Jim’s Journal, July 22nd, 2024

Kyle Larson won Sunday’s Brickyard 400.  Larson had wanted to pull off the IndyCar-NASCAR Memorial Day weekend double, but rain delays in the Indy 500 kept him there, so now he’s at least got a victory on the legendary track.  Kyle drove the same NASCAR to the Sunday Indy win that he’d been planning to pilot in Charlotte last spring.  The Brickyard is Larson’s 4th win of this year, his 27th in the NASCAR Cup series.  The rest of the top 5, in order, were Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace.

 

Where were the IndyCars if not in Indy?  They were in Canada, running the Indy Toronto, on an 11-turn course through the streets.  Colton Herta took the checkered flag, ending a personal 40-race winless drought with his first IndyCar series win in 799 days.  It was a 1-2 finish for Andretti Global, as Herta’s teammate Kyle Kirkwood ran a close 2nd.  It was the 9th time an Andretti car had won the Toronto race, Michael Andretti driving to 7 of those. Herta essentially led the entire race, 81 of the 85 laps, and Scott Dixon ran 3rd, tying Mario Andretti for the most top 3 finishes in IndyCar history, with 141.

 

The diamond life Sunday saw the Reds take a 3rd straight loss in DC, the Nationals knocking ‘em off 5-2.  Manager David Bell says his club really has to pick itself up now, and find ways to improve.  Cincy was just under .500 much of the first half of the baseball season, so this wasn’t a great start to the second. But Bell says his team really has a lot to play for, and no doubt can make the playoffs if they start consistently winning.  Bright spots– a Noelvi Marte home run, along with Stuart Fairchild’s 4th homer of the season.  And Elly De La Cruz ripped a double that gave him hits in 9 straight games. Tonight, Cincinnati opens a new series against the Braves in Atlanta.  Hear them push each other for a win, starting at 6:50 this evening.

 

And prior to the game right after our 6:00 news block, join Terrance Arney and Leon Smith for another edition of “Overtime.”  They’ll be talking this week with Greensburg track & field star Emarie Jackson, and her dad Dave.  “Overtime,” following the news, sports, and all at 6, tonight, here on the Sports Voice, 103.9 WRBI.