NASCAR is at Darlington, too.
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Formula 1 – Miami Grand Prix
Sunday, May 8th – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC
This is a historic moment. F1, at the peak of its American popularity, has created a temporary track in Miami and built a near-Super Bowl atmosphere around its first-ever race. It is a test of how big the F1 moment is, but it is also a chance to build something lasting. Every temporary track could become a Monaco or a Long Beach and run for fifty years, but most do not. Can Miami build on all this momentum and become a tradition?
Of course, it’s a race, too. Max Verstappen, winner of two of the season’s first four races, struggled through contact with the wall, major mechanical fixes, and a small fire in the weekend’s first two practice sessions. That puts him behind the rest of the field on a brand new track that has proven to be incredibly difficult to adapt to. With Ferrari and Mercedes both looking quick in those same sessions, Verstappen will have to find that speed very quickly if he wants to put another dent in Charles Leclerc’s massive championship lead.
NASCAR – Darlington
Sunday, May 8th – 3:30 p.m. ET – Fox Sports 1
NASCAR has, for some reason, placed one of its most interesting races head to head with the single biggest new race in a very long time. Darlington, an egg-shaped intermediate with an unforgiving wall and coarse pavement, produces excellent racing. The Next Gen car seems to be excellent on any intermediate track, especially when tire wear comes into play. It is a recipe for a great afternoon at a track that eats tires, just not one scheduled particularly well.
Hendrick Motorsports has been the dominant force this season at all tracks, but the surprise of the year has been the emergence of Trackhouse Racing. The two-car program has quickly found speed since acquiring Chip Ganassi Racing’s former Cup Series program, enough speed that former Ganassi driver Ross Chastain’s two wins actually undersell how well he has raced most weekends. If they can hold onto that speed, Trackhouse could be legitimate championship contenders this season. Darlington should suit the team well.
Keyword: Where to Watch Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix This Weekend