There’s an adage that suggests “if you don’t like the weather in New England, wait five minutes.” Unfortunately, every time we tried to do that for elimination rounds at the NHRA New England Nationals, Mother Nature came up with something even less likeable.

I had been looking forward to catching up somewhere down the line this year. After all, it seemed like there’d be plenty of opportunities. Instead, I’m reckoning, as with the rest of our world, with the fact that Ken Block is gone.

Earlier this month, Rob MacCachren’s familiar black-and-white machine rolled up on both the inaugural California 300 and Best in the Desert’s season-ending Laughlin Desert Classic and took two Unlimited Truck class wins in two weeks. But while the name on the roof rail and the number looked familiar, the face behind the wheel was a new one: Cayden MacCachren, the son of the legend himself.

Scott Dixon’s 2022 Indy 500 pole-winning run broke a record that had stood since 1996. That year’s qualifying battle came down to two veterans and a unique moment in the race’s history.