The Morning Warmup
Aug. 28, 2026
Good morning and happy Friday. It’s just about time to get another busy weekend of racing underway. Sorry this is a bit late - I got kiddo’d this morning and she comes first.
We don’t have too much to discuss today. There are a few silly season notes and a new documentary on the way. But first, we need to put our political caps on. Let’s talk racing.
Today’s Top Story
1) Ukraine lodges complaint after FIA’s lift of Russian ban (Motorsport)
Ukraine lodged a formal complaint with the FIA on Thursday after its decision to lift the ban on Russian and Belarussian drivers competing in international events. The Automobile Federation of Ukraine (FAU) is requesting an urgent investigation into Russia’s Russian Automobile Federation.
The country’s athletes had been banned from representing the Russian flag since February 2022, when Russia began its attempted invasion of Ukraine. That’s been the status quo in the years since, with Russian competitors able to drive under a neutral FIA flag or representing other countries. But the FIA world council chose to lift the ban in mid-August, reportedly at the urging of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The FAU quickly responded to the decision with a written letter to Ben Sulayem requesting a reversal. A week later, it’s now gone ahead with a formal complaint, noting that the RAF has opened and operates offices in regions recognized by the United Nations as sovereign Ukrainian territory - a move it claims is in breach of the FIA’s statutes and international sporting code.
“This is a clear breach of the FIA statutes by the Russian Automobile Federation, which, as an FIA member organization, is bound to comply with them,” FAU president Oleksandr Feldman said in a statement. “We urge the FIA president to take urgent action to have these offices closed, and for the Russian automobile federation to be sanctioned for its actions.”
This is the latest in a string of controversial moves and decisions tied to the FIA and president Ben Sulayem, who has steadily consolidated power and exerted increasing influence over the organization. But it’s not without precedent - the International Olympic Association provisionally lifted a similar ban on the Russian Olympic Committee in July.
(Source(s): Andrew Benson / BBC, Olympics.com)
Race Recaps
Dirt
High Limit Racing: Rico Abreu put on a show to kick off the Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway. Abreu rolled from ninth to first to claim a frantic weekend opener in Chico. (HighLimitRacing.com)
USAC: Thursday’s Sprint Car Smackdown XV opener at Kokomo Speedway as a tale of two halves, with Kyle Cummins surging to the front for the final 15 circuits en route to his 10th USAC win of the season. (Richie Murray / USACRacing.com)
News and Notes
America’s Top Tours
NASCAR
Carson Kvapil is returning to JR Motorsports for a full-time run in the No. 8 Chevrolet next year, replacing the outgoing Sammy Smith. (Kevin Rutherford / Frontstretch)
Joe Gibbs Racing is sticking with Brandon Jones as the company works to finalize its driver lineup for 2027. (Toby Christie / TobyChristie.com)
IndyCar
Alex Palou will pay homage to the late Alex Zanardi on the 30th anniversary of ‘The Pass’ at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. (Joey Barnes / Motorsport)
Worldwide Racing Series
Formula 1
Alpine’s sticking with its current lineup for 2027, bringing back Franco Colapinto to pair with Pierre Gasly. (Thomas Maher / Planet F1)
A new docuseries on Lando Norris is coming to Prime Video next year. (Fleur Mealing / The Race)
Red Bull’s giving prospect Nikola Tsolov a test run at Imola as it evaluates its Racing Bulls lineup for 2027. (Hadyn Cobb / Motorsport)
Sports Cars
McLaren’s MCL-HY Hypercar impressed in a 30-hour test at MotorLand Aragon. (Stephen Lickorish / Sportscar365)
Veteran star Sebastien Bourdais is in search of a new opportunity as he ponders the future of his sports car career. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Moto
MotoGP appears poised to cancel the Qatar Grand Prix without a replacement in the latest fallout from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. (Simon Patterson / The Race)
Yamaha’s bringing in Izan Guevara into its Pramac satellite time for 2027. (Valentin Khorounzhiy / The Race)
Ai Ogura has undergone thumb surgery in Barcelona after his training injury. (Rachit Thukral / Motorsport)
Regional/Niche Series
Drag Racing
The NHRA’s 20-race schedule for 2027 has arrived. (NHRA.com)
Check out this throwback livery for the U.S. Nationals:
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On Track Today
All Times ET
NASCAR
At Daytona International Speedway
O’Reilly Series Qualifying: 3 p.m., ESPN Unlimited/The CW App
Cup Series Qualifying: 5 p.m., truTV
O’Reilly Series Winn-Dixie 250: 7:30 p.m., The CW/ESPN Unlimited
IndyCar
At The Milwaukee Mile
IndyCar Practice: 6 p.m., FS1/FOX One
Sports Cars
At Road America, airing on the GT World YouTube channel
TC America Race 1: 12:50 p.m.
Pirelli GT4 America Race 1: 4 p.m.
At Okayama International Circuit, airing on the GT World YouTube channel
GT World Challenge Asia Qualifying: 7:55 p.m.
Japan Cup Qualifying: 8:50 p.m.
GT World Challenge Asia Race 1: 11:35 p.m.
—Saturday Morning—
Japan Cup Race 1: 2:45 a.m.
At the Nurburgring, airing on the GT World YouTube channel
—Saturday Morning—
GT World Challenge Europe Practice: 4:45 a.m.
Moto
MotoGP at MotorLand Aragón, live on VideoPass
MotoGP Practice: Live Now
Baggers Practice: 10:25 a.m.
—Saturday Morning—
Moto3 Practice: 2:40 a.m.
Moto2 Practice: 3:25 a.m.
MotoGP Practice: 4:10 a.m.
MotoGP Qualifying: 4:50 a.m.
Rallycross
In France, live on the FIA Rallycross Championships YouTube page
—Saturday Morning—
Euro RX of France Qualifying 1: 4:30 a.m.
Number of the Day: 4
Tonight will mark what could be Austin Hill’s final O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Daytona International Speedway for Richard Childress Racing. Over the past five years, Hill has triumphed four times on the 2.5-mile oval. But in a unique twist, those wins have all come in the February opener instead of the World Center of Speed’s summer weekend. The Georgian will get a final chance to remedy that and sweep this track’s O’Reilly races this year later today.
Looking to catch up on your own? Take a look through the resources I use to help complete this newsletter.
Yes and the USA should be banned as well.