Third-generation member of racing’s legendary Allison family to race at Pocono for first time in more than 20 years

By Jun 4, 2014, 11:29 PM EDT
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For the first time in more than two decades, a member of the famous Allison racing family – among the original members of NASCAR’s fabled “Alabama Gang” – will race at Pocono Raceway, a track that has been part of the family’s greatest achievements and terrible tragedies.

For the first time in his career, third-generation driver Justin Allison, grandson of Donnie Allison and grandnephew of three-time Pocono winner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allision, will compete in Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 race at the 2.5-mile tri-oval.

“Pocono is going to be so much different than any other track I’ll drive on, Justin Allison said in a team media release. “I’ve heard how fun and exciting it can be, but I also know there’s a lot to learn to be competitive. We’ll need to learn as much as we can in the test to be ready for the race.”

Pocono used to be granduncle Bobby’s domain, until he was nearly killed in a terrible crash in 1988 that ended his racing career.

“I don’t think the Allison history will have any factor into how we’ll perform at Pocono,” Justin Allison said. “Every track you go to, there’s a risk you’re taking and it’s not just at Pocono.”

The younger Allison, who turns 22 on June 25, wasn’t even born when granduncle Bobby had his horrific wreck there.

“It’s always helpful to know someone else who has the experience at the track, but that doesn’t mean I’ll perform exactly like them,” Justin said. “We’re in totally different equipment and with a new team. But you can’t help but think about the things that happened here.”

Allison comes into Pocono off his best season performance to date, a seventh-place showing at Toledo Speedway on May 18.

Allison is slated to run in about 10 ARCA races this season. He’s already run three so far: Daytona (finished 36th), Talladega (19th) and Toledo (seventh).

“There really is no way to prepare for this type of track other than figuring it out myself,” Allison said. “I don’t do any sort of simulator racing or watch videos like some drivers may.

“I think it’s best to just feel the track out myself. If something isn’t working, I’ll just go to my crew chief (Howard Bixman) or teammate, Grant Enfinger, for advice. They seem to always give me the best approach at what to do and not do.”

Enfinger is certainly a fountain of information: he continues to lead the series points standings, including starting the season with three consecutive wins.

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IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

By Mar 27, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT
IndyCar video game 2024
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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”