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“My Heart Hurts” – Devastating Images From South Dakota Leave Racing Community Praying for Fans’ Wellbeing Amidst New Hampshire’s Rain Scare
“My Heart Hurts” – Devastating Images From South Dakota Leave Racing Community Praying for Fans’ Wellbeing Amidst New Hampshire’s Rain Scare
NASCAR’s Xfinity series practice and qualifying were halted due to the skies opening up. But that’s just the beginning because now even the IMSA races face a threat.
Plus, what was supposed to be a fun High Bank Nationals race at the Huset’s Speedway is now a hub for rescue operations! People are stranded, personal properties are lost, and the race is canceled. Right now, the racing community, whether sprint or NASCAR seems to have one common enemy.
While we have seen many fights go on the racetrack or off it, there is never one as iconic as the fight with rain! And one person who can agree to this 100% is, of course, Kyle Larson. He lost his attempt of making a record of doing the “double” just because of rain. But rains do not affect drivers solely, but everyone, even fans. And we saw that pan out at the Huset’s Speedway.
The race is far from everyone’s minds right now. The situation at Huset’s Speedway is dire, with a race against time now unfolding—not for drivers, but for rescue operators. The rain had raised the water levels to an exponential level, trapping the campers who were in town for 4 days of racing. Their campers, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, resemble houseboats submerged in knee-deep water. Among those stranded is the World of Outlaws Championship leader, David Gravel. And he has been updating the racing community with all that’s going on at Huset’s Speedway.
However, the rescuers are to be thanked. The Split Rock Volunteer Fire Department sprang into action. They sent out several boats to rescue nearly thirty people from the flooded area. They were supported by the Brandon and Valley Springs Fire Departments, as well as the Sioux Falls water rescue team.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, things don’t look for the Cup race either. The Xfinity practice and qualifying were rained out and now the final race on Sunday is also under threat. The Weather Channel predicts a 73% chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, casting a shadow over the exciting upcoming event.
Amidst this strategy, the racing community came together to pray for everyone at Huset.
Many people travel far and wide with campers to visit the NASCAR and sprint races. And it is not an inexpensive affair. Campers are expensive, after all! However, sadly many RVs were way beyond saving. One fan said, “Terrible. My heart hurts for all those campers… assload of money sitting there flooded.”
Most of the fans were just plain shocked, with many even questioning how the people organization wasn’t prepped for any such issue. One fan said, “Unbelievable. Hope everyone is safe.”
The rescue operation was swift, and they managed to get all out of the flooding situation. But that’s not to say that things could have gone seriously wrong for the people visiting. One user said, “Wow. Praying everyone is safe.” While everyone is safe, the situation just highlights the glaring reality of how rains can affect these areas in the most dangerous of ways. The incident at Huset is alarming and such torrential rain playing havoc on a race day is hardly witnessed. One fan highlighted that and said, “In all my 50 years attending races all over North America, I’ve never seen a race get flooded out to this extent. This scene is heartbreaking for these poor folks who had to deal with this craziness. We locked up our Airbnb and left for home with no major losses. Lucky us.”
Another fan said, “Shit that’s horrible.” Indeed it is terrible that the fans who traveled far, the drivers who practiced hard and the organizers who did plenty of hard work just saw everything go to waste. But in the end, everyone is safe, and that’s what matters.
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A former Ferrari engineer has criticised the decision to bring in Lewis Hamilton and thinks the Brit’s presence will mean “a lot of potential for drama”.
At the age of 40, seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton will form a formidable driver partnership with Charles Leclerc. His big switch comes at the expense of Carlos Sainz, who has performed well for the Italian squad but who was axed so they had room for their blockbuster new signing.
But not everyone of a Ferrari persuasion is convinced that it will go well. Ernest Knoors, who spent many years as an engineer at Maranello, specialising in power units, worries that Hamilton’s presence could do more harm than good for a team that is finding its groove under Frederic Vasseur.
“A big name like Hamilton also brings a lot of politics and if politics within Ferrari are not managed well, then there is a lot of potential for drama,” he told Formule1.nl. “Hamilton has the tendency that if things do not work out, he turns his whole car upside down and starts experimenting.
