Father’s Day Weekend used to mark the first of two races at Michigan International
Speedway, the 2.0-mile oval situated just a stone’s throw from the Big 3 headquarters in Detroit and the Chelsea Proving Grounds.
While we ran MIS a week earlier than usual, it also marked the only trip to the track with the closest proximity to the domestic automakers that support the majority of the teams that make up the fields in all three of NASCAR’s series.
Following this weekend’s action in the Truck and Cup Series, all I can say is this: what a miscarriage of justice and scheduling.
I get it, the Car of Tomorrow era didn’t do any favors for the big track. Wide-open swaths of empty grandstands saw them extracted and rehomed at Watkins Glen International. So, when you see those muted, early-’80s-hued manilla-and-brown seats, that’s my home track spectator area.
Both the Truck Series and Cup looked like a throwback to the early 1990s. Monster runs down the backstretch, fanning out three- and four-wide in the turns, the big track absolutely delivered. It also gave pause for why the track formerly known at California Speedway in Fontana had to be bulldozed and if road courses really are the answer for a superior racing product.
Jeff Gluck’s informal weekly fan rating for the race earned a season-high of 92.2% and has the highest rating of any track in the Next Gen era with 87.2%. The only poor marks you can attribute to it the last few years has been rain pushing it to Monday a few times, but we’re at a point with more manufacturers joining the sport that having two races in Detroit’s backyard seems like a no-brainer.
Speaking of Detroit, it was announced this weekend at MIS that Ram (Dodge…Mopar…it’s not technically Chrysler anymore, and only psychos actually call it
by the prescription-drug-sounding Stellantis) will be returning to the Truck Series in 2026, with a runway back to Cup shortly thereafter once a body is determined.
It was also announced again, prior to the start of the Cup race, with Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis throwing himself at the mercy of the fans — apologizing for leaving and for killing the 5.7L Hemi V8 in the trucks – which also makes a return later this year.
If only the Xfinity Series could have been part of the trifecta, it might have been the perfect race weekend for 2025.
F1 is Not Being Fun
In the open-wheel world, it was confirmed that in 2026 the Memorial Day weekend tripleheader we’ve all been accustomed to will be changing – and not necessarily for the better for race fans.
Traditionally we’ve woke up to the Monaco Grand Prix, which was the perfect 90-minute lead-up for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indianapolis 500, with the Coca-Cola 600 nightcap to close out the day.
That has now been upended, with the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec taking to the airwaves at the same time as the Indy 500.
If there’s anything that reeks of F1 snobbery, this is it. Obstinately stating the same start time as Indianapolis is like saying “no offense…” right after deliberately saying
something offensive.
It would be in Formula 1’s best interest – and the racing community as a whole – for
them to push it back a bit; say, 11:00 a.m. ET. This would prevent the two open-wheel features from stepping on each other – and let’s be honest, for North America, Indianapolis is going to garner the lion’s share of the attention.
It probably also wouldn’t hurt for Coca-Cola 600 to be moved back a bit – even a half an hour – to help accommodate drivers attempting The Double. Any sort of weather delays or red flags for extensive crash cleanup can put a crimp in plans, given the transit time between Indiana and North Carolina.
Granted, it was just announced a couple of days ago, so there’s plenty of time for some concessions, but the Indianapolis 500 shouldn’t have to be the one making overtures for Formula 1 and its less-than-compelling product the past few years.
And by “few” I mean, “15.”
Amazon is Amazing
When the 2025 post-mortem is performed at the end of the season, we’re going to look back at Amazon Prime as playing a pivotal role in the sport’s evolution and growth.
While they have been the benefactors of three solid races so far, the coverage has been universally applauded. While there has been a slight decline in total viewership, the key demographic growth has been remarkable, per Sports Media:
Ages 18-34: +32%
Ages 18-49: +11%
Ages 25-54: +21%
Ages 55+: -40%
The later number is concerning, naturally. There has been a lot of chatter on social
media chiding “boomers” (though Gen X elders are in there as well) for not embracing technology. That is a bit unfair and a dangerous gamble to assume their loyalty is unimpeachable.
That age bracket also has the lion’s share of disposable income to spend going to races (multiple), buying merchandise and spending on the streaming service if they’re not already Prime members.
I had to go through the steps to get my parents on board this weekend prior to Michigan. Report from my Mom mid-race was, “Your Dad is sitting there content as can be and likes the lack of commercials.”
The broadcast team at Amazon is only in their third race together – but frankly, feel like they’ve been there for a decade. So, what I’m saying is, if you have older parents that don’t use Amazon or have the app on their TV, get them hooked up.
It’s a far superior product to what we’ve grown accustomed to in the first half of this season.
Vito is one of the longest-tenured writers at Frontstretch, joining the staff in 2007. He’s a contributor to several other outlets, including Athlon Sports and Popular Speed in addition to making radio appearances. He forever has a soft-spot in his heart for old Mopars and presumably oil-soaked cardboard in his garage.