TMW: K-Mag's Moving On
The longtime Haas driver will depart from the organization for a second time at the end of the 2024 season.
The Morning Warmup
July 19, 2024
Today’s Top Stories
1) Kevin Magnussen leaving Haas at season’s end (F1)
Kevin Magnussen will be out at Haas following the conclusion of the current Formula 1 season.
Haas confirmed the Dane’s impending exit, foreshadowing the end of a tenure that’s lasted for all but two of its seasons in F1.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team — I’m proud to have raced for such a great team of people these last few years,” Magnussen said in a team statement. “In particular I’d like to thank Gene Haas for his commitment to me, notably in bringing me back once again in 2022 when I thought, at that time at least, my time in Formula 1 had ended. I’ve enjoyed some great moments with this team — memories I’ll never forget.
“While I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my racing career, I remain fully focused on giving everything I’ve got for the rest of 2024 with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.”
Magnussen arrived at Haas in 2017, replacing Esteban Gutierrez after the organization’s debut season. He stayed until 2021, when he was ousted in favor of an all-rookie lineup featuring Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. But when the Russian Mazepin was ousted amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Magnussen returned and has stayed on through 2024.
There’s no confirmation of a replacement for Magnussen, but Haas has been lined to exiting Alpine veteran Esteban Ocon. The team has already confirmed Formula 2 driver Oliver Bearman for one of its 2025 seats. Current driver Nico Hulkenberg is off to Sauber, meaning another will be open with Magnussen’s exit.
But for now, team principal Ayao Komatsu is focused on celebrating Magnussen’s time with the operation.
“I’d like to thank Kevin for everything he’s given us as a team — both on and off the track,” Komatsu said in the release. “He’s truly been a bedrock of our driver lineup over the years. Nobody’s driven more races for us and we’ve had some memorable highlights together — not least a remarkable fifth place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 when Kevin returned to start his second spell with the team.
“He wasn’t expecting to be driving a Formula 1 car that weekend, but he put in a remarkable performance that was a tremendous boost to the entire organization and once again showcased his own talents behind the wheel.
“There’s plenty of racing to go this year so I’m looking forward to seeing what else we can achieve with Kevin as we push together in the championship. Beyond that, and with Kevin’s special relationship with the team, I’m hoping we can find a way to keep working together in some capacity.
“We can hopefully define that in the near future, but his extensive experience in Formula 1 and knowledge of our working operations are undoubtedly of value in our on-going growth and development.”
(Source(s): Chris Medland / RACER)
More on Magnussen’s Haas exit:
Despite turning to sports cars in 2021, Magnussen is prioritizing remaining in an F1 seat as things stand. (Chris Medland / RACER)
What are Magnussen’s options now that he’s at a career crossroads? (Alex Kalinauckas / Motorsport)
2) James Courtney set for Supercars retirement after 2025 (Supercars)
One-time Supercars champion James Courtney is ready to hang up his helmet at the end of the 2025 Supercars season.
Courtney has been a stalwart of the series for over a decade, winning the 2010 title. He will have spent 20 years in Supercars by the time of his retirement.
He already has a new target post-retirement: Real estate.
“Real estate is actually my first real job now because racing has been my whole life up until now,” Courtney told 9News. “I'm coming towards the end of the racing side of my life and I saw (real estate) as a natural progression.I've always had a massive interest in real estate, whether it's buying and selling my own houses.
“I'll finish this year and do next year then that'll be it for me full-time.”
Courtney currently competes for Blanchard Racing Team, having made a change after previously competing with Tickford Racing for three years.
The peak of his career came with Dick Johnson Racing in 2010, when he upset Jamie Whincup in an intense late fight to score a shocking title. From there he went to Holden Racing Team, where Courtney struggled through nine season with just six wins and a best championship finish of sixth.
The biggest thing missing on Courtney’s resume is a Bathurst 1000 win. He’ll have two more chances to conquer the iconic event before his retirement.
(Source(s): Simon Chapman)
3) High Limit coming to Perth with Larson, Sweet (Sprint Cars)
High Limit Racing is coming to Western Australia.
The American winged sprint car series announced Thursday that it will host a special three-day international event on Dec. 28-30. The races will be held at Perth Motorplex and pay an Australian sprint car record $100,000 to the winner of the finale. The event will be called “High Limit International: Perth.”
