Where Are They Now: 2018 nifSTAR winner's trophy Lost Edition

As where’s I Want my MTV Rock Icons television show now?

 

Author’s Note

Yeah, once again, I've neglected unveiling the winner in a timely fashion, which was definitely compounded by the Nightmarish winDOUGHS 10 Operating Ha-Ha, Not! Confuzer' system I was attempting to Upgrade to since Gory February, 2020. Lasting thru October that year before my new Confuzer was functional. When this story got high-centered in the driftwood and totally forgotten.

 

Thus, turning 20 years old this September, I thought I’d celebrate with a few stories languishing in Thy cavernous No Fenders story vault…

 

WINNER

Kyle Kirkwood (Age: 28)

Born: October 19, 1998

Birthplace: Jupiter, Florida

 

2018 Results

Truly Kirkwood’s breakout year! Won 15 of 17 F3 Americas races and 12 of 14 U.S. F2000 National Championship races!

 

Post 2018 Results

2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship, won 9 of 16 races. 2021 Indy Lights championship, won 10 of 20 races. Winner of 2022 Petit Le Mans and 2024 Sebring 12 Hours GTD Pro category. 2022-2026 IndyCar Series, winner of 7 races, 12 podiums and 4 pole positions.

 

Championships

2017 Formula 4 United States Championship, 2018 F3 (Formula Regional) Americas Championship, 2018 U.S. F2000 National Championship, 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship, 2021 Indy Lights championship

 

The driver that Marshall Pruett likes calling Kirk Kirkwood, (Kyle) first came onto my radar Wayback’ in Gory 2018, when tying J.R. Hildebrand's U.S. F2000 National Championship record of 12 Wins in a Season.

 

Then still a teenager at age 19, Kirkwood would also win that year’s lesser known F3 Americas Championship along with His U.S. f2000 National championship title. Firmly advancing to Indy Pro 2000 for 2019.

 

Like most current Open Wheel Racing drivers, Kirkwood began racing in Karts and won multiple championships before graduating to single seaters in 2015.

 

One could say His rise through the ranks was meteoric. After His debut in F1600. Kirkwood went onto win five straight championships in-a-row!  Beginning with winnig 9 of 21 races during His 2017 U.S. Formula 4 Championship triumph…

 

Kirkwood had emotional push to Indy Pro 2000 title

 

The 2021 Indy Lights Championship was dominated by two current IndyCar drivers. With Kirkwood coming out on top vs. David Malukas. With Kirkwood winning ten times vs. Malukas seven.

 

Kyle Kirkwood wins 2021 Indy Lights title – Andretti Global

 

Kirkwood’s ten wins tied Greg Moore’s record for most Indy Lights wins in a season in 1995. When Moore won an impressive 10 of 12 races enroute to that year’s title.

 

Kyle made history by becoming the first driver to win all three rungs of the Road to Indy ladder. Doing so as a rookie no less and winning all consecutively!

 

The 2020 Indy Lights Championship was cancelled due to COVID-19, seeing Vasser Sullivan Racing throw the talented youngster a “lifeline”. With Kyle saying loyal to the team ever since. Most notably having won the 2022 Petit Le Mans and 2024 12 Hours of Sebring GTD Pro class with Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat in the No. 14 entry.

 

Also winning a round of IMSA GTD competition at Detroit in 2022. All behind the keyboard of the venerable Lexus RC F GT3.

 

Kirkwood made His IndyCar debut for A.J. Foyt enterprises at the 2022 St Petersburg season opener, and the rest has been history…

 

Back when winning the Indy Lights title guaranteed you three races including the Indianapolis 500, on a one-year loan to Foyt. Kyle had a best finish of tenth at Long Beach before returning to then Andretti Autosport in 2023 as Alexander Rossi’s replacement.

 

Kyle claimed His maiden IndyCar victory at Long Beach, and won again at the Nashville street circuit, finishing 11th overall for 2023.

 

2024 saw zero wins, before His breakout season the following year when claiming three wins, including His first Oval (Gateway) and fourth in the championship.

 

This year, Kirkwood won twice, both at inaugural events, both street circuits. First winning at Arlington, and then later dominating the Freedom 250 in Washington D.C. Where the Floridian had joked about Arm Deg’ due to the race’s unusually long distance of 250 miles. (147 laps)

 

Kyle finished second overall; entering the Laguna Seca finale in third, one point behind Christian Lundgaard. Yet His runner-up finish behind Scott McLaughlin saw Kirkwood claim His career best overall finish to date. Although once again, The Surgeon’, aka Alex Palou was untouchable enroute to a fifth IndyCar title, 86 points ahead. (631 v 545)

 

One has to chuckle now over Kirkwood losing out upon the Mazda Road to Indy Scholarship Shootout to fellow Floridian Oliver Askewy in 2016. As Kirkwood’s win tally between 2018 to 2021 is insane! Winning 46 of 67 races! A winning percentage of 68.657% if I’ve done my ryth-muh-tickin’ correctly?

