NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, April 25th

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Major headlines out of Wednesday and Thursday:

Previewing the Talladega Weekend
2025 All-Star Race Format
Rodney Childers Splits with Spire Motorsports
Appeals Panel Upholds RCR Jesse Love DQ

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Previewing the Talladega Weekend:

The Cup Series returns to Talladega Superspeedway for the Jack Link’s 500 this coming Sunday. The race marks the 10th event of the season. The high-banked oval is known for its thrilling and unpredictable racing, often resulting in dramatic finishes and major wrecks. Tyler Reddick, who won last year's spring race, is among the favorites, along with other top contenders like Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch. The race will be broadcast on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The weekend also features the Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 on Saturday. The Xfinity race has seen Chevrolet dominate, winning the last 11 races at Talladega. Austin Hill, known for his prowess on drafting tracks, is a key driver to watch. The ARCA General Tire 200 will also take place on Saturday, adding to the packed schedule.

In addition to the racing action, country music star Justin Moore will headline the Saturday Night Concert, and Joey Logano will be inducted into the Talladega Walk of Fame. Bobby Allison's 1969 Mercury Cyclone will be driven around the track by his grandson during pre-race ceremonies, honoring the NASCAR legend.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

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2025 All-Star Race Format:

The 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will feature several new elements and changes aimed at enhancing the excitement and competitiveness of the event. The main race will be extended from 200 to 250 laps, with a competition caution scheduled around lap 100. A new "Promoter's Caution" can be thrown at any point before lap 220, unless a natural caution occurs after lap 200, adding an element of unpredictability.

A significant addition is the Manufacturer Showdown, where Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota will compete for the best combined overall finish. The teams will be determined by the least represented manufacturer, and an equal number of drivers from the other two manufacturers will be selected based on their final All-Star grid positions. The lowest combined total of finishing positions will determine the winning manufacturer.

Qualifying for the All-Star Race will be combined with the All-Star Open, allowing all pit crews to participate in the Pit Crew Challenge. The qualifying format includes three laps with a mandatory four-tire pit stop on the second lap. The fastest pit crew will win the challenge and determine the order of pit selection.

The All-Star Open will be a 100-lap race with a competition caution at lap 40. The top two finishers and the winner of the fan vote will advance to the main event. The heat races, each 60 laps, will determine the starting lineup for the All-Star Race, with the first heat race setting the inside row and the second heat race setting the outside row.

Drivers eligible for the All-Star Race include those who have won a points event in 2024 or 2025, former All-Star Race winners who compete full-time, and full-time drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series championship. The event promises to deliver intense competition and strategic racing, making it a thrilling spectacle for fans.

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Rodney Childers Splits with Spire Motorsports:

Rodney Childers and Spire Motorsports have mutually agreed to part ways after the first nine races of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Childers, a championship-winning crew chief, joined Spire Motorsports in July 2024 to lead Justin Haley's No. 7 Chevrolet team. Despite their efforts, Haley is currently 23rd in the driver standings, with an average finish of 20.2 and a best result of 10th.

Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson stated that the decision was made after evaluating the team's progress during the break in the Cup Series schedule. He acknowledged Childers' contributions and experience but noted challenges with the team dynamic. Childers echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for his time at Spire and indicating his plans to focus on family and friends while considering his next steps in the racing world.

Ryan Sparks, the team's Director of Competition, will take over as Haley's crew chief for the remainder of the season. Sparks has previous experience as a crew chief with Spire Motorsports, having worked with Corey LaJoie before Haley joined the team.

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Appeals Panel Upholds RCR Jesse Love DQ:

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the disqualification of Jesse Love and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway. Love failed post-race inspection due to the mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle not being in complete contact.

The appeals panel, consisting of Bill Mullis, Hunter Nickell, and Steve York, confirmed the violation and upheld NASCAR's decision. The panel could not determine whether the infraction was intentional or unintentional but found that the rule had been violated. As a result, Love was relegated to a 37th-place finish, and Sammy Smith of JR Motorsports was declared the race winner.

Richard Childress Racing expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated their intention to focus on upcoming races, starting with the event at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite the disqualification, Love remains fourth in the series standings and has one win this season, securing his spot in the NASCAR playoffs.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

Kyle Larson's Crash During Indy 500 Testing: Kyle Larson, attempting to run his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 and complete the rare 'Double' with the Coca-Cola 600, crashed during a qualifying simulation run at the Indy 500 Open Test. Larson's car experienced understeer in Turn 1, causing him to hit the wall and break the right-front suspension. He was uninjured and cleared by medical staff. Larson expressed relief at surviving his first IndyCar crash and plans to work on improving the car's balance before returning to practice in May.

Chad Finchum's Return to NASCAR Cup Series: Chad Finchum will drive the No. 66 Ford Mustang for Garage 66 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 4. Finchum, who has a strong track record at Texas, is excited to compete again with sponsorship from Hart HVAC & Electric and Winsupply. This will be Garage 66's third start of the season.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s NOS Energy Drink Sponsorship: Hyak Motorsports announced a multi-race sponsorship with NOS Energy Drink for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro. The partnership will begin at Talladega on April 27 and continue throughout key NASCAR Cup Series events.

Patrick Emerling's Sponsorship for Talladega: Patrick Emerling announced a partnership with MAD Heavy Haul for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Emerling is optimistic about his performance, recalling his previous success at Talladega.

Ryan Ellis' Sponsorship for Texas: Eclipse Claims Consulting will sponsor Ryan Ellis and DGM Racing's No. 71 Chevrolet for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 3. Ellis expressed gratitude for the continued support from Eclipse Claims Consulting, highlighting their role in helping individuals recover from property losses.

Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America: The 29th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America will commence on May 3, traveling from Traverse City, Michigan to Hot Springs, Virginia. The ride, which raises funds for children's charities including Victory Junction, will feature stops at notable landmarks and NASCAR circuits. Kyle Petty emphasized the sense of community and family that develops among the riders during the week-long journey.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

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