Admittedly, I really don't watch/listen to news or sports information shows, and I intentionally don't have automatic news feeds/top stories populate my phone, and I'm not on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, etc., so a lot happens in the world that I'm usually the last to know about, and actually, that works fine for me.

But... Here's three racing related stories that maybe a few others out there may also not have been aware of as we get into the 2024 racing season:

1.  Simon Pagenaud has not returned to racing since his July 2023 crash at Mid Ohio, and in a recent statement, he said he is concentrating on his health in order to make a full recovery.  Like others who saw him interviewed right after the horrifying accident, I was relieved to see him walking and talking and able to remember everything that had happened and then some, so I mistakingly thought he had avoided serious injury, but sadly that was not the case as he continues to work toward a full recovery.

https://apnews.com/article/imsa-indycar-pagenaud-35a6755c25e73ccc5d1d17d1b61cc93c

https://simon-pagenaud.com/2024/01/22/better-times-ahead/

2.  Robert Hight is stepping away from his driving his NHRA Funny Car, and is taking a medical leave:  https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a46407415/nhra-funny-car-robert-hight-medical-leave/

3.  After completing a year in the Top Alcohol Dragster Division, Tony Stewart is now running a Top Fuel Dragster, with plans to run the entire season, and made his debut this past weekend at Gainsville:

https://apnews.com/article/tony-stewart-nhra-top-fuel-620254d35fcc5e4e603c1a2b76751024