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.

What Rally Co-Drivers Know About Giving Instructions That Actually Land Image: Ozicab Racing/Unsplash

Image: Ozicab Racing/Unsplash

What Rally Co-Drivers Know About Giving Instructions That Actually Land

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Everyone focuses on the driver in a rally car, but the person doing the hardest cognitive work...

Endurance Racing Explained: Why the 24-Hour Format Is Motorsport’s Toughest Test Night at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Night at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Endurance Racing Explained: Why the 24-Hour Format Is Motorsport’s Toughest Test

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Most motorsport tests a car and driver for an hour or two at a time. Endurance racing...

Lia Block Won Her First National Rally. The Real Story Is a 19-Point Swing in One Weekend. Photo by Miloslav Rejha via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Photo by Miloslav Rejha via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Lia Block Won Her First National Rally. The Real Story Is a 19-Point Swing in One Weekend.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Lia Block finally has an overall national rally win on her résumé, and it took a season...

Brad Pitt Is Bristol’s Grand Marshal. The Real Pressure Is on the Points Sheet. Photo: Nascar9919, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Nascar9919, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brad Pitt Is Bristol’s Grand Marshal. The Real Pressure Is on the Points Sheet.

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Brad Pitt’s newest job title is Grand Marshal, but the résumé line that actually got him the...

Indy Handed Out Four Trophies and Three New Points Leaders — and They Weren’t the Same People Photo by Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo by Michael Barera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Indy Handed Out Four Trophies and Three New Points Leaders — and They Weren’t the Same People

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Indianapolis used to make this simple: win the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day, and you had the...

Arrow McLaren Traded Christian Lundgaard for Two Indy 500 Winners — and the Timing Makes It Sting More Image: Patrick Konior/Unsplash

Image: Patrick Konior/Unsplash

Arrow McLaren Traded Christian Lundgaard for Two Indy 500 Winners — and the Timing Makes It Sting More

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Alex Palou got the trophy at Milwaukee. He’d already clinched title No. 5 — four in a...

Michelin Keeps Its Hypercar Tire Deal Through 2032, But the FIA Made It Compete for the Job First Image: Máté Dudás/Unsplash

Image: Máté Dudás/Unsplash

Michelin Keeps Its Hypercar Tire Deal Through 2032, But the FIA Made It Compete for the Job First

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Michelin just found out that keeping a job it has held for the better part of three...

Ford’s WEC Hypercar Finally Hits the Track, and the Prep Work Behind It Is the Real Story Photo: Jeff James / Unsplash (royalty-free)

Photo: Jeff James / Unsplash (royalty-free)

Ford’s WEC Hypercar Finally Hits the Track, and the Prep Work Behind It Is the Real Story

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Ford Racing’s new Hypercar broke cover in a blue-and-white camouflage wrap at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern...

Max Verstappen’s Silverstone Kart Race Against 100 Amateurs Is Smarter Than It Sounds Photo: Lukas Raich, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo: Lukas Raich, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Max Verstappen’s Silverstone Kart Race Against 100 Amateurs Is Smarter Than It Sounds

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

On September 16, Max Verstappen is going to start a race in last place on purpose, against...

MotoGP’s 2027 Reset Is Official — Smaller Engines, Synthetic Fuel, and Zero Volts of Hybrid Assistance Image: Riccardo Farinazzo/Unsplash

Image: Riccardo Farinazzo/Unsplash

MotoGP’s 2027 Reset Is Official — Smaller Engines, Synthetic Fuel, and Zero Volts of Hybrid Assistance

Johnny Puckett October 20, 2026

Somewhere in Brno this summer, the five manufacturers who spend their weekends trying to beat each other...