NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, June 27th

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Major headlines out of Wednesday & Thursday:

Previewing Atlanta, Lime Rock, and the In-Season Challenge
T.J. Puchyr to Purchase Rick Ware Racing
More 23XI/FRM/NASCAR Lawsuit Updates
Best Driver ESPY Nominees Announced

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Previewing Atlanta, Lime Rock, and the In-Season Challenge:

NASCAR’s summer is heating up with a packed weekend of racing and the launch of the In-Season Challenge. This five-race, bracket-style tournament pits 32 Cup Series drivers against each other in head-to-head matchups, culminating in a $1 million prize for the winner. The competition begins at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) and continues through Chicago, Sonoma, Dover, and Indianapolis. Fans can also participate in a fantasy bracket challenge with a matching $1 million prize. TNT and truTV will broadcast the races, with alternate coverage focused on the bracket matchups.

The Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway headlines the weekend for the Cup Series, with Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric as the top betting favorites. The Xfinity Series returns for the Focused Health 250, where Austin Hill looks to extend his dominance, having won five of the last six races there. Up north, the Craftsman Truck Series makes its debut at Lime Rock Park, a fast and technical road course in Connecticut. The LiUNA! 150 features a mix of series regulars and road course specialists, including Jordan Taylor, Cam Waters, and Thomas Annunziata.

On the media front, Amazon Prime’s recent coverage drew younger audiences, despite a dip in overall viewership. After Prime’s stint, TNT Sports takes over coverage for the same number of races, returning as a broadcast partner for the first time since 2014.

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
Motorsports ‘Hot or Not’ #2

T.J. Puchyr to Purchase Rick Ware Racing:

T.J. Puchyr, co-founder of Spire Motorsports, has entered into an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing (RWR), marking his return to NASCAR team ownership. The acquisition is set to take effect for the 2026 season, with plans to expand the team into a three-car operation by 2027. Rick Ware will remain involved as a partner, and his son Cody Ware will continue driving the No. 51 car.

Puchyr, who previously dove into NASCAR ownership by purchasing the charter from Furniture Row Racing in 2018 for $6 million with Spire, believes that current charters are significantly undervalued. He estimates their worth at $75 million or more and sees this acquisition as a strategic investment in the future of the sport. His confidence in the France family’s leadership and NASCAR’s direction underpins his bullish outlook.

RWR currently holds two charters—one in use for Cody Ware and another leased to RFK Racing for Ryan Preece’s No. 60 car. However, the second charter is at the center of a legal dispute with Legacy Motor Club, which claims it had a deal to purchase the charter for 2026. Puchyr has expressed willingness to resolve the matter amicably with Legacy co-owner Jimmie Johnson but criticized the public nature of the lawsuit. Puchyr’s charter ambitions are more likely to be influenced by the 23XI/FRM/NASCAR lawsuit, which has potential to completely upend the business landscape of the sport.

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

More 23XI/FRM/NASCAR Lawsuit Updates:

In the latest developments in the antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR center on a key ruling around financial disclosures. Judge Bell has ordered 12 non-party Cup Series teams to provide limited financial data to NASCAR as part of the discovery process. These teams, which had signed the 2025 charter agreement, had resisted broader subpoenas citing competitive harm and privacy concerns. Judge Bell sided with the teams, requiring only anonymized, per-car annual averages of total revenue, costs, and net profits/losses dating back to 2014. This data will be compiled by an independent accounting firm and shared confidentially with NASCAR and the plaintiffs’ legal teams under a “Highly Confidential Attorneys’ Eyes Only” designation.

This ruling follows a contentious hearing in which teams argued that full disclosure could be “catastrophic” to competitive balance. NASCAR had sought a much broader range of documents, including sponsorship details, driver salaries, and communications about potential protests or disruptions. The judge’s decision represents a compromise, granting NASCAR some insight while protecting sensitive team data.

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

Best Driver ESPY Nominees Announced:

The nominees for the 2025 ESPY Award for Best Driver have been announced, featuring standout talent from across motorsports. The four finalists are NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, three-time and reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, and Formula One stars Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.

The ESPY Awards will be held on July 16 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, airing live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can vote for their favorite driver until 5 p.m. ET on the day of the show. If Logano wins, he would become the first NASCAR driver to claim the honor since Kyle Larson in 2022.

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

Miscellaneous:

Passing of Larry McClure:
Legendary NASCAR team owner Larry McClure, co-founder of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, has passed away at 81. His team was iconic in the 1990s, especially for its No. 4 Kodak car, which won three Daytona 500s and helped define NASCAR’s superspeedway era. Drivers like Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin brought the team success, and McClure’s legacy is remembered for his contributions to NASCAR’s growth and identity.

Spotter Shakeup at JGR:
Tab Boyd, a veteran spotter, has joined Joe Gibbs Racing to work with Christopher Bell after parting ways with Hyak Motorsports. Boyd replaces Matt Philpott, who had temporarily filled in following the departure of longtime spotter Stevie Reeves.

Ben Maier’s Truck Series Debut:
Sixteen-year-old Ben Maier will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Lime Rock Park with Young’s Motorsports. Known for his diverse racing background, Maier’s entry is supported by Executive Chevrolet and Skip Barber Racing School.

Jack Perkins Joins JGR for Chicago:
Australian Supercars driver Jack Perkins will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the Chicago Street Race with Joe Gibbs Racing. The deal came together mid-flight and includes sponsorship from Shaw and Partners Financial Services.

Sponsorship Highlights:

• Ty Gibbs will race a SONIC x Grillo’s Pickles-themed car at EchoPark Speedway.

• Denny Hamlin will debut a King’s Hawaiian-sponsored car at the same event.

• Jeremy Clements will run a patriotic scheme sponsored by Fly & Form Concrete Structures.

• Red Bull and WeatherTech will co-sponsor Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen in Chicago.

• Spencer Boyd secured a season-long deal with My Auto Store, debuting a primary scheme at IRP.

Mobil 1 Victory Lane on The CW:
The CW and Mobil 1 are launching “Mobil 1 Victory Lane” interviews at five Xfinity Series races, starting in Chicago. The initiative includes branded segments and aims to enhance fan engagement during post-race celebrations.

NASCAR and FloSports Simulcasts:
NASCAR and FloSports will simulcast seven grassroots and regional events, including the Snowball Derby Qualifying and the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, expanding access to short track racing via the NASCAR Channel and FloRacing.

Chicago Street Race Cultural Showcase:
The Chicago Street Race will feature performances by Aaron Nelson of The Lion King and the Soul Children of Chicago, highlighting local talent and community engagement during the July 4th weekend.

Sonoma Xfinity Race Gets New Sponsors:
Pit Boss Grills and FoodMaxx have been named co-title sponsors of the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway, continuing a long-standing partnership with The Save Mart Companies.

Dale Jr. Foundation’s Glove Auction:
The Driven to Give Gloves Program returns at Atlanta, with 70 drivers wearing and auctioning off skeleton-themed gloves to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Each pair is autographed by the driver and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Driver Ambassador Program Results:
Joey Logano topped the first term of NASCAR’s new Driver Ambassador Program, earning $1 million for his promotional efforts. Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney followed in second and third, respectively.

Sports Titan Partners with North Wilkesboro:
Sports Titan has partnered with North Wilkesboro Speedway to enter North Carolina’s sports betting market. The deal includes on-site kiosks and supports the state’s regulated betting framework.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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