 

Factoring His further nine U.S. F4 wins for a tally of 55 of88 races, which I believe is the original tally I came up with years ago? Equates to a diminished strike rate of only standing atop the podium 62.5% of the time, Aye Karumba!

 

Thus, this is one of the driver choices you could say I got right, Hya! As winning the coveted No Fenders nifSTAR trophy, if only we had one! Is probably as prestigious as winning Oilpressures Drive of the Day award, Eh!

 

NIFSTAR WINNERS

2018: Kyle Kirkwood

2017: Nico Jammin

2016: Zach Veach

2015: Shawn Rayhall

2014: Jack Harvey

2013: Conor Daly

2012: Tristan Nunez

2007: Marcus Wilkinson

 

For the 2017 nifSTAR Trophy Winner, please visit the following No fenders link below.

 

AWARDS: And the 2017 nifSTAR winner is… 

F1: alpine Boss Briatore making Waves Again

But are we really surprised by this Italian’s panache for Controversy?

 

Once again, the man knowing no boundaries for controversy, HMS Monogram, aka Flavor Flav, nee Flavio Briatore is making waves again…

 

Recently, in the long running kerfuffle over the outcome of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, with Alpine having first successfully appealed Alpine F1 driver Pierre Gasly being stripped of third place. Subsequent appeal by rival Formula 1 teams McLaren and Red Bull saw Gasly’s reinstatement overruled prior to this year’s Italian Grand Prix.

 

The row centers over Gasly having had two five second time penalties for speeding in pitlane overturned on appeal by Alpine, being the only team to do so, albeit multiple teams were handed speeding penalties, regardless of apparent technical issues with monitoring equipment…

 

The ever colourful Briatore, best known for incurring a lifetime ban from F1 over Renault’s infamous Crashgate, before being overturned. Extraordinarily accused one of the FIA’s International Court of Appeals (ICA) judges of being “very linked” to McLaren.

 

Stating we have a very nice photo of American judge Filippo Marchino speaking at a McLaren Special Operations (MSO) function in Beverly Hills, California while holding up a picture. And then claiming that McLaren had given two, or three McLaren cars to His foundation.

 

Naturally, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella seated next to Briatore during the FIA press conference found Briatore’s accusatory comments inflammatory and totally denied such nonsense!

 

While subsequently, the ICA has hit out at Briatore’s accusations by saying it was very odd that Alpine hadn’t raised such allegations twice during the initial appeals process.

 

FIA Court says Alpine raise no objections to Appeals panel list

 

With the ICA having overruled Alpine’s appeal, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was reinstated as finishing third at Monaco, with Gasly dropping to seventh. A swing of nine points. With Alpine being sixth in the F1 Constructors Championship as of the Italian Grand Prix with 62 points, 13 behind now fifth place Racing Bulls with 75.

 

F1 Points standings after Monaco ruling – Alpine loses out

 

On a happier note, Pierre Gasly scored a shock, maiden F1 pole at Monza on His 189th Grand Prix start! The second longest streak for starts before a first pole. Surpassed only by Sergio Perez’s maiden pole on His 215th start at Jeddah in 2022, then driving for Red Bull.

 

Yet Gasly was swiftly overtaken by front row starter George Russell in the superior Mercedes and ultimately faded to seventh by race’s end.

 

The pole position at Monza’s renown “Temple of speed” was also Alpine’s debutante pole, in the guise of its latest team name. Since “Team Enstone” has a long, glorious and controversial history. Having won four F1 Drivers titles and three F1 Constructors crowns as Benetton and Renault, all under Briatore’s leadership.

 

Gasly was ranked 10th in the drivers’ standings following Monza with 41 points. His best finish being sixth at Shanghai International circuit. (China) With a total of eight top-10 finishes. (As of Round 13)

 

Teammate Franco Colapinto was 12th with 21 points. Also, with a best finish of sixth at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. (Montreal) With a total of seven top-10 finishes. (As of Round 13)

 

As Colapinto finished seventh at the new Madring circuit at Madrid a week later, with Gasly P12. Where thankfully, HMS Monogram’, (Briatore) kept his “Piehole” shut! And hopefully will just let the Monaco ruling stand and move along without stirring the pot any further this season… 

Red Bull’s Junior Drivers programme gets new “Minder”

As who’ll be the next to graduate to Formula 1?

