Igor Romanov apologizes, though he doesn’t want to take action. One in all two drivers from Ukraine within the NASCAR Whelen Euro Sequence, Romanov speaks English effectively, however there are occasions when he pauses, waves his arms, and searches for the precise phrase as he discusses the affect of warfare in his nation.
“It’s really hard when you are emotional, you forget some words,” he informed NBC Sports activities.
Romanov lived in Kyiv, Ukraine till Russian missiles rained on his metropolis and troops superior. The explosions have been distant, but the shock waves rattled his home windows.
“We need to go,” Romanov informed his spouse.
He, his spouse, 10-year-old son and the household cat fled the town shortly after the assault began in February. They traveled practically 350 miles to Lviv in western Ukraine.
Romanov sees movies and footage of the devastation in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Buildings he’s aware of are destroyed or broken. The shopping center destroyed by a missile — the impact caught on a security camera — he is aware of effectively. He was there a few weeks earlier than the warfare started when he had a gathering about having a brand new TV studio there.
In his position as a director of pictures at a Ukrainian TV station, he sees his hometown’s devastation every day. Even so, the notion is tough to fathom.
“I remember in my head, all these places are still like they were before the war,” he stated through Zoom. “I see the photos (of the damage). I post them on Facebook because I want the world community to see this crazy destruction.”
The photographs are painful to view.
“It’s really hard to see that,” Romanov stated. “I understand how many lives were destroyed, how many dreams were destroyed. It’s probably the hardest thing. I see how many children have died. It’s not a problem to build a new building or something like that (but) we will (not have those lives) back.”
A good friend of his, who was a cameraman, was killed in Mariupol, the besieged port metropolis that has been a focus within the warfare and faces a devastating humanitarian crisis.
As Romanov discusses the warfare, he talks about desires misplaced. That’s private to him. Whereas he’d all the time been a motorsports fan — he served as an announcer for NASCAR races on Ukraine TV till the warfare began — he dreamed of competing.
Romanov grew to become a fan of IndyCar racing within the late Nineteen Nineties. He purchased a satellite tv for pc system and shortly noticed NASCAR races.
“When I was watching the Daytona 500 for the first time in 2000, I said, ‘Wow, it is absolutely fantastic!’ I became a real big fan of NASCAR,” he stated.
Bobby Labonte grew to become Romanov’s favourite driver. When Labonte competed within the NASCAR Whelen Euro Sequence in 2017-18, Romanov met him and informed him of his want to race. Labonte inspired him to pursue his dream.
Romanov went to a racing faculty when he was 40 years previous. He made his EuroNASCAR2 debut in 2020 at age 44. Romanov made his EuroNASCAR Professional debut in 2021. He’s uncertain of his racing plans this season, however NASCAR has supplied some consolation in the best way groups and drivers have supported numerous causes for Ukraine.
“We are really grateful to the United States of America,” Romanov informed NBC Sports activities. “Really grateful for the NASCAR community, for Richard Childress, Roger Penske, Stefan Parsons, Hailie Deegan … Team Hendrick. It’s really important for us. We are proud to be Ukrainian. I want one day to come on one of the (NASCAR) circuits with the Ukrainian flag.”
Childress spurred a move to donate ammunition to Ukraine soldiers. Group Penske automobiles have decals of Ukraine flags, and the Penske Corporation made a $1 million donation to the World Central Kitchen, which supplies meals in response to humanitarian crises.
Parsons’ BJ McLeod Motorsports Xfinity car ran “Ukraine Strong” on the hood at Las Vegas. Deegan’s Truck for David Gilliland Racing had the Ukraine flag on the mattress of the car at Atlanta. Group proprietor Rick Hendrick and the Hendrick Automotive Group committed $200,000 to Samaritan’s Purse to support disaster assistance and pledged $2,000 toward Ukraine relief for each lap a Hendrick Motorsports automobile led at Las Vegas.
The donations are significant, simply as are photos of the Ukraine flag.
