NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, February 28th

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Major headlines out of Thursday:

COTA Race Weekend Preview
NASCAR Talks Potential Playoff Changes

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the day.

COTA Race Weekend Preview:

The upcoming NASCAR race weekend will be at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. This event marks the first road course race of the season and features the new to NASCAR, shorter "National" layout, reducing the track length from 3.41 miles to 2.3 miles. This change aims to increase the number of laps and enhance the viewing experience for fans by providing more action and reducing long caution laps.

The weekend will also feature the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the IMSA Sports Car Challenge, with William Byron and Ross Chastain participating in both the Cup and Xfinity races. The event promises a mix of seasoned road course experts and emerging talents, making it a must-watch. The weather forecast is favorable, with temperatures expected to be in the high 70s to low 80s, ensuring ideal conditions for racing.

Among the key drivers to watch, Shane van Gisbergen, three-time Australian Supercars champion, stands out with his road course expertise and betting odds of +500. Similarly, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, making his Cup Series debut, is also a favorite with the same odds. Tyler Reddick, who won the 2023 COTA race, has odds of +750, with William Byron, this year’s Daytona 500 winner, is at +900. Christopher Bell, who finished second at COTA last year and won last week at Atlanta, shares the same odds as Byron. Kyle Larson, known for his versatility and multiple road course wins, has odds of +1000. Chase Elliott, one of the best road course racers in NASCAR with seven career victories, is at +1200. Ross Chastain, who won at COTA in 2022, and A.J. Allmendinger, known for his road course prowess, both have odds of +1400.

Overall, the COTA race weekend is set to be a thrilling event with a new track layout, a mix of veteran and rookie drivers, and a packed schedule of races and fan activities. This combination of factors makes it an exciting and highly anticipated event for both drivers and fans alike.

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

NASCAR Talks Potential Playoff Changes:

NASCAR is considering potential changes to its playoff system for the 2026 season. The NASCAR Playoff Committee, chaired by Ben Kennedy and including notable figures like Julia Landauer and Christopher Bell, recently held its first meeting at Daytona International Speedway. The committee, comprising active and Hall of Fame drivers, team owners, manufacturers, and media representatives, discussed various ideas to enhance the playoff format.

One proposal is to implement a seven-week playoff system followed by a three-race championship. Another suggestion is to reduce the playoff field from 16 drivers to 12 or 10. The discussions aimed to balance crowning a deserving champion with maintaining or increasing fan engagement. Christopher Bell, who has been vocal about his playoff frustrations, particularly after a controversial penalty at Martinsville, has been actively contributing to the discussions. He has proposed rotating the championship venue, with Las Vegas and Kansas as potential alternatives to Phoenix.

There are also rumors about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s involvement in the committee, advocating for a return to a season-long championship format. However, this remains unconfirmed. The committee's goal is to explore various ideas, both traditional and innovative, to ensure the playoff system remains competitive and engaging for fans. While no changes will be implemented for the 2025 season, the committee will continue to meet and refine their proposals throughout the year.

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

Miscellaneous:

Pocono Raceway will host "The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.com" on June 22, 2025, sponsored by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's administration. This event is part of a tripleheader weekend and will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, contributing significantly to the local economy.

Rockingham Speedway will see NASCAR's return with the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 and the Black’s Tire 200 on April 18-19, 2025. FirstHealth of the Carolinas will provide medical services for the event, ensuring health and safety for all attendees.

23XI Racing has expanded its partnership with Upper Deck, featuring the brand on Tyler Reddick's and Corey Heim's cars. This collaboration includes a premium memorabilia collection for fans.

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) announced a corporate restructuring to enhance growth, including new leadership roles for Dawn Turner, Amanda Palmer, and Josh Neely.

TNT Sports and Max have selected drivers for the NASCAR Driver Cam’s Featured Multiview during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, including Shane van Gisbergen, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and A.J. Allmendinger. Fans can vote for additional drivers to be featured.

Kaulig Racing has partnered with Black’s Tire Service to sponsor Christian Eckes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Darlington and Rockingham, celebrating grassroots racing.

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

Upcoming Changes to Rant Report:

At Rant Report, our mission is to keep you informed, while saving you time. However, when there is little or no news to share, sending a newsletter to your inbox goes against that mission.

For this reason, Rant Report will be shifting its schedule from five days a week to Monday/Wednesday/Friday only. Any news that would have previously been covered on Tuesday or Thursday will be combined with the Wednesday and Friday newsletters, respectively.

The Saturday Editorial and Sunday Race Day Preview will continue as normal.

This newsletter is constructed by AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

Check out our Source Materials Page for today’s 55 sources.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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