Welcome to the Jalopnik Weekend Motorsports Roundup, where we let you know what’s going on in the world of racing, where you can see it, and where you can talk about it all in one convenient place. Where else would you want to spend your weekend?
It's been a while since I've been able to say this: this weekend is going to be a great one for racing. For those who like cars that turn both left and right, this weekend is like Nectar Sent Down From On High. Not only is there a wondrous amount of sports car racing, there's NASCAR and Rallycross, too.
Now I hear you thinking, "NASCAR? So what? We get that every weekend, and every weekend it's the same. Cars go around in a circle, sometimes there's a crash, but really it's the same thing every time." Not so. Despite being more famously known for oval-track races, NASCAR actually does a fair amount of road courses as well. This week it's their famous race at Watkins Glen, New York. I love the NASCAR road races, simply because they're so ridiculous. The cars are big and heavy, with loud V8s, huge amounts of power, and very little downforce and grip compared to most traditional road racers. They slide and bash about, and it really is a good time. An added bonus, as well, is that many of the NASCAR racers aren't used to twisty bits in professional racing, so you get a real air of unpredictability. It should make for some good times.
On the more traditional road racing front, you have the coming specter of Mergers and Acquisitions. It sounds ominous, but I wouldn't worry. I would know. Sometimes wonderful things can come about from these matches made in, well, not heaven, but a corporate board room. This week both the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series are at Road America in Wisconsin for their respective events, and it's a shining example of their coming combination as United Sports Car Racing. This is your weekend to compare, contrast, and pray for the coming future.
Also on tap this weekend is Global Rallycross. Rallycross, in case you're not familiar, combines the joys of road racing with the ecstasy of rallying. If it sounds awesome, that's because it is. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.
We've heard your pleas and we'll be keeping the races and times in the body of posts, as well as on the map for now. Of course, please use our image annotation tool on the map above to show us races we might have missed, where they're being held, and where we can livestream them.
Get it while it's good.
All times Eastern.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 Qualifying
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
9:30 AM Saturday on ESPN2
ALMS Orion Energy Systems 245 Qualifying
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
10:30 AM Saturday on ESPN3
NASCAR Sprint Cup Cheez-It 355 At the Glen Qualifying
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
11:30 AM Saturday on ESPN2
AMA Motocross Unadilla National
Unadilla MX
New Berlin, New York
1 PM Saturday on FUEL
3 PM Saturday on NBCSN
NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
2 pM Saturday on ABC
Rolex Sports Car Series VisitFlorida.com Sports Car 250
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
5 PM Saturday on SPEED
Global Rallycross Atlanta
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta, Georgia
6:30 pM Saturday on ESPN2
NASCAR Sprint Cup Cheez-It 355 At the Glen
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
12 PM Sunday on ESPN
ALMS Orion Energy Systems 245
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
3 PM Sunday on ABC