News

Antonelli Makes History at Monza as Bell, McLaughlin and Ferrari Score Major Weekend Wins

The September 4–6 motorsports weekend produced a historic Formula One comeback at Monza, a dramatic NASCAR Chase opener at Darlington, a dominant IndyCar finale and a late reversal in the World Endurance Championship.

The first full weekend of September delivered landmark victories across the international motorsports calendar.

Kimi Antonelli electrified the Italian crowd with a charge from 19th to win the Formula One Italian Grand Prix. Christopher Bell ended a 33-race NASCAR Cup Series drought in the Southern 500. Scott McLaughlin dominated IndyCar’s season finale, while Ferrari capitalized on Toyota’s late misfortune to capture the Lone Star Le Mans.

Here is a closer look at the biggest auto racing stories from the weekend of September 4–6, 2026.

Kimi Antonelli charges from 19th to win Italian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the most memorable home victories in Formula One history Sunday at Monza.

The 20-year-old Italian started 19th because of engine-related grid penalties but drove through the field to claim his seventh victory of the season. Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.

George Russell completed a Mercedes one-two finish, crossing the line 3.857 seconds behind his teammate. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, followed by McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Official Formula One results

Antonelli’s victory became even more striking because Alpine driver Pierre Gasly had started from pole. Gasly earned the first pole position of his Formula One career Saturday, but Antonelli quickly established himself as the central figure in Sunday’s race.

The Mercedes driver passed Russell and benefited from a well-timed virtual safety-car period before controlling the closing laps. His victory expanded his championship advantage over Russell to 66 points.

Ferrari endured a disappointing home race. Charles Leclerc crashed early, triggering a red flag, while Lewis Hamilton finished sixth. Mercedes, meanwhile, strengthened its lead in the constructors’ standings with the maximum possible haul from its one-two finish.

For Antonelli, the result carried significance beyond the championship. Winning at Monza as an Italian driver — and doing it from the back row — instantly placed the race among Formula One’s greatest comeback performances.

Christopher Bell breaks drought with Southern 500 victory

Christopher Bell opened NASCAR’s 2026 Chase with a badly needed crown-jewel victory in the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Bell passed defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson with 12 laps remaining and held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs by 1.038 seconds. Tyler Reddick finished third, followed by Ryan Blaney and Larson.

The victory ended a 33-race winless streak for Bell, who had recorded seven runner-up finishes during the season. It also moved him from sixth to second in the championship standings, 12 points behind leader Denny Hamlin. NASCAR’s Southern 500 race report

A late rain interruption shaped the finish. Larson remained on the track with older tires, while Bell and several other contenders stopped for fresh rubber. Bell restarted fifth, quickly drove toward the front and overtook Larson on Lap 356 of the 367-lap race.

Larson led a race-high 99 laps but could not defend against Bell’s fresher tires. Bell led 46 laps and also won the second stage.

Hamlin salvaged an 18th-place finish after contact with Michael McDowell sent his Toyota into the wall. William Byron suffered one of the most damaging results among the championship contenders, finishing 37th after an engine problem.

Bell now trails Hamlin by 12 points. Blaney sits 16 points behind the leader, with Reddick 24 points back and Chase Briscoe facing a 37-point deficit.

Sheldon Creed captures NASCAR’s Saturday race at Darlington

Sheldon Creed opened the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase with his second victory of the season Saturday night.

Creed’s crew moved his No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet into the lead during a late pit stop. He controlled the final restart and defeated Corey Day by 2.961 seconds in the Fleetio 200.

Brent Crews placed third, while championship contenders Sammy Smith and Austin Hill completed the top five. Official NASCAR race recap

Regular-season leader Justin Allgaier led 60 of the race’s 147 laps, but he hit the wall with 23 laps remaining and fell to 17th. The result ended Allgaier’s streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes at Darlington.

Creed waited 138 starts to secure his first series victory earlier this year. His second arrived at one of NASCAR’s most demanding tracks and immediately strengthened his championship position.

Scott McLaughlin dominates IndyCar finale at Laguna Seca

Scott McLaughlin ended more than two years of frustration with a commanding performance in the IndyCar season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Starting from pole, McLaughlin led 87 of 95 laps and defeated Kyle Kirkwood by 1.3739 seconds. Alexander Rossi finished third, Felix Rosenqvist placed fourth and McLaughlin’s Team Penske teammate David Malukas rounded out the top five.

It was McLaughlin’s eighth career IndyCar victory and his first since September 2024. The win ended a 36-race drought. IndyCar’s official Laguna Seca report

Kirkwood used the faster alternate tire during the final stint and reduced McLaughlin’s advantage to approximately 1.2 seconds. However, McLaughlin’s more durable primary tires proved stronger over the closing laps.

Alex Palou finished eighth after clinching his fifth IndyCar championship the previous weekend at Milwaukee. Kirkwood secured a career-best second place in the final standings, 86 points behind Palou.

Dennis Hauger finished last following first-lap contact with Sting Ray Robb, but Hauger still secured Rookie of the Year honors by 15 points over former Formula One driver Mick Schumacher.

The weekend also marked the end of Scott Dixon’s historic tenure with Chip Ganassi Racing. Dixon and Ganassi produced 58 victories and six championships during a partnership that spanned 25 seasons.

Ferrari wins Lone Star Le Mans after Toyota’s late retirement

Ferrari returned to the top of the FIA World Endurance Championship podium in dramatic fashion at Circuit of the Americas.

The No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P won the six-hour Lone Star Le Mans after the race-leading No. 7 Toyota retired late. The result reopened the Hypercar championship fight with three events remaining.

Ferrari completed 167 laps and defeated the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota entry by 4.471 seconds. The No. 35 Alpine finished third, followed by the No. 007 Aston Martin and the second Alpine in fifth. Official FIA WEC results

The Toyota had produced some of the fastest laps of the race before its late mechanical failure dropped it to 17th. The No. 8 Toyota finished sixth.

Ferrari’s victory was particularly important after its No. 51 entry, which started from pole, slipped to 11th. The No. 50 team’s ability to remain within striking distance allowed it to capitalize when Toyota’s challenge suddenly collapsed.

In LMGT3, the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin won by 5.007 seconds over the No. 91 Manthey DK Engineering Porsche. Another Heart of Racing Aston Martin finished third, giving the manufacturer two positions on the class podium.

NHRA U.S. Nationals reaches its Labor Day conclusion

The NHRA’s biggest event of the season continued through the weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, although its elimination finals were scheduled for Labor Day Monday.

Jack Beckman supplied Sunday’s headline by defeating Matt Hagan to win the Funny Car All-Star Callout for John Force Racing. Shawn Langdon earned the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel, while Ron Capps led Funny Car qualifying.

The U.S. Nationals traditionally stretches across six days, making it the longest and one of the most prestigious events on the NHRA calendar. Monday’s eliminations will determine the winners in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and the supporting classes. NHRA event coverage

A defining September weekend across motorsports

The weekend’s biggest performances carried championship implications as well as historical significance.

Antonelli’s Monza comeback strengthened his Formula One title position and ended a 60-year wait for an Italian home winner. Bell turned NASCAR’s Chase opener into a championship statement. McLaughlin closed the IndyCar season by reminding the paddock of Team Penske’s winning potential, while Ferrari converted Toyota’s heartbreak into a critical endurance-racing victory.

From Monza and Laguna Seca to Darlington and Austin, the first major motorsports weekend of September produced the kind of drama that can reshape entire championship seasons.

More Motorsports: https://natalkradio.us/category/motorsports/

North American Talk Radio may earn a commission if you make a purchase through links in this article, at no additional cost to you.