whether you know the difference between a DRS zone and a pit lane speed limit or not, you are about to learn. 

Álex Márquez Is Out.

A broken collarbone and a minor vertebra fracture from his Barcelona crash means Márquez misses Mugello and Balaton Park, sitting out until at least the Czech GP on June 21. The timing could not be worse for a rider who was finally finding his form this season.

NASCAR on Prime Is Back.

Season two of NASCAR on Prime Video kicks off with the Coca-Cola 600. With Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the booth and AI-powered Burn Bar technology tracking every car’s fuel strategy in real time, the broadcast is trying to change how you watch racing. The sport’s media future is evolving fast, and the streaming wars just added more horsepower.

Marty Smith Is Coming Home to NASCAR

The fan favorite just landed a side deal with TNT Sports to host their NASCAR studio show starting at Sonoma on June 28, while keeping his ESPN deal intact. Nobody calls a garage story quite like Smith, and having a familiar voice back on screen is a great move for the sport.

He Talked to Dale Jr., Got Blessed, Then Won.

Gary King Jr. of Hoonigan fame spoke with Dale Earnhardt Jr. before the Red Bull Soapbox Race LA, got some racing advice, and then posted the fastest time on the entire course. We are not saying Dale Jr. gave him some magic juju… but…

Kyle Larson’s Double Was a Dream That Became a Nightmare. He Is Finally Talking About It.

Prime Video’s documentary “Kyle Larson vs. The Double” premiered in Indianapolis this week, and Larson did not shy away from the emotional reality of what that day actually cost him. If you want to understand what attempting both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day really feels like, this is the film to watch.

Nights at the World Center of Racing Are About to Look Very Different

The most photographed oval in America is about to become even more photogenic. Daytona International Speedway announced plans for a brand-new LED lighting system set to transform the track after dark.

Shake and Bake Is Heading Back to Theaters.

Will Ferrell’s Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby returns to theaters nationwide on June 28, June 30, and July 1 for its 20th anniversary. The movie grossed more than $163 million worldwide on release and opened at No. 1 at the box office. Wonder what it’ll do this time. If you ain’t first, you’re last.