The move is the first venture outside of the United States for the series launched by Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet in 2022. It won’t be considered a points event, but six drivers from the series have agreed to compete in the races. They include Larson, Sweet, Rico Abreu, Cory Eliason, Parker-Price Miller and Australia’s own James McFadden - the current Western Australia Sprint Car Champion.
“All of us at High Limit are excited to take the first step in expanding our brand to an international level,” Larson said in a series release. “Australian sprint car fans are passionate and super supportive. They deserve a six-figure paying race as do the Australian drivers and teams. I’m looking forward to getting down there with Brad (Sweet) and some of our High Rollers to race with those guys.”
The race will air on FloRacing, adding to a December broadcast schedule that includes the Snowball Derby, Gateway Dirt Nationals and Tulsa Shootout.
“We know that our Australian fans are eager for more motorsports action on their shores and to be able to bring another high-paying High Limit Racing event to them and stream it to the world is extremely exciting,” FloRacing general manager Michael Rigsby said. “This is going to super fuel the growth of High Limit and FloRacing in the market.”
(Source(s): FloRacing)
Race Recaps
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars:
David Gravel’s stellar 2024 campaign continues with a win in the Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park. (Alex Nieten / WorldofOutlaws.com)
High Limit Racing:
Logan Schuchart and Gio Scelzi triumphed in the Double Down Duel$ that kicked off Kings Royal week. (HighLimitRacing.com)
News and Notes
NASCAR
Richard Childress Racing will field Ty Dillon in this weekend’s Brickyard 400 in a new partnership with Titan Risk Solutions. (Jim Utter / Motorsport)
The Brickyard 400 is back. Here’s a look back at moments from the past that defined NASCAR’s annual trip to Indianapolis. (Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
Goodyear worked to try to sort out what went wrong (and sort of right) this spring at Bristol Motor Speedway in a midweek tire test. (Jim Utter / Motorsport)
For the first - and only - time, Hoosier Chase Briscoe is ready to take on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while driving for Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Ford. It promises to be an emotional weekend for him. (Kelly Crandall / RACER)
The Indy road course is no longer an option, but Michael McDowell still sees an opportunity to win on the oval. (Jim Utter / Motorsport)
IndyCar
Toby Sowery has signed on for the remainder of the 2024 road and street course schedule with Dale Coyne Racing after his successful debut in Mid-Ohio. (Joey Barnes / Motorsport)
Alex Palou’s Iowa crash opened the door for his championship rivals. Winner Scott McLaughlin could be a driver that capitalizes. (Charles Bradley / Motorsport)
Teams were left frustrated over the weekend as they struggled to activate and deactivate the new car’s energy recovery systems. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
The series itself has much to learn from a messy first oval weekend in the hybrid era. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Ed Carpenter Racing has built a new car for Toronto after facing a host of trouble in Iowa. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
A.J. Foyt Racing looks the best it has in a decade amid the current summer stretch. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Do you actually need an oval win to be a credible IndyCar driver? (Jack Benyon / The Race)
F1
The FIA plans to use video checks to help with analysis of flexi-wing tricks starting in Belgium. (Jonathan Noble / Motorsport)
Logan Sargeant has many critics. He’s ignoring them all. This piece looks at Sargeant’s fight to save his F1 future. (Luke Smith / The Athletic)
Sergio Perez insists that he won’t be replaced at Red Bull before the end of his contract in 2025. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Perez would be a major F1 asset if he is ousted at Red Bull, but what would his options be? (Jake Boxall-Legge / Motorsport)
Daniel Ricciardo says all drivers feel the pressure when their seat is questioned. (Chris Medland / RACER)
If Red Bull does replace Perez, RB’s Yuki Tsunoda feels it would be “weird” for the team to go with Liam Lawson over him. (Filip Cleeren & Jonathan Noble / Motorsport)
Red Bull is entering a big new era with Ford. It can’t afford for it to become a failure. (Jonathan Noble / Motorsport)
Pierre Gasly feels that Alpine has a trio of good option to replace the outgoing Esteban Ocon. (Jake Boxall-Legge / Motorsport)
Lewis Hamilton was one of many drivers to react to Ralf Schumacher’s coming out, saying it sends a “positive message.” (Ben Hunt / Motorsport)
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has learned to be more selfish in trying to decide his future. (Chris Medland / RACER)
