Johnny Puckett

Johnny Puckett is a staff writer at Backfire Racing, covering breaking news across NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, MotoGP, and rally racing.Staff Writer. Johnny covers breaking news across NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, MotoGP, and rally racing.

Rovanperä Is Talking to Toyota Again. A Blank-Slate 2027 Car Is the Best Argument for Coming Back Photo: Antti Leppänen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Photo: Antti Leppänen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

6 minutes read

Rovanperä Is Talking to Toyota Again. A Blank-Slate 2027 Car Is the Best Argument for Coming Back

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Toyota has confirmed talks over a 2027 WRC return for Kalle Rovanperä. The new WRC27 rules make...

Ford’s WRC Comeback Has a Two-Year Run-Up. The Real Test Is the 2029 Car Photo: M-Sport

Photo: M-Sport

Ford’s WRC Comeback Has a Two-Year Run-Up. The Real Test Is the 2029 Car

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Ford is back in the WRC as a factory team from 2028, but its purpose-built WRC27 car...

Rwanda Has F1’s African Grand Prix. Now It Needs a Racetrack Photo: Ericnkurunziza / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo: Ericnkurunziza / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Rwanda Has F1’s African Grand Prix. Now It Needs a Racetrack

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Rwanda signed a 10-year F1 deal. Now Bugesera must build a Grade 1 circuit from bare hillside.

Today in Motorsport History, October 8: Schumacher Wins at Suzuka and Ends Ferrari’s 21-Year Wait Photo: Morio / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Morio / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Today in Motorsport History, October 8: Schumacher Wins at Suzuka and Ends Ferrari’s 21-Year Wait

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

On October 8, 2000, Michael Schumacher beat Mika Häkkinen by 1.837 seconds at Suzuka to clinch the...

Aston Martin Went Eighth to Second at Fuji on Three New Tires. The LMGT3 Title Is Still Corvette’s to Lose. Photo: Aston Martin Racing

Photo: Aston Martin Racing

Aston Martin Went Eighth to Second at Fuji on Three New Tires. The LMGT3 Title Is Still Corvette’s to Lose.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

A three-tire final stop took the #27 Heart of Racing Vantage from eighth to second at Fuji....

Honda Made a Docuseries About 241.428 MPH. The Rulebook Is Why Nobody Beats It. McLaren Honda Andretti 2017 Indianapolis 500

McLaren Honda Andretti 2017 Indianapolis 500

6 minutes read

Honda Made a Docuseries About 241.428 MPH. The Rulebook Is Why Nobody Beats It.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Most motorsport records carry an unwritten asterisk that reads “until somebody builds a faster car.” Gil de...

Azerbaijan Grand Prix Preview: Baku’s Saturday Race Tests Antonelli’s 81-Point Lead Photo: The Presidential Press and Information Office of Azerbaijan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo: The Presidential Press and Information Office of Azerbaijan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix Preview: Baku’s Saturday Race Tests Antonelli’s 81-Point Lead

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Baku races on Saturday. The schedule, circuit, championship math, storylines and strategy variables for the 2026 Azerbaijan...

Rally Saudi Arabia Still Runs in November. The 2026 WRC Title Doesn’t Go With It. Photo by Lukas Raich via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo by Lukas Raich via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

7 minutes read

Rally Saudi Arabia Still Runs in November. The 2026 WRC Title Doesn’t Go With It.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Rally Saudi Arabia keeps its November date and loses its WRC status. Sardinia is now a one-rally...

Gateway’s Real Story Wasn’t Larson’s Win. It Was Three Brake Failures and a Widening Chase Gap. Photo: Nascar9919, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Nascar9919, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gateway’s Real Story Wasn’t Larson’s Win. It Was Three Brake Failures and a Widening Chase Gap.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Kyle Larson ended a 51-race winless streak on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, and...

Today in Motorsport History, September 17: Mercedes’ Tourist Trophy Sweep Became Its Last Win for Three Decades Image: Rnevarm/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Image: Rnevarm/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Today in Motorsport History, September 17: Mercedes’ Tourist Trophy Sweep Became Its Last Win for Three Decades

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

On September 17, 1955 — his 26th birthday — Stirling Moss and American co-driver John Fitch won...