 

Old news now, but couldn’t carve out a spot in the No Fenders rotation for this riveting prose, Y’all…

 

Upon Formula One’s summer break commencing, Red Bull announced that Gwen Lagrue will join the Milton Keyes operation in 2027. Arriving from Mercedes to become its next Director of Red bull’s vaunted Junior Driver Academy.

 

Lagrue reportedly has spent the last decade at Mercedes in the same role, instrumental in Shepherding the likes of Curious George (Russell) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the team’s current driver lineup.

 

Lagrue inherits the role that Der Helmut’, aka Helmut Marco ran for some two decades before His ouster, err retiring in 2025…

 

The Red bull Junior Team has enabled the likes of Christian Klien, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Daniel Ricciardo, Alexander Albon, Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar making it to the Big Bulls’, aka Red Bull Racing.

 

The likes of Scott Speed, Sebastien Buemi, Jaime Alguersuari, Brendon Hartley, Jean-Eric Vergne, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Arvid Lindblad have driven for the various iterations of the ‘ill bullz’, i.e.; Scuderia Toro Rosso, Scuderia AlphaTauri and Racing bulls.

 

Obviously the two most successful members of the Red Bull Junior programme are ‘lil Syd Vidle’ and Circus Maximus, aka Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

 

As both drivers are four-times Formula 1 World champions. Verstappen being the sport’s third most successful driver with 73 wins and 50 poles to His credit, following the Singapore GP weekend.

 

Whilst Vettel currently ranks fourth overall with 53 wins and 57 poles scored between 2008-2019, before retiring at season’s end, 2022.

 

The third most successful Red Bull Junior Team member is DannyRic’, aka Daniel Ricciardo, with the Aussie scoring seven of His eventual eight career F1 wins at Red Bull.

 

While Pierre Gasly gave the junior team Racing Bulls its second and most recent Grand Prix victory at Monza in 2020.

 

Thus, Lagrue will have His work cut out for Him to add to this staggering promotion of Junior Drivers. Although his latest two Silver Arrows graduates aren’t exactly slouches…

 

Meanwhile, just announced, was the signing of somebody named robin Raikkonen to the Red bull Junior Team. With the 11-year-old son of 2007 formula 1 World champion Kimi Raikkonen set to begin His Junior programme next year in Karting.

 

Robin Raikkonen joins Red Bull Junior Team 

Markham Syrup

Now if I could only find some Canadian Bacon to put on my Flapjacks…

 

Yeah, I could try scribblin’ something clever about the Jersey barriers Cleco fasteners being in inches instead of millimetres or visa versa. Or those barriers getting held up in traffic on the Gordie Howe Bridge, or victims of our never ending deluge ‘O Tarif’s et al…

 

So I won’t spend any time upon Friday’s disappointment of being cancelled due to track completion issues, which has been covered ad nauseum!

 

Adding insult to injury, reportedly fans would miss the first thirty minutes of qualifying Saturday, unless they had the FS1 App, Seriously?

 

What happened to IndyCar being a priority for FOX! Yuhs know, one third owner of IndyCar, Buh-Buh-Believable!

 

As I’ll agree with The Pit window’s Mike Silver that this is inexcusable!

 

Marcus Armstrong’s prediction of Qualie’ being a red flag derby certainly proved correct! As when’s the last time we’ve seen thee Surgeon’, aka Alex Palou making a mistake and tearing up all four corners of His racecar after hitting the wall on both sides!

 

As Palou’s claims about the track being Wicked certainly played out over the weekend! Telling IndyCar Radio that the track felt like a road course, but the walls were waiting to get you!

 

Yet prior to Palou’s up close and personal liaison with the walls, Will Power did so during Saturday’s second practice session. Sliding wide in Turn 10 and Whamo! Tore off the right side of His Dallara.

 

A.J. Foyt’s Caio Collet also tagged the wall in practice two. As both Collet’s and Power’s crew had to scramble to replace their floor, bell housing )hybrid) and right side suspension, front and rear in time for qualifying.

 

But the mayhem was just getting started! As Will Power added insult to injury by spinning 180-degrees during His first round qualifying session, bringing out a red flag if I remember correctly? As DJ WillyP’ would ultimately start Shotgun on the field in P25 after a six place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change.

 

As several drivers were dolled out six place grid penalties for having their engines replaced. Including both ECR drivers Alexander rossi and Christian Rasmussen. Meyer shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong is in a terrible funk. Having had tree engines replaced in the last four races, including the previous Portland race, Youch!

 

Power’s Andretti Global teammate “Kirk” Kirkwood joined the party, along with McLaren’s Pato O’ward. Seeing six drivers with new engines at Markham.