“Ferrari believes very much in the big personalities and will follow him. But Hamilton is just someone you have to guide a little bit and not give the freedom to rebuild the whole car, because then it will go completely wrong. So I do not know if it is such a smart move, but of course it is nice for the sport.”
News of Hamilton’s planned move broke on February 1, coinciding with football’s Transfer Deadline Day. That the back pages of many newspapers were dominated by the decision of Hamilton to swap Mercedes for Ferrari was testament to the magnitude of the announcement.
Sainz was not surprised as he had been informed by his team of the plan ahead of it being made public. But the Spaniard responded well with two victories to date this season and five further appearances on the podium, on the way to what looks likely to be a fifth-placed finish in the championship – two spots and 54 points ahead of Hamilton.
Sainz has signed for Williams next year and, after several years of running at the front of the grid, will focus on his new challenge of helping restore one of the grid’s most historic teams to its former glory. But Knoors believes he should have been kept on by Ferrari instead.
The Dutchman added: “I see Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari more as a PR move. With all due respect, Hamilton is not going to take that Ferrari from P6 to P1. He will get the most out of it, but what Ferrari has to do is make that car faster. And if you make that car faster, you can easily drive at the front with the current line-up.
“Besides, as a team you have to look further on the horizon. If Hamilton becomes champion in the coming years, he and Ferrari will become immortal. But if you want to build a team with talent for the next five years, are you going to build on Hamilton? No, because he will really be finished after two or three years. That is why I would have kept the very strong line-up that Ferrari has now.”
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Chase Elliott had a front-row seat for one of NASCAR’s most bizarre moments of the 2024 Cup Series season. At the start of Stage 2, the pace car dove onto pit road in front of Elliott; however, it was a tad too late. The pace car made contact with the sand barrels at the entry of pit road and caused a red flag for cleanup.
Initially, there was some speculation on the NBC Sports broadcast, even from the No. 9 team, that Elliott made contact with the pace car. Fortunately, the pace car didn’t slide across the No. 9 car’s nose, but it undoubtedly provided one of NASCAR’s craziest red flag moments in recent memory.
Below, you can listen to Elliott and the No. 9 team react to the pace car crashing into the sand barrels on pit road at Phoenix during Championship Weekend!
Reflecting on the recent retirement of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt didn’t mince words about the toll NASCAR takes on its drivers. Speaking candidly, the two-time Daytona 500 winner admitted that the pressure to perform every week left him feeling miserable for most of his racing career—a sentiment he believes is shared by many of his peers.
“Right or wrong, racing made me a miserable person 90% of the time,” Earnhardt confessed. “And him too. I mean, ask Kyle Busch, ask anybody—unless you’re winning, you’re not happy.”
For these elite drivers, the sport is a relentless grind. A podium finish might bring temporary relief, but anything short of victory is often a source of frustration. The immense effort poured into preparation and execution rarely feels like it pays off unless the checkered flag is theirs.
Earnhardt highlighted the mental toll of falling short, explaining how the relentless focus on winning can overshadow the joy of simply competing. Even a solid performance feels hollow compared to the euphoria of a win.
“Unless you’re winning, you’re not happy at all,” he said. “You’re okay with a good run, but for the most part, all the effort it takes just to run good—it doesn’t weigh out.”
For drivers, the stakes are sky-high every week. Sponsors, fans, and teams demand nothing less than excellence, leaving little room for error or personal satisfaction in anything less than a dominant performance.
Earnhardt also shared insights into his friendship with Martin Truex Jr., who recently announced his retirement. While the two often spend time hunting together during NASCAR’s off-season, Earnhardt noted that the stress of racing even creeps into their leisure activities.
“When I’m with him during hunting season, it’s always in the back of his mind,” Earnhardt said. “It’s that stressful part of the year when he’s as miserable as he’s going to be.”
Now, with Truex stepping away from the track, Earnhardt looks forward to seeing a lighter, happier version of his long-time friend. Without the weight of weekly competition hanging over him, Truex might finally be able to relax and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle he cherishes.
“It’ll be fun to see him loosen up,” Earnhardt added.
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