Grid & Garage: NASCAR Next Superstar, Thunderstorms, and F1’s Biggest Race

NASCAR finally has its next superstar, MotoGP’s manufacturers are drawing battle lines, and a thunderstorm might just cancel one of F1’s biggest races. Here’s everything that mattered this week.

 

A Single Thunderstorm Could Red Flag the Miami Grand Prix

US law requires all outdoor events to halt the moment lightning threatens. AccuWeather has Sunday sitting at 53% thunderstorm probability. The FIA has protocols, the teams have plans, and absolutely nobody can control Florida weather.

Twenty Years of Work. One Historic Truck Series Debut.

Dystany Spurlock started in motorcycle drag racing, set records, crossed into NHRA, became the first Black woman in ARCA, and now lines up at Watkins Glen on May 8 as the first Black woman in Truck Series history. She is running a doubleheader the same day. Her story is one of the best in motorsport right now. Period.

NASCAR Has Been Waiting for This Kid for Years

Carson Hocevar won at Talladega, beat Buescher by 0.114 seconds, then hung his entire body out the window to celebrate. Love him or hate him, and plenty of drivers genuinely hate him, he just became impossible to ignore.

Mick Schumacher Was Underwhelmed by Indy. IndyCar Should Be Worried.

His first oval laps at 220mph felt like “nothing too new.” He turned 100+ laps, called Phoenix more impressive, and is already locked in on what qualifying boost will unlock. The name, the mentality, and the hunger are all there.

The Most Exciting New Team in Endurance Racing Just Told America to Wait

Genesis had the momentum, the car, and the plan to hit IMSA in 2027. Then a war in the Middle East postponed their WEC opener and pushed everything back. Now 2028 is a real possibility, and IMSA feels the gap.

Three Manufacturers Just Walked Out on Liberty Media

Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM skipped the annual Jerez dinner. No warning, no explanation. The move is the most serious power struggle in MotoGP since Liberty took over, and both sides have two weeks to fix it before it gets a lot worse.
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The Rainbow Stripes Are Back. And They Look Perfect.

In 1980, a Porsche 935 K3 carried the vintage Apple Computers rainbow logo at Le Mans. Porsche Penske revived the exact same look at Laguna Seca as both brands celebrate major anniversaries. Perfect way to honor history.