 

Collet’s misery continued, also bringing out a red flag during Round 1 Qualie’, reportedly having run out of fuel, Yikes! Before Josef Schlick’ Newgarden slammed the wall during Group 2’s first round qualifying session, Wham!

 

When  the dust settled, it was Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster securing His second career IndyCar pole, with McLaren’s Bad Boy Christian Lundgaard alongside the Brit.

 

Row 2 saw Penske’s ScottyMac’ (McLaughlin) third, with Andretti’s Marcus Ericsson fourth. Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger an impressive fifth and Junco Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay sixth.

 

Although I walked round Thy bungalow-by-the-Sea muttering what a Shit show during the flurry ‘O

full course cautions! I must say it was the most entertaining race overall! Even with the five, or was it six; “Well do Yuhs feel Lucky Punk?” Err however many full course cautions Thar’ were…

 

As Markham’s foreboding walls snatched many competitors, including pole sitter Foster, who got too excited trying to pass eventual race winner Marcus Ericsson. Along with others like Mick Schumacher and Kyle Kirkwood.

 

Marcus Ericsson charges to first win with Andretti at Markham

 

According to For the Love of Indy’s R. Hando, Ericsson’s victory drought of 63 races was the fifth longest. As not surprisingly, Graham Rahal has the longest at 124 races. Followed by Johnny Rutherford’s 97, Marko Andretti’s 77, and Grandpappy Super Mario’, aka Mario Andretti’s 73.

 

Best part of race was hearing Ericsson’s pit strategist saying Go Get ‘Em! Which the Swede dually complied. Even with a somewhat momentarily tense “cozy-up” with Andretti teammate Power when the two brushed wheels during Marcus’s pass for then third place.

 

Next Ericsson passed second place Alex Palou before tracking down and passing Romain Grosjean for an eventual 7.6 second win with five laps remaining.

 

And as much as I was happy with Ericsson’s win, I have to admit I had two sets ‘O fingers crossed for Grosjean. Who wryly commented afterwards something about it being a pretty good day when you’re ahead of the No. 10!

 

Yet Grosjean was in a massive fuel save mode the final 15-plus laps and couldn’t use any of His remaining 94 seconds of Push-to-Pass (P2P) extra horsepower. As IndyCar Radio pit reporter Joel Sebastianelli said one of Grosjean’s crew had told Him He felt sick when asking if Grosjean had enough fuel to finish the race…

 

And Nicky Salt’ Yeoman read out the crazy statistic of it being 5,469 days since Grosjean had won a race, Youza!

 

As I loved Romain’s reply to David Land afterwards. Saying Yes! I was in formula 1 for ten years – where if you don’t have the car, you don’t win!

 

As I do still remember Romain giving chase to ‘lil Syd viddle’ at the 2013 U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit Of The Americas. With the Lotus driver being the “sausage” in the Red Bull bun with Sebastian Vettel winning and Mark Webber third.

 

David Land also said that IndyCar’s Kirk Cavin pointed out that Marcus Ericsson finished fifth in Grosjean’s 2011 Hungaroring GP2 win. And ironically, Ericsson’s last win three-and-a-half years ago at St Petersburg. (2023) Was just three races before Romain’s last runner-up finish at Barber Motorsports Park.

 

Further irony over the two former formula 1 pilotes history being intertwined, is the fact that Ericsson replaced Grosjean in the No. 28 Andretti Global entry for 2024 after Grosjean’s rocky, two year tenue…

 

Grosjean now has six runner-up finishes to date, moving one ahead of David Malukas. Now tied with Geoff Brabham for second most career runner-up finishes without a victory, and possibly could be His last in IndyCar? 

Local Bicyclist pedals from Canada to Mexico in Seven Days!

Don’t even want to try figuring out how many miles per day that is! Or how many Saddle sores on gets…

 

Have been sitting Youch! On this story awhile, trying to figure out when to put into thoust rotation of No Fenders Mobius strip. As I’ve never been real good at back-timing Blob’ stories…

 

Nice to know that not everyone was wrapped-up in World Cup Fever. Is it over yet? And did Y’all get your signature, collectible Messi Duracell batteries, eh?

 

Having ran across the following story in my sorta’ local newspaper, Whale’ the closest local city upon my Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service. Since Eugene’s only 50 miles east of Mwah as the Seagulls fly. Although not sure they fly that far inland, Oh Never Mind!

 

Although He didn’t break the current riding time record overall. Its amazing hearing Him discuss how it probably wasn’t the wisest decision Sleep-pedaling down mountain hills before finally stopping to catch some much needed sleep, aye Karumba!

