Inside Circle Track

Turn 2 Blog: Why do pit crews keep making mistakes?

*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideCircleTrack.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the NASCAR and pavement short track racing topics of the day. Are the start times for NASCAR races appropriate? Richard: The start times for NASCAR races have been a point of contention among fans and media for several years now. The Cup Series race held in Nashville did not take the green flag until after 5:00pm(eastern), and very predictably in the heat of a Southern summer, thunderstorms became an issue. Many would argue that had the race…

Chase Elliott sings winning song in Nashville

June 26, 2022 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service LEBANON, Tenn. – In a race twice delayed by lightning, Chase Elliott stole the thunder from a contingent of Toyota drivers who showed early dominance. After a late caution slowed the action in Sunday’s Ally 400, Elliott remained on the track and led the field to a restart with four laps left at Nashville Superspeedway. Elliott pulled away from runner-up Kurt Busch and powered his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet across the finish line with a margin of .551 seconds. In fashioning his second NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season,…

NASCAR needs the Nashville market

When Formula 1 raced earlier this year in Miami, it was an event. A happening. A place to see and be seen. While none of that was important from a racing standpoint, it was important from the standpoint of drawing attention to the sport in the right circles. Those who simply love racing for its own sake may scoff at the notion that celebrity appearances and corporate VIPs gathering in a luxury suite are important for the sport, but the fact of the matter is that those sightings and sound bites from famous people and those with extreme financial resources…

Grueling stretch run awaits NASCAR Cup Series teams

It’s almost hard to believe the 2022 NASCAR season is already 16 weeks old. That said, it has been quite a 16 weeks with first time and surprise winners, a new car that has proven difficult to get a feel for, and even a few rivalries and even a little controversy. However, the top form of stock car racing in America pushed the pause button this past weekend in order to take a break from all that has happened so far. Hopefully NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams enjoyed the Father’s Day weekend they just had off because that will…

Turn 2 Blog: Trackhouse affirmed as a major player

*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideCircleTrack.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the NASCAR and pavement short track racing topics of the day. Trackhouse Racing has now won races with both of its drivers, likely placing each in the NASCAR Playoffs. Theirs is an amazing story, isn’t it? Richard: The win on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway by Daniel Suarez served as further affirmation that Trackhouse Racing is for real. Some might point to the circumstances that led to Ross Chastain’s victories at Circuit of the Americas and Talladega Super…

Following Goodyear’s Recommendations: Sacrificing Safety for More Speed

Following last Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois race winning crew chief Paul Wolfe from the Team Penske No. 22 Ford for driver Joey Logano fielded question during a NASCAR Media availability. Among the topics he addressed was that of the seemingly high number of tire failures that have been seen throughout the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. NASCAR’s new car, the Next Gen, has provided some challenges as well as some benefits to race teams. The car has also shown that it can provide excellent racing, particularly on some types of…

Did Ross Chastain actually say the right things after Gateway?

It has been well documented by now that Ross Chastain had an adventurous afternoon on Sunday in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois. Two incidents that either eliminated or hindered the chances of popular top contenders were attributed to the driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. And some of those drivers showed their displeasure to their offending rival throughout the remainder of the day. On lap 66 the Chastain driven machine made contact with the rear bumper of Denny Hamlin’s car sending the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota into…

Turn 2 Blog: Is there a right way to exact revenge?

*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideCircleTrack.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the NASCAR and pavement short track racing topics of the day. NASCAR re-introduced two tracks this past weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at World Wide Technology Raceway(formerly Gateway) just outside of St. Louis and the NASCAR Xfinity Series visited Portland International Raceway in Oregon. The great turnouts at each were encouraging, weren’t they? Richard: The track in the St. Louis area was new to the Cup Series but…

Rich’s Ramblings: My Disdain for Racing in the Rain

From time to time I plan to drop in a brief recording to offer a few thoughts. I plan to make most of these on the way to or from a race track on some topic that may be of interest but not necessarily for a written story. In this edition of Rich’s Ramblings I talk about my dislike for racing in the rain following Saturday’s Pacific Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway. Just click on the play button below to give it a listen. Please consider also reading: Don’t Blame the Damaged Vehicle Policy for Team Mistakes Richard Allen…

Don’t Blame the Damaged Vehicle Policy for Team Mistakes

Without a doubt, many if not all NASCAR Cup Series teams have, during this week, conducted reviews and refresher courses regarding the Damaged Vehicle Policy first implemented in 2017 and later tweaked by the sanctioning body. Two teams that looked to be in contention for a win in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway were eliminated from competition because of failure to meet the guidelines laid out by the DVP. Under those guidelines, a car deemed to be damaged by NASCAR following an incident must be repaired so that it can make a minimum speed established…