Give thanks: NASCAR announcer Steve Byrnes shows ‘progress’ in cancer battle

By Jerry BonkowskiNov 27, 2014, 2:16 PM EST
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One of the nicest guys in NASCAR media, Steve Byrnes of Fox Sports, is also one of the classiest.

As Byrnes of continues to do battle with a second bout of head-and-neck cancer, he not only offered friends and fans a promising new update on his fight with Stage 4 cancer, he also took time to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Here’s Byrnes’ tweet from Wednesday evening:

A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is a type of imaging test that searches for cancer cells in the body.

This is Byrnes’ second go-round with cancer. He initially appeared to have won his first battle earlier this year, but the disease came back with a vengeance nearly two months ago.

Still, Byrnes is a fighter and we pray there will be even more good news coming ahead.

Have a good Thanksgiving with your family, Steve. We’re thankful we know you and look forward to seeing you back at the track soon, strong and cancer-free.

Follow me @JerryBonkowski

IndyCar teams with NASCAR on IMS road course doubleheader in 2021

IndyCar NASCAR doubleheader 2021
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
By Nate RyanSep 30, 2020, 11:05 AM EDT
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The NTT IndyCar Series will be sharing Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the NASCAR Cup Series in a race weekend doubleheader for the second consecutive season, but both series will be on the road course in August 2021.

IMS announced Wednesday that IndyCar will hold an Aug. 14, 2021 race on its 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. It’ll be a day before NASCAR’s premier series runs the same layout for the first time after the Brickyard 400 was contested on the 2.5-mile oval for the first time in 27 years.

This season’s rescheduling of the IndyCar GMR Grand Prix to July 4, 2019 (a day before the Brickyard 400) led to the first NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader weekend. The Xfinity Series also raced on the IMS road course for the first time July 4 after the IndyCar race ended.

INDYCAR AT IMS THIS WEEKEND: Harvest GP schedule, entry lists

IndyCar will be holding its second race weekend this year at the IMS road course Friday and Saturday with the Harvest GP.

“Our first NASCAR-INDYCAR weekend was a big success last July, with positive feedback from
our loyal fans who watched the races on NBC and from the drivers, teams and participants
involved,” IMS president Douglas Boles said in a statement. “The Xfinity Series’ debut on the IMS road course provided exactly the kind of thrilling action from the green to checkered flags that we anticipated, so we know the teams and drivers of the Cup Series will put on a great show as they turn left and right for the first time at IMS.

“We can’t wait to welcome back fans to see NASCAR and INDYCAR together during this
exciting weekend as we add another memorable chapter in the long, storied history of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

It also will mark the first NASCAR Cup-IndyCar doubleheader with a crowd as fans weren’t permitted at IMS in July because of the novel coronvavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Over the course of Wednesday, NASCAR is releasing its 36-race slate for next season. IndyCar has yet to release its full 2021 schedule.