Greetings from the sports desk located somewhere below the main deck of the Good Pirate Ship RedState. Sammy the Shark and Karl the Kraken have assured me that, as always, they are right on top of all developments in the sports world …
Maybe I shouldn’t have given them that slot car set last Christmas.
Anyway, this past Sunday, May 24, 2026, was almost the perfect trifecta for auto racing fans. I say almost due to F1, the inability of same to field cars where the driver makes the difference is rapidly making WNBA management look top notch, decided somewhere along the line to have the 2026 race take place in Canada instead of on the narrow twisting streets of Monaco. Granted, the Monaco course has become well-nigh impossible to pass on, but its rich history excuses the usually minimal action. This laid to waste the tradition of race fans to arise before the crash of dawn to watch the Monaco Grand Prix, followed by the Indianapolis 500, followed by the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Canadian Grand Prix’s highlight consisted of the two drivers for Mercedes, namely Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, getting along like brothers. You know, snapping and hissing at each other while hitting each other whenever possible? Antonelli won the race, this transpiring the day after accusing Russell of a (quote) “very naughty” (endquote) move. Tut-tut, such forceful language! Elsewhere in the World’s Greatest Racing Series — it must be, they say so — Max Verstappen, arguably the best driver on the circuit, has let it be known he will be more than happy to take his can of Red Bull and go home in 2027 if F1 doesn’t make the cars raceable again. Actually, he won’t stay home. Maybe he’ll come to IndyCar.
Speaking of IndyCar, those of us who have been around the sun a few times remember a better, vanished time when it was one of the major sports, one where the better-known drivers were household names. AJ Foyt. Al and Bobby Unser. Gordon Johncock. And others. The series has long faded from view, which is a shame, as the racing itself these days is awesome. Such was the case with the 2026 Indianapolis 500. Seventy lead changes among 14 drivers. The closest finish in race history, with Felix Rosenqvist nosing past David Malukas in between the final turn and the finish line to win by 0.0233 seconds. Maybe try running more ovals, IndyCar?
Music break!
Back to racing. The day’s final event was a sodden and solemn affair, as NASCAR tried its best to put Kyle Busch’s death the week before in perspective: while acknowledging the loss, the racing would continue. Sister Toldjah has an excellent write-up on Busch’s 11-year-old son Brexton now carrying not only his own grief, but taking on the role of protector for his mother Samantha. (The story is available to VIP subscribers only, and if you’re not a VIP member, what are you waiting for? Sign up here.)
MORE: When a Boy Has to Become a Man Way Too Soon
The racing was good, yet understandably felt disconnected from the usual excitement of auto racing; purposeful but at the same time detached and surreal. Once the rain that had been promised all day and evening finally arrived shortly before midnight, Daniel Suárez had the good fortune to be first with Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin nipping at his heels. Suárez, who recorded his second win in one of NASCAR’s three premier series in 2016 while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, was an understandable mixture of joy and sorrow before and after the event.
It was noted during the television broadcast that Suárez and his wife are expecting their first child this fall. How good to know that even amid sorrow, life begins anew.
Have a blessed week, everyone.
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