 

Cyclist bikes Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico border in Seven days 

Charter, Road Rage and New Chassis Hoopla

Which All seems a very long time ago…

 

Felt like any euphoria I might be having over IndyCar rolling out it’s new Dallara IR28 chassis, was quickly extinguished by the propensity of pathetic volume issues when trying to listen to all three days of the Portland weekend via IndyCar Radio. As it’s a really long way for those paper cups and waxed string to stretch from Indianapolis to Portland, as speak up Mark James!

 

Don’t want to say it was a boring race, but in-between being able to hear ‘Ol Gravelly’, aka Mark James. It was funny hearing Him call out my “go-to” radio station KIKI Hawaii.

 

As Honolulu’s KIKI FOX Sports Radio wasn’t carrying the race, but instead had some lame Arse Stick ‘n Ball Sports Yahoos’ prattling away, Oh Never Mind!

 

Yeah, it’s really old news now that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) sold it’s third IndyCar Charter to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. (DRR) As DRR will become a one car IndyCar Charter entry in 2027.

 

While Graham Rahal spilled the beans to David Land Wayback’ at Portland (August 8th) that DRR would be forming a technical alliance with the reconstituted two car RLLR entry, thus switching from Chevrolet to Honda.

 

DRR was briefly a Powered by Judd, Err Lotus engine customer in 2012 before switching to the Bowtie’, which they’ve run ever since. And while I know they’ll bristle at this, effectively become RLLR’s third Honda entity.

 

Which made it curious that IndyCar Radio’s Davey Hamilton was denying this a week later during the Markham Morass…

 

Its been well documented that Marshall Pruett claims the charter was sold for $13 million, setting a somewhat steep baseline for future charter sales. While Conor Daly is the frontrunner for the unannounced DRR driver.

 

The move appears to leave rookie IndyCar driver Mick Schumacher out of a ride at RLLR next year, with us Wags’ ponderin’ where Mick will land next season?

 

With IndyCar Radio’s Michael Young saying at Markham there were already paddock rumblings of Mick having found a seat for next year, while RLLR confirmed Graham Rahal and Louis Foster as its drivers next season.

 

Yet I’d say it was “Eyes Forward” over the Road America 6 Hours Sports Car Shemozzle, Err weekend, with most eyes focused solely upon Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Where the long awaited Dallara DW12 replacement chassis was making its public debut.

 

As IndyCar wisely invited the media and public to view the brand new Dallara IR28 IndyCar making validation runs on the IMS road course over the August 2nd weekend.

 

Thanks to David Land, we got copious amounts of “viewage” upon the new IR28, along with its startup, leaving the garage and at “song” briefly. With Alexander Rossi being the first to drive Saturday, and Alex Palou driving Sunday. Giving Chevrolet and Honda each one respective driver fir the Dallara IR28’s first validation test.

 

Naturally, the debut came the week after the annual Brickyard 400 and ironically was affected by rainy weather both days.

 

The lone IR28 racecar was a “Mule” chassis. Running a 2022-spec, unbadged Ilmor first generation 2.4-litre twin turbo V-6 lump’, and sounded great!

 

Running without the new hybrid system, and just weight ballast instead, as the hybrid system won’t debut until next year, Arse-sumedly when the new second generation 2.4-litre engines arrive.

 

It was funny listening to the media Bullpen Scrum’ sessions, as everyone acted like we’d just landed on the Moon! All trying to beat others to their most important questions.

 

But like IndyCar’s project leader Mike O’Gara said. This was just the first validation test, and the teams are pretty busy in August. So, they won’t do any more validation testing until after season’s end. With Mother Speedway’s Oval on the docket, along with Sebring’s short course and Nashville’s Super Speedway.

 

 

And while it’s fantastic that a new IndyCar has finally arrived, could we please quit talking about breaking track records! How ‘bout we just get the finished product delivered to all of the teams for St Petersburg’s March 2028 season opener instead!

 

Since funniest thing I heard about the initial test was the alternator that was supposed to be running with the hybrid kept causing computer glitches…

 

Tuned into the majority of Sunday’s (August 2nd ) inaugural 6 Hours Michelin Endurance Cup Road America IMSA Sports Car race, which seemingly turned into an Argey-Bardgie show!

 

The officiating was called into question, with John Hindhaugh talking about the controversy caused by not calling a penalty on Jack Achey Breaky Aitken’s tussle with Felipe Nasr, perhaps? Since know it was one of the Penske Porsche Motorsport Boyz’.

 

Thus suppose the karmic whip caught up with Aitken at race’s end when trying to pass the always aggressive Porsche Hotschue’ Kevin Estre for second place. As Estre was having none of it, with the two colliding and both wrecking out of the race!