So… What is Adrian Newey actually doing at the race track these days? (Alex Kalinauckas / Motorsport)
Supercars
Supercars has opportunities to learn from the current state of GT3 racing. (Simon Chapman / Speedcafe)
Erebus Motorsport has new-look Chevrolet Camaros with SS Signs sponsorship. (Simon Chapman / Speedcafe)
Sports Cars
Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Hypercar has completed its first shakedown test ahead of a planned 2025 debut. (Gary Watkins / Motorsport)
Peugeot has confirmed that Nico Mueller will exit its Hypercar driver roster at year’s end. (Stephen Kilbey / RACER)
We might also know his replacement. Malthe Jakobsen will be a Peugeot Hypercar driver in 2025. (Daily Sportscar)
A tool meant for monitoring performance and controlling costs has had a positive effect on GT racing. (James Newbold / Motorsport)
Dirt
Don DeSalle, a three-time race winner as a USAC Sprint Car owner and 2001 Indiana Sprint Week title winner, passed away Tuesday at age 76. (Richie Murray / USAC Media)
Short Tracks
It’s happening. The Wheeled Mazda MX-5 Cup is coming to Martinsville Speedway on October. 26. (RACER)
Moto
Marco Bezzecchi is a MotoGP race winner. Why is he struggling on Ducati’s GP23 bike? (Rachit Thukral & Juliane Ziegengeist / Motorsport)
Rally
World Rally Championship points leader Thierry Neuville is prepared for Rally Latvia to be his most challenging outing yet. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
Three months removed from open-heart surgery, Heikki Kovalainen is on the way back to rally. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
Electric Racing
Extreme H has inched closer to reality after completing. public test run last weekend in Scotland. (Dominik Wilde / RACER)
Extreme H hopes its new-look series will be an evolution of the current Extreme E tour it’s replacing. (Dominik Wilde / RACER)
A septet of drivers are entering Formula E’s London finale with a shot at the series title. (Stefan Mackley / Motorsport)
Formula E could have options for its future UK races, but the different opportunities have made a dilemma. (Sam Smith / The Race)
On Track This Week
All Times ET
Friday, July 19
NASCAR
Xfinity/Cup at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ARCA/Trucks at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice: 1:05 p.m., NBC Sports App
Cup Series Practice: 2:35 p.m., NBC Sports App
Craftsman Truck Series Practice: 3:30 p.m., FS1
Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying: 4:05 p.m., FS1
ARCA Menards Series Circle City 200: 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
Craftsman Truck Series Sport 200: 8:30 p.m., FS1/MRN
IndyCar
All at Exhibition Place (Toronto)
IndyCar Practice: 3:00 p.m., Peacock
F1
All at the Hungaroring
F1 Practice: 7:25 a.m., ESPNU/F1 TV
F1 Practice: 10:55 a.m., ESPNU/F1 TV
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Eldora Speedway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
Extreme Outlaw Midgets (Spoon River Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Silver Dollar Nationals (Huset’s Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
American Sprint Car Series (Lakeside Speedway): 7:45 p.m., DirtVision
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Autodrome Granby): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Southern Nationals (East Alabama Motor Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Beaver Dam Raceway): 7:00 p.m., DirtVision
IRA King of the Wing (River Cities Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
MARS Late Models (Farmer City Raceway): 7:30 p.m., FloRacing
IMCA Weekly Racing (Marshalltown Speedway): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Tyler Wolf Memorial (Silver Dollar Speedway) 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
ISMA/MSS Supermodifieds (Oswego Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Speed Tour Sprinters (Magic Valley Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Drag Racing
NHRA Northwest Nationals (Pacific Raceways): 11:00 a.m., NHRA.TV
-
Saturday, July 20
NASCAR
All at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 12:05 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App
Cup Series Qualifying: 1:05 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App
Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250: 3:30 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App
IndyCar
All at Exhibition Place (Toronto)
IndyCar Practice: 10:30 a.m., Peacock
IndyCar Qualifying: 2:45 p.m., Peacock
F1
All at the Hungaroring
Formula 3 Sprint Race: 3:45 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
F1 Practice: 6:25 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Formula 2 Sprint Race: 8:05 a.m., F1 TV
F1 Qualifying: 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Sports Cars
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Race 1 (Hockenheim): 8:15 a.m., GT World on YouTube
GT4 European Series Race 1 (Hockenheim): 9:50 a.m., GT World on YouTube
TC America Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 11:15 a.m., GT World on YouTube
