Roger Diez
Congratulations to all the 2023 winners of the major racing series, starting with the record-breaking Formula 1 season. The Red Bull team won an unprecedented 21 of 22 races, with Max Verstappen winning 19 and Sergio Perez two. Only Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s win in Singapore kept them from sweeping the season. Verstappen’s average finishing position was an astonishing 1.27, a number that will likely never be broken.
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Ryan Blaney took his first NASCAR Cup championship in 2023. It was the fourth title and the second in a row for a Team Penske driver. Cole Custer won the Xfinity series title, the first for both him and for Stewart-Haas Racing. And the Craftsman Truck series championship went to Ben Rhodes and Thorsport Racing, the second time for both in the last three years. Ty Gibbs was named Rookie of the year in Cup, Sammy Smith got the Rookie title in Xfinity, and the Craftsman Truck rookie crown went to Nick Sanchez. Chevrolet swept the Manufacturer’s Championship in all three series.
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In the NTT IndyCar series, Alex Palau took his second championship in the last three seasons, giving Chip Ganassi Racing their 10th series title. Palau won by an amazing 78 points ahead of teammate Scott Dixon, himself a six-time series champ. Palau won five races of the 17-race series, never finishing out of the top 10, with 14 top-five finishes. Ganassi drivers won eight events overall.
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Doug Kalitta was a popular first-time winner of the NHRA Top Fuel division, finishing 48 points ahead of Steve Torrence. Leah Pruett was third and is stepping out of the car to start a family. Her husband, Tony Stewart, will take over her Top Fuel car for 2024. Matt Hagan topped Steve Hight by just 12 points to take the Funny Car title. Bob Tasca III was third. Erica Enders captured the Pro Stock crown by 104 points over Greg Anderson with Matt Hartford third. And Gaige Hererra dominated Top Fuel Motorcycle, besting four-time champ Eddie Krawiec by 214 points. Hector Arana Jr. was third, 334 points behind Herrera.
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In the Weathertech Sportscar Championship, the Cadillac Racing duo of Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims took top honors, besting the Acura team of Felipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor. Third place went to Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist in another Acura.
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And finally:
Formula 1 has announced the six Sprint Race events of the 24-race 2024 schedule, which runs a full nine months, from March 2 to December 8. Sprints are scheduled for China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar.
NASCAR: Stewart-Haas Racing will have two new drivers in 2024 with the retirement of Kevin Harvick and the departure of Aric Almirola. Josh Berry will take over the No. 4 Ford and Noah Gragson has been tapped for the No. 10 ride.
Denny Hamlin has re-upped to continue with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024 and beyond, killing the rumor that his 23XI team would be switching form Toyota to Chevrolet. A.J. Allmendinger, after a disappointing year in Cup, is going back to the Xfinity series full-time.
Kaulig Racing will put Daniel Hemric in the No. 16 Chevy for 2024, possibly teamed with Ty Dillon driving the No. 11. Justin Haley has left Kaulig to join Spire Racing in preparation for moving to a third Trackhouse Racing Chevy in 2025.
And Australian Shane Van Gisbergen, surprise winner of the inaugural Chicago street race, will participate in a development program with Trackhouse Racing, driving the No. 91 Chevy in some Cup races as well as racing in selected Craftsman Truck and Xfinity events.