 

This saw Ricky Taylor claiming the chequered flag, with co-driver Felipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Cadillac V-Series.R, marking 792 days since Wayne Taylor Racing stood atop the podium, Aye Karumba!

 

As WTR’s last win came at Detroit in 2024, and an emotionally relieved Wayne Taylor used how He was starting to doubt Himself over everything He did!

 

Wayne Taylor Racing’s return to Victory Lane “A big relief”

 

Think it had been a long time for WTR, Eh? Well it had been even longer for Pfaff Motorsports, who gave the brand new Lamborghini Temerario its maiden IMSA GT3 win. With the Canadian racing team having not won since the 2023 Sebing 12 Hours, three-plus years ago, Crikeys!

 

Ironically, the win came on the heels of Pfaff announcing it was leaving IMSA GTD Pro competition at season’s end…

 

Wayne Taylor Racing breaks through at Hot tempered Road America 6 Hours 

Can Colton Herta close His Formula 2 Points Deficit?

Or will His Formula 1 aspirations fizzle?

 

Still have to commend Colton Herta for making the bold decision to leave IndyCar to chase His dream of racing in Formula 1.

 

Yet that said, this year hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Herta. Beginning with the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 races, where Formula 2 was part of the weekend. We all know how  the calendar revisions to race at Miami and Montreal impacted Colton’s plans of running Andretti Global’s fourth Indianapolis 500 entry.

 

Reportedly, Herta currently has 34 points from His IndyCar Vice Champion (second place) finish in 2024 and seventh place finish in 2025. Putting Him just six points shy of the 40 points threshold required for the mandatory FIA Super Licence to race in Formula 1.

 

Thus Colton needs to finish eighth or better this year in Formula 2 to collect His Super Licence. Although think I heard Colton can amass one extra point for each F1 Free Practice session He contests?

 

Points are awarded to the top eight finishers in sprint races. And top ten in feature races, a la F1 scoring format.

 

Two extra points are awarded for feature race pole position. And a bonus point is awarded for fastest lap in each race, provided it’s set by a driver finishing in the top ten. Otherwise awarded to the fastest driver inside top ten places.

 

Sprint points: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Feature races: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.

 

In the seven rounds (14 races) prior to the Mighty spa weekend. (Spa-Francorchamps) Colton had scored five top ten finishes, and one top five finish. Finishing seventh, (Australia) eighth (Miami) and seventh (Montreal) in feature races. Plus ninth (Montreal( and fifth (Barcelona) sprint races for a total of 20 points, classified P17. While Norway’s Martinius Stenshorne was eighth with 48 points.

 

His best weekend was Montreal, where He finished ninth and seventh, albeit one position out of the points in the sprint race.

 

Following Spa-Francorchamps, with P13 in the Sprint race, and seventh in the Feature race. Moving up one position to 16th overall with 26 points.

 

Herta finished P14 during Saturday’s Hunga-boring’ Sprint race; one place behind Hitech teammate Ritomo Miyata, 25.7 seconds behind winner Gabriele Mini in what was anything but a boring race.

 

Sunday’s Hungaroring feature race saw Colton finish a disastrous P19 out of a 22-car field. Nearly one minute adrift of maiden race winner Noel Leon.

 

As Herta trails current eighth place Laurens van Hoepen (65 points) by 39 markers, still languishing in P16. (26 points) With Hitech teammate Ritomo Miyata P13. (34 points)

 

Following the summer break, (July 27-Sept 4) five rounds remain. Monza, the brand new Madrid circuit, Azerbaijan’s Baku street circuit and the final two rounds at Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

 

Yet will the stupendous attacking of Iran and the ensuing war impact these final two events for all concerned, including Formula 1? Which with the constant escalation of attacking Iran, these races, and racing in the Middle East in general now seem quite threatened.

 

Meanwhile, even if Colton achieves His objective and secures a FIA Super Licence, where would He race? Since I’ve already speculated that current Cadillac F1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez surely have multi-year contracts?

 

Yet a somewhat larger obstacle is Colton’s age. Having turned 26 this March 30th. As I cannot think of recently hearing ‘lil Stevie Johnson, aka Stefan Johansson telling Paul Tracy a story about Felix-the-Cat’, who Johansson manages.

 

Saying He’d rung up Helmut Marco to try getting Felix Rosenqvista test for Formula 1 and Marco said forget it, He’s too old!

 

FIA F2 points leader Nikola  Tsolov is 19yrs old. Campos teammate Noel Leon 21yrs old. Whilst Invicta Racing’s Rafael Chaves Camara is 21yrs old, with teammate Joshua Durksen being 22yrs old.