GT America Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 1:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 1:55 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Fanatec GT World Challenge America Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 3:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Pirelli GT4 America Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 5:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Eldora Speedway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
USAC Silver Crown (Kansas State Fairgrounds): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Xtreme Outlaw Midgets (Spoon River Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Silver Dollar Nationals (Huset’s Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
American Sprint Car Series (81 Speedway): 7:45 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Port Royal Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Empire Super Sprints (Fonda Speedway): 6:00 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Land of Legends Raceway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Sharon Speedway): 6:25 p.m., DirtVision
IRA King of the Wing (River Cities Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Beaver Dam Raceway): 7:00 p.m., DirtVision
Southern Nationals (Screven Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
MARS Late Models (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Knoxville Raceway): 7:45 p.m., DirtVision
Short Tracks
NASCAR Canada Series (Sutherland Automotive Speedway): 1:30 p.m., FloRacing
Hampton Heat (Langley Speedway): 4:15 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Modified Tour (Monadnock Speedway): 5:45 p.m., FloRacing
American Canadian Tour (Autodrome Montmagny): 3:15 p.m., Racing America
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Jennerstown Speedway Complex): 4:15 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Riverhead Raceway): 4:30 p.m., FloRacing
Oxford Championship Series (Oxford Plains Speedway): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
Race of Champions Sportsman (Chemung Speedrome): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
Supermodifieds (Oswego Speedway): 6:15 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Berlin Raceway): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Hickory Motor Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Bowman Gray Stadium): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Speed Tour Sprintcars (Magic Valley Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Drag Racing
NHRA Northwest Nationals (Pacific Raceways): 11:00 a.m., NHRA.TV
Electric Racing
Formula E Qualifying (London): 7:20 a.m., Roku TV
Formula E London E-Prix Race 1: Noon, CBS
Other
Mid-Ohio SpeedTour All-Star Race: 1:00 p.m., MavTV
-
Sunday, July 21
NASCAR
All at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Cup Series Brickyard 400: 2:30 p.m., NBC/NBC Sports App
IndyCar
All at Exhibition Place (Toronto)
IndyCar Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto: 1:30 p.m., Peacock
F1
All at the Hungaroring
Formula 3 Feature Race: 2:20 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
Formula 2 Feature Race: 3:55 a.m., ESPN+/F1 TV
F1 Hungarian Grand Prix: 8:55 a.m., ESPN/F1 TV
Sports Cars
GT2 European Series Race 1 (Hockenheim): 4:12 a.m., GT World on YouTube
GT4 European Series Race 2 (Hockenheim): 5:30 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Race 2 (Hockenheim): 8:00 a.m., GT World on YouTube
GT America Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 8:45 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Fanatec GT2 European Series Race 2 (Hockenheim): 9:25 a.m., GT World on YouTube
TC America Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 9:50 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Cup Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 10:30 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Pirelli GT4 America Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 11:55 a.m., GT World on YouTube
Fanatec GT World Challenge America Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 2:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
MARS Late Models (Adam’s County Speedway): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Southern Nationals (Swainsboro Raceway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Pro All Star Series (Spud Speedway): 2:00 p.m., Racing America
Late Models and Sportsman (Slinger Speedway): 7:30 p.m., Racing America
Drag Racing
NHRA Northwest Nationals (Pacific Raceways): 11:00 a.m., NHRA.TV
Electric Racing
Formula E Qualifying: 7:20 a.m., Roku TV
Formula E London E-Prix Race 2: Noon, CBS
Fast Fact
Kevin Magnussen has ebbed and flowed with Haas’ on-track pace over his tenure with the team. His best season came in 2018, when he scored 56 points with an average finish of 11.2. He has one career podium, but it came before the team’s launch - Magnussen finished second with McLaren Mercedes at the 2014 opener on Australia.
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