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NASCAR, IndyCar, and MotoGP Race Wrap-ups

  • Aug 31
  • 2 min read

Ryan Preece Gets 1st Cup Win, Alex Palou Clinches IndyCar Championship, Marc Marquez Sweeps Aragon MotoGP Races


NASCAR


RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece survived damage, fuel concerns and an overtime pileup to earn his first Cup series points-paying victory at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, vaulting him into the 16-driver Chase field and eliminating Shane van Gisbergen, who won Stage 1 but finished 28th after a late fuel stop and last-lap crash.

Daniel Suárez, Tyler Reddick, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. completed the top five. Riley Herbst withdrew because of lingering effects from his New Hampshire crash and was replaced by Harrison Burton. Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed in The Chase last Sunday at Loudon, and despite wrecking on the final lap and finishing 33rd, Ryan Blaney picked up the Stage 2 win and hold the second seed in the NASCAR’s championship playoffs. 


Next:  Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, Sept. 5-6

IndyCar


Pato O’Ward produced the weekend’s biggest fantasy haul, winning both Milwaukee Mile races on Sunday. Saturday’s first race was suspended after 90 laps because of rain, creating an unusual Sunday doubleheader. O’Ward first defeated Scott McLaughlin and Christian Lundgaard in what was technically the second of two Snap-On 250 races, then completed the sweep by finishing the rain-postponed race one ahead of David Malukas and Rinus VeeKay.

He became the first IndyCar driver since Rick Mears in 1981 to win two races on the same day. Alex Palou finished fifth and 10th, enough to clinch his fifth championship and record-tying fourth consecutive title. Will Power’s pit-speeding penalty and Malukas’ restart-related engine problems were costly surprises. The season ends Sunday at Laguna Seca, where Palou has won three of the past four races.

In the Indy NXT race, 17-year-old Max Garcia scored his first victory after starting ninth, becoming the series’ second-youngest winner. Polesitter Josh Pierson led the opening 53 laps but crashed while under pressure from Garcia. JM Correa earned a career-best second and Jack Beeton finished third. Nikita Johnson charged from 15th to fifth and reclaimed the championship lead; he takes a three-point advantage over Enzo Fittipaldi into next weekend’s Laguna Seca doubleheader. Tymek Kucharczyk is 29 points back.



Next:  Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca, Sept. 5-6

MotoGP


Marc Márquez swept the Aragón Sprint and Grand Prix for a maximum 37 points. He beat Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi on Sunday, while points leader Jorge Martín managed only fifth in both races. Márquez has moved into second and cut Martín’s championship lead to 19 points. Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of the Grand Prix, while Fabio Di Giannantonio crashed in the Sprint.


Next: Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino, Sept 11-13



 
 
 

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