Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Matt M. Myftiu

Matt M. Myftiu

Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.

Here are the thoughts of the Stewart-Haas Racing team drivers (Tony Stewart,  Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick) ahead of this weekend's race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

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DANICA PATRICK, Driver of the No. 10:

Do you like racing at Bristol?

“I do. I like Bristol. Obviously, it can be a little bit – the cars definitely got in a train last time we were here. It was tough. It was a little bit hard to pass. But like I said, that is why the bottom becomes important because, if you get stuck or even if you start on the bottom on a restart, if your car is turning, you can make that work, I think, for a little while. I think qualifying is going to be really important, so I’m definitely going to find myself doing a lot more qualifying runs – as many as possible before qualifying in the afternoon. But, I’ve liked Bristol since the first time I came here.”

Brooklyn Ford is providing an opportunity to test drive a new vehicle at Michigan International Speedway as part of the Drive 4 UR Community program.

And you just might find your next car, all while supporting MIS Cares. The best part. It is free.

From 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24, MIS welcomes back Drive 4 UR Community sponsored by Ford Motor Company. MIS and Brooklyn Ford have teamed up to present would-be new car owners an opportunity to drive a brand new Ford vehicle around the interior road course.

When you’re battling established names in the automobile business, it can be tough sledding. You’ve got to come out with guns blazing, with a strong vehicle with impressive specs and performance that can battle those giants without fear.
 

That’s what Mazda is aiming to do in the midsize sedan market, as its new 2016 Mazda6 aims to shoot down some of the biggest vehicle nameplates in the business with its looks and performance and overall driving experience.
 

I recently spent some time in a 2016 Mazda6, and I’m back with a full report on what the vehicle has to offer and if it’s up to the task.

 

 

 

All the hype this NASCAR season is focused on the big names, the guys winning races -- understandably so.

Kevin Harvick is a contender to win every week and likely the favorite to win the championship for a second straight year.

Jimmie Johnson, despite having some rough weeks, is as good as he's always been and will no doubt step up come Chase time; he's already got a couple wins under his belt, just like Harvick.

We all know it's coming.

Kurt Busch, since being reinstated by NASCAR and allowed to be Chase-eligible, has been stupid fast.

He's not quite on the same pace as his teammate and defending NASCAR champ Kevin Harvick, but he's not far behind in terms of overall speed.

He has not yet won a race since returning, but he most definitely will win one soon -- and should win several before the season ends and be a legitimate contender in the Chase this fall. He's on pole for Texas, so it could happen as soon as this weekend.

The big question, though, considering the circumstances surrounding Kurt's suspension, is this: How will the NASCAR world, and the world beyond NASCAR, react to a Kurt Busch victory when it inevitably happens?

Kia has been poking its nose into the luxury vehicle marketplace in recent years, first with the 2014 Kia Cadenza, and now with the even more impressive 2015 K900 full-size luxury model.

 

I recently spent some time in this new ride, which is making a bold march in Kia’s effort to battle established full-size luxury sedans from automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and others, and I’m back with a full report.

 

In the ever-growing crossover SUV segment, car buyers have several choices of size; Some are quite large (including Dodge’s own Durango), some are very compact, and others strike a balance somewhere in the middle.

One of those is the Dodge Journey, which I recently had a chance to test (a 2015 Dodge Journey Crossroad AWD model). I’m back with a full report on my experience and how the Journey fits into the segment.

 

Danica Patrick earned her fifth career top-10 finish at the 0.526-mile track taking the checkered flag in the seventh spot. Patrick’s finish is the best by a female at Martinsville Speedway and it ties her second-best career finish. The driver of the No. 10 TaxAct Chevrolet SS is now tied with Janet Guthrie for the most top-10 finishes earned by a female in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

Denny Hamlin claimed the first victory of 2015 for Toyota in Sunday afternoon's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway.

-- The victory was the fifth for both Toyota and Hamlin at the half-mile Virginia short track.
-- With this win, Hamlin and the No. 11 FedEx Camry team are locked into the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship battle.
-- The Chesterfield, Va.-native started 15th and led 91 laps (of 500) en route to the 66th Camry NSCS win since Toyota joined the series in 2007.
-- The victory was Hamlin's 25th of his NSCS career tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Weatherly for the most NSCS wins by a Virginia native.
-- Fellow Camry drivers and Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Matt Kenseth (fourth) and David Ragan (fifth) also earned top-five finishes at Martinsville.
-- In addition to Hamlin, Kenseth (11 laps) also took some turns in the lead during the race.
-- Five Camry drivers are currently in the top-20 in the unofficial NSCS point standings -- Hamlin (eighth), Kenseth (12th), Ragan (13th), Carl Edwards (18th) and Clint Bowyer (19th).

Juan Pablo Montoya, Penske Racing driver in the Indycar series, and a former NASCAR competitor, took the checkered flag Sunday in Indycar's Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Here are some of his thoughts after the win, from the post race press conference, as well as thoughts from his team owner Roger Penske and other competitors.

YOU SAID ONE YEAR AGO YOU HAD TO BE SO PATIENT, BUT NOT TODAY. TAKE US THROUGH YOUR RUN: “Today was a good day to be honest with you. The car was really good on black tires and that was the key. The tires were not falling off and right there at the end I was just running slow to look after them. When I needed to push I could push. Everybody with Verizon and Team Penske did an amazing job – Chevy as well. This aero kit is amazing to drive.”

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