Yevgen Sokolovskiy, who’s from Odessa, Ukraine, additionally races within the NASCAR Whelen Euro Sequence and is rarely removed from his nation’s flag. Sokolovskiy, a fan of Jimmie Johnson as a result of they each drove the No. 48 in inventory automobiles, wears a blue-and-gold wristband that represents his nation’s flag together with his watch.
He’s additionally had Ukraine’s flag on his automobile.
“Last two years I have questions from people, ‘Why do you drive with the Ukraine flag? You’ve lived in Germany for 20 years,’” Sokolovskiy informed NBC Sports activities through Zoom. “I am a citizen of Ukraine. I have a Ukraine passport. … I am proud of my country.”
Whereas Odessa, Ukraine is just not on the frontlines, the warfare has impacted Sokolovskiy’s household. His mom and sister have been in Odessa when the warfare started.
That first day produced a flurry of calls and messages from family and friends all through the nation. He informed his mom to take his sister and depart. They did and are protected.
“We wait,” Sokolovskiy stated. “We’re looking every day at the news. We’re waiting for positive news.”
He additionally struggles with seeing the destruction in his nation.
“It’s not easy to see because it’s a very, very beautiful city, Kyiv,’ he said. “Very, very beautiful city Kharkiv. Odessa the same.”
The warfare has modified how Romanov views life. He used to look forward to summer time holidays, NASCAR Euro Whelen Sequence races, his subsequent broadcast and a doable journey to the U.S. to go to NASCAR shrines, together with Daytona Seashore’s Streamline Lodge, the birthplace of NASCAR.
However now?
“I’m thinking only about tomorrow because I don’t know how the situation will change in the next couple of hours,” he stated. “I don’t know. I’m worried about the lost dream. It’s really important. When you have a dream, you have the possibility to move, to do something not only for you personally but for all people around you.
“First thing I realized when I come with my family to a more safe place than Kyiv … I’m worried they lost this dream. The night before, I’m thinking about my future, the future of my family. … After (Feb. 24) I didn’t understand the future. I didn’t understand if we will wake up tomorrow or not.
“Now, I believe we’ll get our dreams in our hearts. I think it’s really important for every people on our planet. … After my broadcasts of NASCAR Cup races on Ukrainian TV, I told my audience, ‘You may believe in your dream. Your dream knows the way. If you believe in your dream, you will find the right way.’
“Now, I think every one of us need to believe in our dream.”
2. Cup future?
Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner of JR Motorsports, says “the window is not closed” for a possible shift to Cup, however she informed NBC Sports activities’ Zach Sturniolo this week that the timing would should be proper.
JR Motorsports has looked at a Cup operation however there have been a number of challenges. These have ranged from buying a constitution to if the staff would wish one other associate since co-owner Rick Hendrick must divest from the staff as a result of no particular person can have possession in multiple Cup staff.
A number of groups have entered Cup just lately due to the potential long-term financial savings with the Subsequent Gen automobile. Reside Quick Motorsports, 23XI Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Petty GMS Motorsports and Kaulig Racing all have joined Cup as full-time groups since 2021.
“To me, it’s all about timing,” Earnhardt Miller stated. “What’s going to make sense, right? So, we were thinking through it last year, in terms of the new car. Obviously, that kind of propelled our thought process on … that barrier of entry and … what we thought would be more competitive.”
She stated staff officers had conversations about charters, however issues didn’t fall into place to do a deal.
“I’m really all about timing,” Earnhardt Miller stated. “I don’t like to rush things. If I absolutely feel 100 percent good about it, I’m ready to pull the trigger. But if I have reservations, I’m ready to do my due diligence.”
She and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have relied on Hendrick for assist as they contemplated a Cup operation.
“He was our first call because there’s not much that he’s put his finger on that hasn’t went well,” Earnhardt Miller stated. “How do we do this? Can we do this? What do you think about us doing this? And they’ve been right alongside of us to try to answer questions and help us navigate what it could look like.”