 

DAMS Lucas Oil’s Dino Beganovic, a Ferrari Academy driver is 22yrs old and in His second full F2 season.  ART Grand Prix driver Kush Maini turns 26 in September. But with 91 starts, 3 wins, 2 poles and 8 podiums in four seasons, I highly doubt will progress to F1. Even if Maini is having His best season to date so far; currently sixth overall when scribbling this. One position ahead of Beganovic.

 

And lastly is Trident’s John Bennett, age 22. In His sophomore campaign, having won His maiden F2 race in Austria’s Sprint race. Being the first driver to step up to Formula 2 directly from the GB3 championship.

 

As the following drivers above have won the majority if not all F2 races preceding Hungary.

 

Then again, Bottas and Perez are both in their mid-thirties, so who knows, Eh?

 

Especially since Herta’s now completed two Friday (Free Practice) FP1 sessions in Barcelona, replacing Perez. Then at Hungary replacing Bottas, with speculation suggesting Colton’s in-line to replace Bottas next year. Although Valtteri says its complete Balderdash!

 

As for scoring extra FIA super Licence points when driving in Friday practice sessions. Reportedly a driver can earn up to 10 points over any three year period, gaining one point per session, provided said driver completes a minimum of 100km in that session.

 

So, will we see Cadillac insert Colton an additional six times during Friday practice and running long to obtain the necessary points? Which increasingly, seems His only pathway left.

 

Whilst could Cadillac be so bold to go for an all new lineup in the future with Herta and Guanyu Zhou, we’ll “See”.

 

Good luck Colton! 

Oscar Meyer outdraws Sonsio at IMS

And presumably Thar weren’t no chili Dogs entered…

 

Although No Fenders Offical’ photographer Carpets’ alerted me to this riveting news. Something sounded corny about wanting to be an Oscar Meyer Wiener…

 

Last year’s inaugural Wienie 500 drew a paltry 85k viewership on Fox sports App. But this year’s second annual Wienie 500 featuring six identical Oscar Meyer Wienermobiles television audience outdrew the Sonsio Grand Prix.

 

The two lap, five mile event held on Carb Day saw 781,000 viewers tune-in on FOX TV, vs. only 656,000 viewers for the Sonsio Grand Prix. FOX’s lowest IndyCar TV audience to date

 

Hmm? Perhaps Indy Cars Month ‘O May’s kickoff classic’s race’s viewership was so paltry since it’s during Mums Day weekend? With somebody I’m calling “The Surgeon”, aka Alex Palou wasn’t even on the podium, finishing a lowly fifth! Arse-sumably His second worst finish this year after Gateway?

 

As perhaps Palou should switch from fried chicken to a hot dog next time He wins a race? Since His mesmerizing win percentage has dropped to only 11 wins in 25 starts following Gateway, Sheesh!

 

And don’t know if its just CoInky-densethat the New York Dog won this year’s Wienie 500 or good omen for those New York Knicks…

 

As the Fans loved the race so much, that FOX aired it again after the Mid-Ohio Indy NXT Race-1.

 

And with All of the lightning around and the three hours delay. Was that Gilligan in the Seattle Dog-mobile? Hope they brought enough wieners for everybody seeking shelter during the storm… 

The 2026 Unlimited Hydroplane season is Finally Here!

But will anybody see or hear ‘em. And how many boats will show up in Indiana?

 

Think Indy Cars Offseason is long? Whale’, then think about H1 Unlimited having gone a gory 292 days since it’s season finale in San Diego, Aye Karumba!

 

And I still Don’t get it? Why H1 Unlimited’s coverage of the sport is so pathetic! Since they held their annual pre-season test at Tri-Cities on May 30^th.

 

Grousing to Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen over there being no report on the sport’s official website! And how the Tri-cities Herald, which only publishes twice weekly seemed to be running a canned story from a year ago? Since it talked about Dave Villwock and another driver who aren’t racing anymore. To which she replied curtly; that’s because Hydroplanes are Dying!

 

Then around June 3rd, I suddenly thought the season kickoff should be occurring any day, Righto? Being surprised to learn that the Guntersville Hydrofest had been cancelled this year, say What?

 

Originally, it looked like my riveting No Fenders yearly preview would be somewhat abbreviated, due to the fact that my primary source H1 Unlimited’s website went “Dark” when visiting the page on June 17th. After there had been no new stories since April 8th. Before noticing the message on the Homepage saying a new website is coming, Huh?

 

Hopefully it will be far superior to RACER’s abomination! Which now over one year later, still isn’t WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant! Meaning my screen reader cannot read any of the graphic titles or authors bio’s, being fairly annoying!

