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Can RFK maintain speed on the West Coast Swing?

At one time, the NASCAR Cup Series teams led by Jack Roush were among the toughest and most competitive in the sport. To demonstrate that, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch won championships for the ‘Cat in the Hat’ in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Those efforts were then followed up by the organization placing all five of its teams in the ‘NASCAR Chase’ as it was called back in 2005. Although the early 2000’s proved to be the high water mark, Roush Fenway Racing, as it came to be know later, remained a powerful force in the sport for the next…

Bubba Wallace and 23XI must prove prowess away from Super Speedways

In October of 2021 at Talladega Super Speedway, Bubba Wallace made history when he became the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since Wendell Scott triumphed in the 1964 Jacksonville 200. On Sunday, the driver of the No. 23 Toyota came up just short of making even more history when he was just edged at the finish line by Austin Cindric in the 64th running of the Daytona 500. It was the second time Wallace had finished in the runner-up position in ‘The Great American Race’ after he followed Austin Dillon to the checkered flag in…

An unexpected winner that should not have been unexpected

When Michael McDowell slipped through the carnage of the last lap to win the 2021 Daytona 500 it was appropriately labeled as an upset win by an underdog. After all, the Front Row Motorsports driver had toiled for years in the NASCAR Cup Series with teams that do not rank as top tier operations without winning a single race. Despite the fact that his previous record on super speedways had been noteworthy, he was far from being labeled as the favorite going into that race. Some might look at Austin Cindric’s victory in this year’s Daytona 500 in a similar…

Daytona 500: Starting Lineup, Pre-Race Analysis, and a Predicted Winner

Analysis There are more question marks going into the 64th running of the Daytona 500 than perhaps any other edition of ‘The Great American Race’. Drivers and teams face a number of unknowns that have never been faced before as the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its 2022 season with it new Next Gen car. How will the Next Gen car react in large packs for such a long period of time? Will drivers race more cautiously because of the shortage of cars and parts? Is the car safe? How will pit stops and pit strategy play out with changes…

NASCAR stars aren’t recognized by the younger generation

We all have a tendency to live in our own little worlds in which we think everyone around us is in tune with the same things we are. Whether it be in the fields of politics, religion or sports fandom we are often surprised or even shocked when we learn that those we work with, are friends with, or see frequently at the business we patronize do not have the same depth of knowledge or concern about the subjects we consider important. That was made abundantly clear to me on Friday. By trade, I am a social studies teacher at…

Daniel Hemric ready to face the challenge of his new opportunity

For the better part of a decade, followers of NASCAR racing have thought that Daniel Hemric was a highly talented driver who was on the cusp of a major breakthrough season. That big win or that groundbreaking moment was due at any time was the belief of many. But when the Kannapolis, North Carolina driver landed a full-time ride in the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in 2019, the results fell short of expectations. Hemric’s one and only full season at the top level of the sport netted no wins and only one…

The real value of the Clash is about to reveal itself

The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum was a success in every aspect for NASCAR. There was a great deal of buzz leading into the race held inside the city limits of Los Angeles and, as isn’t always the case with heavily anticipated sporting events, the contest lived up to the hype. The stadium was virtually full of spectators, there was plenty of excitement, and the racing was entertaining with just enough beating and banging to make it interesting but not tiresome. And on Tuesday, NASCAR got what was probably the best news of all. The television audience was better…

Let’s not get carried away with stadium racing

We’ve all seen it many times. A new song comes out that’s all the rage and consequently it gets played over and over again. Soon, everyone has grown tired of the song that not long ago was at the top of the charts. And before long, that song and the band that performed it have faded into obscurity. Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles went about as well as NASCAR could have hoped. The crowd was big and enthusiastic, the racing was good, and everyone was complimentary of the show and its execution. It was a…

L.A. Coliseum is a big gamble but it’s worth the risk

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is no stranger to big events. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl I and the Miami Dolphins topped the Washington Redskins to win Super Bowl VII on the grounds of that stadium. And that’s not all. This building is the only venue in the world to have ever hosted the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the Olympic Games. This weekend, however, the L.A. Coliseum may very well host the most unique event in its storied history when the NASCAR Cup Series stages its season-opening Busch Light Clash…

Phoenix Next Gen Test Important for Numerous Reasons

Give credit where credit is due. NASCAR is not going to force its teams to roll into the 2022 season without ample track time to test the Next Gen car. Although there have been reports that the cars are in somewhat short supply, the Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Charlotte Roval, and even Bowman-Gray Stadium have played host to the Cup Series over the most recent weeks and months as teams have put the new racer through its paces during the winter and even back into the fall of last season. And that testing is…