Michael Moats – Inside Circle Track

Articles posted by Michael Moats

Phoenix and Bristol offer look at short track package

When the NextGen car was debuted in 2022, the hope was racing would improve for on the 1.5-mile and 2-mile tracks. Racing on those tracks was mediocre with the Gen6 car. The racing on those tracks was much improved but it came with a price. Short track racing suffered, something that had been the highlight of the NASCAR Cup Series for a number of years. NASCAR conducted a test session at Phoenix Raceway shortly after the 2023 season ended. Many consider Phoenix to race like a short track and team were already in the area to take place in a…

Gimmick or real racing: Atlanta provided exciting racing

I have been around racing all of my life. I got started in racing watching my uncle race on the short tracks of East Tennessee in the 1970’s. It was a thrill to go see him race nearly every week. My first exposure to NASCAR racing was in 1975 at Atlanta. It was called Atlanta International Raceway at the time. My dad’s best friend from high school lived in the area and invited us to come down. We made the trip and my eyes were wide open as I witnessed a big 1.533-mile track, something much larger than the 1/3-mile…

Should Daytona 500 lead-up be revamped?

The start of another NASCAR season is here. All teams are hoping to win races and compete for a championship. Since the mid 80’s, the Daytona 500 and the lead up events kicked off the start of the Cup season. It was in 1980 when NASCAR and Busch beer came up with the idea of the Busch Clash – a non-points race featuring the pole sitters from the previous season. It was a teaser for the upcoming Daytona 500 and combined with the ARCA race on the same day. Over the years, the Busch Clash format had been adjusted, more…

Chad Finchum looking for fresh start

Chad Finchum is no different than hundreds of other race car drivers across the country – looking to make it in NASCAR. The Knoxville, Tennessee native hopes his new opportunity will lead to bigger and better things in NASCAR. Finchum announced earlier this week he will be driving in three races for SS Greenlight Racing in the Xfinity series. Finchum will compete next weekend at Darlington plus races at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Finchum’s career started out promising. After winning the K&N East race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016, then car owner Eric McClure helped him get…

Pump the brakes on the NextGen car

NASCAR unveiled the much-anticipated NextGen car Wednesday afternoon. The new generation of Cup car is set to replace the current generation in 2022. Most of the comments have been positive following the unveiling of the new car. But before fans and media members shower tons of praise on the new car, the bottom line is whether the NextGen car is a good race car. Meaning, will the car produce competitive racing once it takes the track? In the looks department, the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Toyota Camry editions of the NextGen cars are the closest thing a Cup car…

Oh so close, Hamlin spoils upset bid for Bristol win

The unthinkable nearly happened at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night. A driver, who was informed he was losing his ride, almost picked up his first career win in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. Instead, Denny Hamlin spoiled the party to pick up the win. Matt DiBenedetto was informed earlier in the week he would no longer be the driver of the #95 Levine Family Racing Toyota for the 2020 season. Since the team has an affiliation with Joe Gibbs Racing, rumors persisted for weeks that DiBenedetto was in danger of losing his ride to either Christopher Bell or…

Looking at the 2019 Cup season at the All-Star break

The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series has reach its traditional All-Star break in the schedule. The break is a time for the teams evaluate where they are at this point of the season. There have been some interesting story lines and surprises as the Coca-Cola 600 approaches this weekend. The main story of the 2018 season was the “Big 3”, how Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr. were winning nearly all of the races. As the playoffs approached, the “Big 3” weren’t winning as much and it was Joey Logano that knocked off all three in the finale…

Kyle Busch rallies from early accident to win Food City 500

Kyle Busch is typically the favorite to win at Bristol. Heading into Sunday’s Food City 500, Busch had won 7 times at the half-mile in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. An eighth victory looked to be in doubt when Busch was tagged from behind on a lap 2 incident. Chase Elliott dominated the early stages of the race. The pole sitter was comfortably in charge until a lapped car made contact with Elliott that resulted in a flat tire and a spin. Elliott was so far ahead he was in 5th place when the caution waved. But Elliott would…

Welcome to Inside Circle Track

Welcome to the new Inside Circle Track site. This site is dedicated to NASCAR racing in the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series’. Started by Richard Allen and Michael Moats of Inside Dirt Racing, the site will bring news, features, blogs, and more from the world of NASCAR and select short track events. Thank you for checking us out and check back often as we get started adding new content.