TMW: Rick Ware Racing penalized for lost ballast
A dangerous situation at practice for Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen has led to multiple suspensions at Rick Ware Racing.
The Morning Warmup
Aug. 24, 2022
Today’s Top Stories
1) Rick Ware Racing penalized for ballast loss at Watkins Glen (NASCAR Cup)
NASCAR issued Rick Ware Racing (RWR) a safety penalty Tuesday for ballast that fell from Cody Ware’s No. 51 Chevrolet on the weekend at Watkins Glen International.
Ballast flew from Ware’s care during Saturday’s practice session, landing on the racetrack and going through the fence in an area near a group of photographers. Ware was called to the pits immediately afterward and barred from participating in qualifying.
RWR has seen three team members suspended for the next four NASCAR Cup Series races - crew chief Billy Plourde, car chief Jamie Edwards and engineer Steven Gray.
Ware finished 34th in the race, two laps behind winnerKyle Larson. He currently sits 32nd in the series standings.
(Source(s): Kelly Crandall / RACER)
2) Joan Mir to sit out Misano race with ankle injury (MotoGP)
Suzuki MotoGP rider Joan Mir will sit out next month’s Misano Grand Prix after suffering a fracture in the talus bone of his right ankle at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.
Mir suffered the injury in a violent highside crash in Turn 4 on the opening lap of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. He landed hard in the gravel trap and fell out of the race.
X-rays at the track revealed Mir’s fracture, with additional ligament and bone damage discovered upon additional testing in Mallorca by Dr. Juan Garcias. As a result, Mir is planned to take two weeks of test, followed by “another round of scans to assess the injuries following his 15 day rest period, in order to determine the course of treatment and, if eligible, to try riding at Motorland.”
MotoGP’s trip to Misano falls on Mir’s rest period, meaning he’s been ruled out of the event. No replacement has been announced at this stage. Suzuki has voiced plans to “evaluate the best solution for Misano” together with series promoter Dorna Sports moving forward.
Mir currently sits 12th in the standings amid Suzuki’s final season before its planned MotoGP exodus. The 2020 champion has yet to find the podium in a challenging year.
(Source(s): James Newbold / Motorsport)
3) Rene Rast signs with McLaren for Formula E return (Formula E)
McLaren Racing announced Tuesday that the company has signed Rene Rast as the first driver of its NEOM McLaren Formula E team for 2022-23.
“Rene has impressed over the years in the series he has competed in,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said in a team release. “He is a true racer and has proven to be quick in any car he’s driven. His previous experience in Formula E will be invaluable as we head into this exciting new era of racing for McLaren Racing. I’m delighted to welcome Rene to the McLaren Racing family.”
Rast will make his return to the all-electric single-seat series after previously running full-time with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler during the campaign ending in 2021.
“I am delighted to join the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team," Rast said. "As a racing fan, McLaren has always had huge appeal. It’s an iconic name in motorsport with a rich history, so I feel privileged and proud to be able to represent McLaren in Formula E next season.
“I’ve done a season in Formula E before, it was a great experience, and I felt after that year I wasn’t done yet. I’m excited that I am now getting the opportunity to continue that journey. I’m extremely motivated and have no doubt we will create something great together. I can’t wait to get started!”
The German is a triple DTM champion and two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Spa. He also has a 24 Hours of Nurburgring victory and two class wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
(Source(s): FIAFormulaE.com)
News and Notes
NASCAR
A two-day test is currently ongoing at Martinsville Speedway. Cup teams are working to gather data for the playoff race this fall. (Kelly Crandall / RACER)
With the benefit of retrospect (and a team meeting), Kyle Larson says he should have raced teammate Chase Elliott with “more respect” at Watkins Glen International. (Dustin Long / NBC Sports)
Cliff Daniels understands that this has been a “tough” year for the defending champions at the No. 5 team, but he’s happy with how the team has worked and prepared. (Kelly Crandall / RACER)
This week’s “Top 5” touched on the Larson-Elliott battle, Kurt Busch’s unique playoff situation and excitement for Daytona. (Jeff Gluck / The Athletic)
IndyCar
The IndyCar title fight is close. A pair of tests could be key in how the championship is settled. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
F1
Mick Schumacher is joining Kevin Magnussen in running the most recently updated Haas machine at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Ralph Boschung will attempt his FIA Formula 2 return at Spa after missing three rounds with injury,. (Megan White / Motorsport)
Liam Lawson’s F1 practice debut has been confirmed. (Mat Coch / Speedcafe)
Circuit of the Americas boss Bobby Epstein is happy to see Logan Sargeant getting an FP1 driver for Williams but believes an American race winner would be key for F1 to reach the next level in the United States. (Chris Medland / RACER)
A blanket ban is coming to F1… Here’s what it means for the series. (Edd Straw / The Race)
Supercars
The workload to build Gen3 has been a hinderance on Triple Eight Race Engineering’s current pace in Supercars, according to Jamie Whincup. (Andrew van Leeuwen / Motorsport)
Sports Cars
The inaugural Toyota GR Cup schedule has been revealed. (Sportscar365)
With just a pair of rounds remaining, IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge championships are coming into focus. (Sportscar365)
Dirt
Alex Bright picked up a pair of weekends over the weekend, including a Saturday triumph at Port Royal Speedway. (USAC Media)
Short Tracks
The CARS Tour is rolling on to Motor Mile Speedway this weekend. (Brandon White / Racing America)
Moto
An angry Remy Gardner exposed the struggles of KTM and how it struggles to manage its riders. (Simon Patterson / The Race)
Esports
Blake Matjoulis won for the second time in five rounds of the 2022 iRacing World of Outlaws ButtKicker Late Model Series season. (WorldofOutlaws.com)
Other
Jos Verstappen was stout in his World Rally Championship debut at Ypres Rally Belgium. Now he hopes to test a top-tier Rally1 car. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
Thierry Neuville has apologized to his hometown fans after the crash that kept him from a second-consecutive Ypres Rally win. (Adam Proud / DirtFish)
On Track Today
All Times ET
Dirt
All Star Circuit of Champions (Bloomsbury Fair Raceway): 6:15 p.m., FloRacing
Super DIRTcar Series (Ransombille Speedway): 6:00 p.m., DirtVision
Local Racing (Millbridge Speedway): 6:30 p.m., DirtVision
Short Tracks
Boston Louie Memorial (Seeking Speedway): 5:05 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Riverhead Raceway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
Fast Fact
Ford has a chance to do something its never done before at Daytona International Speedway: Win four-straight Cup races. The Blue Ovals have won three-straight Daytona Cup races on multiple occasions, most recently from summer 2016 through 2017. But Ford drivers
Special Thanks
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