If JR Motorsports had a Cup staff, what would the possession construction appear like with Hendrick having to divest?
“In a perfect world, I don’t want partners,” Earnhardt Miller informed NBC Sports activities. “I like doing things. I think we’re capable of doing things, where we have a great group here and management here and would have to fill out our team.”
She additionally acknowledges {that a} new associate may gain advantage a transfer to Cup.
“We have a good track record, we’ve got a great brand in JR Motorsports, we’ve got a great personality with Dale Jr.,” Earnhardt Miller stated. “He really wants to participate and be in the Cup Series. So, you know, in the perfect world, we would either be majority (owner) or not have a partner but, you know, the world’s not perfect.”
3. Larger parity
A median of seven completely different groups are recording top-10 finishes per race by way of the primary six occasions of the season. Final 12 months, a mean of 6.1 completely different groups scored top-10 finishes per race by way of the primary six occasions.
Throughout Wednesday’s MotorMouths (6-7 p.m. ET Mondays and Wednesdays on Peacock), the panel was requested who they have been frightened about. NASCAR on NBC analyst Kyle Petty, noting the stability within the sport, took a unique strategy.
“I’m worried about the establishment and what I mean by that is Hendrick, Penske and Gibbs,” Petty stated. “The guys that run up front week in and week out. Eight cars in the top 10 with two organizations. … These guys are showing up individually, Kyle Busch might show up. Joey Logano might show up. If we look at it, this past weekend at COTA, six different organizations in the top 10.
“We’ve had races where nine different organizations were in the top 10. Where is the establishment? Where is that cornerstone that what we felt was the solid part of the sport, the sharp end of the stick, those guys dominating week in and week out. They haven’t shown up.
“I’m not saying they won’t show up. I am concerned … I am concerned because they haven’t shown up. … They had all the opportunities to show up before JTG showed up, before Petty GMS showed up, before Trackhouse showed up. They had every opportunity to be the first guys out of the gate and they’re not.”
No group has had a automobile place within the prime 10 in all six races this 12 months. Final 12 months, Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing every had a minimum of one automobile place within the prime 10 in every of the primary six races.
In three races a 12 months in the past, Hendrick and JGR automobiles mixed for 60% of the highest 10. That’s occurred solely as soon as this 12 months (each groups mixed for 70% of the highest 10 at Las Vegas).
4. Return to Victory Lane
Whereas this season has been celebrated for having three first-time winners within the the primary six factors races, it additionally implies that a variety of former champions have but to achieve Victory Lane this season.
Reigning Cup champ Kyle Larson is the one former champion to win a factors race within the sequence this 12 months (Joey Logano gained the Conflict on the Coliseum exhibition race).
Here’s a have a look at the winless streaks for former Cup champions getting into Sunday’s race at Richmond Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on Fox):
49 races – Kevin Harvick
35 races – Joey Logano
32 races – Brad Keselowski
23 races – Kyle Busch
22 races – Chase Elliott
21 races – Kurt Busch
14 races – Martin Truex Jr.
4 races – Kyle Larson
5. Younger expertise
Three drivers are scheduled to make their Xfinity debut Saturday at Richmond. That equals the variety of drivers who’ve made their sequence debut within the first 5 races of the season.
Making their debut Saturday are: Derek Griffith, Rajah Caruth and Howie DiSavino III.
Griffith, 25, is the 2018 Professional All Stars champion. DiSavino, 21, grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia, which is a brief drive to Richmond Raceway. Caruth, 19, started racing less than three years ago.
Griffith will drive the No. 26 for Sam Hunt Racing. Caruth will drive the No. 44 for Alpha Prime Racing. DiSavino might be within the No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing.
Parker Chase has one of the best end this season for a driver making their sequence debut. He positioned nineteenth final weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Nick Sanchez was twenty sixth at Phoenix. Parker Retzlaff was thirty sixth at Phoenix after qualifying sixth.
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Friday 5: For 2 NASCAR drivers from Ukraine, war causes pain, grief initially appeared on NBCSports.com
