By: Andy DeLay, Seriously Fast Motorsports
The palm trees are swaying in the warm Florida breeze, the yachts are moored in the harbor, and the smell of high-octane racing is back in the air. This year, the whine of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has a new, thunderous V-8 bass note. For the first time in its 31-season history, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is trading the high banks and road courses for the concrete canyons in its inaugural street course event: the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150.
This isn’t just another race; it’s a radical experiment in “heavy metal” physics. Watching a 3,400-pound NASCAR truck navigate the same 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit that usually hosts nimble IndyCars is going to be a sight to behold. I’ll be on the ground all weekend, splitting my time between the NTT IndyCar and NASCAR Truck garages to bring you every bit of the action.
The Ultimate Wildcard: Colin Braun in the No. 25 RAM
The talk of the garage is undoubtedly the return of Colin Braun. Driving the No. 25 Racing Veteran Driven RAM 1500 for Kaulig Racing, Braun is perhaps the only man in the field who truly knows what he’s in for.
With a resume deep in NASCAR Nationwide Series, Truck Series, and IMSA sports car success and a previous IndyCar start right here on these streets, Braun’s road-course prowess makes him the man to beat. However, even a veteran like Colin admits that this is a whole new world.
“No Notes, Just Nerves”
I caught up with Colin Braun earlier today, and the consensus at Kaulig Racing is one of cautious anxiety. “Nobody has any notes for an event like this,” Colin told me. “Usually, teams can look back at three or four years of data. Here? We’re starting from zero. It’s the first time these trucks have ever touched a street course.” He went on to say, “Passing is going to be at a premium,” Braun noted. “These trucks are large, bulky, and they weren’t exactly designed for 90-degree street corners. They’re going to be a handful on such a tight course. You’re going to see guys rubbing the concrete just to make the radius.”
What to Watch For
- The Braking Zones: How will these heavy trucks hold up after 80 laps of hard braking into Turn 1?
- The “Bulky” Factor: Unlike IndyCars, these trucks don’t have much room to spare. Side-by-side racing will likely end with someone in the tire barrier.
- Experience vs. Aggression: Will the road-course ringers like Braun out-finesse the series regulars, or will the “bump and run” translate to the streets?
Seriously Fast Motorsports will keep you updated from the paddock. It’s going to be a wild, noisy, and potentially chaotic weekend in St. Pete! See you at the track!
Image Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images