 

And that’s after multiple emails with two RACER staff members netting me zero improvement, Urgh!

 

Trying to follow IndyCar is a Hard Job!

 

Otay, rant over, as here’s what little I’d gleaned before the website went Dark. Although I was pleasantly surprised after more sleuthing, or was that sluicing upon Zed Intrawoods’. To learn that nine Hulls had been slated to participate at the Tri-cities test Wayback on May 30th.

 

Tri-Cities Entry list

(Boat #/Boat Name/Driver)

U-00 Maverick, J. Michael Kelly

U-1 BWR Racing, Andrew Tate

U-3 Tahoe Miss, Cory Peabody

U-6 Miss Madison, Brandon Kennedy

U-11 Miss Flav-r-Pac, Jamie Nilsen

U-12 Graham Trucking, Jeff Bernard

U-21 Spirit of America, Gunnar O’Farrell

U-27 Miss Apollo, Jimmy Shane

U-40 Bucket List Racing, Dylan Runn

 

The biggest news being the retirement of Dave Villwock at season’s end, being immediately replaced by the returning Jimmy Shane. As Bruce Rachford’s BWR Racing will have a potent two boat line-up with reigning, three times National High Points Champion (2018, 2024-2025) Andrew Tate proudly carrying the U-1 designation.

 

While Shane, a seven times National High Points Champion (2013-2017, 2019, 2022) was busy testing two Hulls at Kennewick, WA. The U-27 and U-127 Miss Apollo’s, trying to decide which Hull He felt most comfortable in, and which Hull He’ll campaign this season.

 

A five times APBA Gold cup winner, (2014-2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) Shane will be looking to break His tie with the legendous’ Gar Wood. While Tate has won the Gold Cup once in 2018.

 

Second biggest news was the announcement that Strong Racing has rebranded it’s two Hulls for this season, the former U-8 and U-9 now becoming the U-00 and U-3 in a nod to Unlimited history. With funding courtesy of Stephen Hayden and His Tahoe Unlimited museum.

 

Strong Racing rebrands for 2026 with U-00 Maverick and U-3 Tahoe Miss

 

As J. Michael Kelly (2016, 2023) and Cory Peabody (2022, 2024) have both won two Gold Cups apiece. With Kelly also claiming the 2009 and 2023 National High Points championships.

 

Peabody’s first Gold Cup triumph came at Shane’s expense. As Shane appeared to have won His sixth Gold Cup at Guntersville in 2022, only to be disqualified for going off-plane, (below 80mph)enabling Cory His first gold Cup Victory.

 

As H1 Unlimited eliminated the minimum 80mph Planing rule requirement in 2023.

 

Looks like the Miss Madison’s recovering from it’s financial hardship and will campaign a full season with backing from Royer and Goodwin Real Estate. As the latter was Tate’s U-91 primary sponsor last year…

 

Great news to hear that the U-40 Bucket List Racing from Snohomish, WA is returning after sitting out last year’s season. As not sure of either it’s Skipper Dylan Runn or Brendan Kennedy’s rookie status?

 

Although subsequently learned that Runn drove the Miss Madison’s U-6 Miss Home Street Bank in 2023 as Shane’s replacement. And Kennedy earned His rookie status last year also in the U-6 Miss Madison.

 

Whilst totally surprised over the return of the U-12 Graham Trucking which has been off the water for several years now. With returning veteran Skipper Jeff Bernard at the tiller.

 

Then there’s the driver I’d most like to see finally “break His Duck!” And get the Monkey off His back. As Jamie Nilsen and the U-11 crew are long overdue for a maiden Unlimited victory. And Nilsen’s always sniffing at the chequered flag…

 

Lastly is the U-21, which seems to have undergone another name change. But don’t look for the boat at Madison, at least that’s what Gunnar said when interviewed at Tri-Cities.

 

2026 H1 Unlimited Pre-season testing Driver interviews

 

If you’re wondering why I’ve eluded to Gold cup winners, its because with Guntersville’s cancellation, the Gold Cup at Madison, Indiana becomes this year’s season opener.

 

As the schedule consists of just four races, with Madison July 5th. Followed by the Warshington’ double, i.e.; Tri-Cities and Seattle. With Tri-Cities Water Follies taking place July 26th, and Seafair the following week on August 2^nd.

 

Then the season closes out once again in San Diego on Mission Bay, with the Bill Muncey Cup on September 20th.

 

There’s also a new scoring system, which I think now simply tallies all points collected from Qualie’ to Final Heats, but more later, since I’m flying “Blind” on that, Oh Never Mind!