Hailie Deegan will race in next weekend’s Nitrocross event at Utah Motorsports Campus, returning to the series for the first time since 2021.
Deegan will compete in the Side-by-Side class in a field that also includes Lucy, Mika, and Kira Block – the wife, son, and daughter of Ken Block – and Travis Pastrana, invoking memories of the early days of U.S. rallycross where Block Sr., Pastrana, and Hailie’s father Brian all competed. (more…)
Sept. 9, 2024, Salt Lake City — Earning a National Championship takes perseverance, some luck and waking up before dawn to make sure the racecar is ready. The racers have run practice sessions, a qualifier and qualifying race culminating Sunday in the Championships. Along the way they had to overcome heat and altitude to finish on the podium and enjoy a champagne shower.
Eighteen racing drivers were crowned as 2024 NASA National Championships. In reality, every team that competed at the Utah Motorsports Complex should take a victory lap.
For most of the teams, this isn’t it. They’ll be back at the 2025 NASA National Championships at Ozarks International Raceway in Gravois Mills, Mo., to try again. But we are probably getting ahead of ourselves again. Let’s talk about the 2024 NASA Championships first. (more…)
Sept. 6, 2024, Salt Lake City — Friday qualifying at the 2024 NASA Championships is an interesting proposition. Race drivers have two qualifying sessions to lay down their fastest lap time in an attempt to start from as far forward on grid as possible for the first qualifying race on Saturday.
The morning session is usually the best opportunity to set a fast time. Afternoon sessions give drivers the opportunity to put all their added seat time to good use, but temperatures in the high 80s this afternoon in the Tooele Valley can diminish engine power and decrease the amount of grip on the racing surface. Drivers who lay down a scorcher of a lap in the morning usually set themselves up to be in the best grid position possible. (more…)
Sept. 5, 2024, Salt Lake City — For the drivers at the 2024 NASA National Championships, making sure every minute of practice on the Utah Motorsports Campus track counts. Whether it’s learning the track or chasing the right setup, practice is a critical component to winning a NASA Championship on Sunday.
Speed News walked around the paddock and spoke to drivers in between practice sessions to find out how they use the shakedown day. With the Championship pressure building, drivers know the adjustments they make on Thursday could be the difference of standing at the top of podium or wondering what went wrong. (more…)
