Danica Patrick to Host 2018 ESPYs The NASCAR driver will be the first woman to host the annual sports
award show. Danica Patrick Danica Patrick Patrick, who has been on the NASCAR circuit since 2010, is set to retire from racing after Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. The ESPYs will take place on July 18 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Local racer Riley Herbst has named to NASCAR Next, a list identifying young drivers on the fast track to stock car racing stardom. It was the second year in a row the 19-year-old racer was named on the list of nine drivers. Others who have been named NASCAR list include current Cup Series regulars Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Bubba Wallace. Herbst is a descendant of Las Vegas’ famous off-road racing Herbst family. His father, Troy, won the 2004 Baja 1000. “There’s a lot of talent coming up, and a lot of young racers chasing the dream in Las Vegas. It it weren’t for the Bullring and the drag strip and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, nobody would know what Las Vegas (has become) in racing out West.”
Reports that NASCAR maybe up for sale are gaining speed. It was reported this week that investment firm Goldman Sachs has been recruited to identify possible buyers . The news came as a shock to former driver Bobby Labonte, who said it would be business as usual for NASCAR drivers. One driver, former Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, said a sale could provide a platform for change and new opportunities for race teams. Bringing a new owner in may draw that line clearer to say now there’s separation between NASCAR and racetracks, and I think it might be a possibility to open the schedule up and go to some new places.
Las Vegas’ Spencer Gallagher was suspended by NASCAR Wednesday for violating its substance abuse problem. It happened three days after Gallagher posted his first Xfinity Series victory, at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. The 28-year-old Las Vegan has agreed to participate in NASCAR’s Road to Recovery Program. If he is cleared to race in 2018, he will not receive a waiver to compete in the Xfinity playoffs, despite winning last weekend. I would like to say that I am sorry to all of the GMS organization for my actions, especially my team and team owner (father Maury Gallagher), who have worked so hard this year and have put faith in me. I also want to apologize to NASCAR, Chevrolet and my fans for letting them down. I have not upheld the behavior that is expected of me.
