Labor Day excitement

Labor Day excitement

College football is not the only sports spectacle this Labor Day weekend. Four great motorsports events are on tap, and one is in our own back yard. Buckle up because Labor Day is for racing.

1. NHRA U.S. Nationals

The biggest event of the NHRA drag racing circuit is the U.S. Nationals. Held every year on Labor Day weekend at our very own Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Ind. The U.S. Nationals runs throughout the Labor Day weekend with the final rounds being run on Monday. Tickets are still available. If you’ve never been to an NHRA event, don’t miss out. The event is extremely fan-centered and there are many opportunities to get close to the cars.

2. Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix

Home of the Tifosi, the enthusiastic Italian supporters of Ferrari, the Italian Grand Prix is a Formula 1 crown jewel event that is hosted at one of the world’s greatest motorsports circuits, Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Monza is often referred to as the temple of speed for its simple design and multiple long straightaways.

As its name suggests, the Italian Grand Prix is all about speed. Cars will be trimmed out with minimum downforce in hopes of maximizing top-end speed. Monza has produced surprise winners in recent years, including Pierre Gasly in 2020 and Daniel Riccardo in 2021. With the recent dominance of McLaren and drop in performance by Red Bull, the Italian Grand Prix could be quite a nail-bitter.

3. INDYCAR Doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile

For the first time in nine years, INDYCAR returns to one of the oldest racetracks in the United States, the Milwaukee Mile, for not one, but two races. In what is shaping up to be an epic championship battle, the Milwaukee Mile will host the last two of three races on the INDYCAR calendar (all ovals).

Alex Palou has a sizeable points lead but Will Power is charging. Power and his Team Penske teammates have been dominant on ovals this year. Penske drivers have won all four oval races this year with Power winning Race 1 at Iowa. Power will likely need to win at least one of the races this weekend at Milwaukee to keep his championship hopes alive.

Given Penske’s ability on ovals, I’d say he has a great shot. The bigger question will be Palou’s response to Power and Penske. Palou has never won on an oval. Does it happen this weekend?

4. Southern 500 at Darlington

Finally, the biggest racing event of the weekend: the Southern 500. A NASCAR tradition that began on Labor Day Weekend 54 years ago. The Southern 500 is a NASCAR crown jewel perhaps second only behind the Daytona 500. Not only is it the Southern 500 but it is the final race of the regular season. This will be the last chance for drivers to lock themselves into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Currently, Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain sit below the points cutline. They will need excellent points days and for Chris Buescher to have a bad day if they expect to lock themselves in the playoffs on points. However, they should not count on that. Buescher almost won the Spring Race in Darlington before colliding with Tyler Reddick for the race lead with only a handful of laps to go. For Wallace or Chastain to make the playoffs, they will likely need a win.

But there are other drivers still looking for their first win of 2024. None bigger than Kyle Busch, who is currently out of the playoffs and winless for the first time in 20 years. Expect ole Rowdy Busch to be up on the wheel and at the front.

Who will claim the final playoff spot? Hopefully we’ll know by Monday.

Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.