NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, March 28th

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media

Major headlines out of the Wednesday and Thursday:

Previewing the Weekend at Martinsville
Triple Truck Challenge Begins and Dash 4 Cash Continues
NASCAR 23XI FRM Lawsuit Updates

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Previewing the Weekend at Martinsville:

The upcoming NASCAR weekend at Martinsville Speedway is generating significant buzz, with multiple storylines and expectations for the Cook Out 400. The race is set to start at 3 p.m. ET this Sunday, March 30. Betting favorites for the race include Ryan Blaney (+450), Kyle Larson (+500), Denny Hamlin (+750), Chase Elliott (+750), and William Byron (+800). Weather could play a role, with scattered showers expected on race day.

Martinsville, known for its challenging short track, has seen recent success for drivers like Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin. Blaney, in particular, has excelled at Martinsville, winning the last two fall races and consistently finishing in the top five. Hamlin, with five Martinsville wins, remains a formidable competitor despite not having won there in recent years.

Chase Elliott, despite recent penalties and performance issues, remains optimistic as he heads to a track where he has historically performed well. Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott's team, is in a strong position with teammates William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Alex Bowman all showing impressive form this season. Byron leads the standings and has been particularly dominant, while Larson recently secured a win at Homestead.

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’ – Saturday, March 15th

Triple Truck Challenge Begins and Dash 4 Cash Continues:

The Triple Truck Challenge, also known as "The Trip," begins this Friday at Martinsville Speedway and continues at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 11, concluding at Rockingham Speedway on April 18. This incentive program has drivers competing for a $50,000 bonus for winning a race, $150,000 for winning two races, and a $500,000 prize for sweeping all three events.

Simultaneously, the Xfinity Series' Dash 4 Cash continues, a midseason four-race contest where the top four finishers from the previous race compete for a $100,000 bonus. Justin Allgaier, who won the first Dash 4 Cash event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will be joined by Sam Mayer, Austin Hill, and Sheldon Creed in the next race at Martinsville. Allgaier's recent form and past success at Martinsville make him a strong contender.

In other Truck Series news, Toyota is set to celebrate its 500th race in the Truck Series at Martinsville, highlighting its dominance with 236 victories and multiple championships since 2004. Corey Heim, leading the series standings, aims to extend Toyota's legacy, while Chevrolet's Grant Enfinger poses a significant challenge with his consistent top-10 finishes.

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

NASCAR / 23XI / FRM Lawsuit Updates:

The latest developments in the legal battle between NASCAR and the Cup Series teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have seen the teams filing a motion to dismiss NASCAR's recent counterclaim. This countersuit, filed by NASCAR on March 5th, alleges Sherman Act violations and conspiracy, specifically targeting Curtis Polk, co-owner of 23XI Racing and Michael Jordan's business manager.

23XI Racing and FRM have labeled NASCAR's countersuit as "an act of desperation" and argued that it lacks the necessary facts to state a claim. They assert that NASCAR is using the countersuit to intimidate other racing teams and suppress dissent. The teams also contend that NASCAR's allegations of a conspiracy are unfounded, as each team independently negotiated the charter agreements.

Additionally, FRM has requested to be dismissed from NASCAR's counterclaim, stating that NASCAR does not allege any specific conduct by FRM that would support the conspiracy claim. The teams argue that NASCAR's claims are retaliatory and do not fit into the narrow categories of blatantly anti-competitive agreements that courts summarily condemn as per se unlawful.

The legal proceedings continue, with an appeals hearing scheduled for May 9th to determine if 23XI and FRM can continue racing under the current charter agreement. The jury trial for the lawsuit, which will also consider NASCAR's counterclaims, is set for December 1st.

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

Miscellaneous:

Joey Logano Calls for Homestead Pit Road Changes: Joey Logano has urged Homestead-Miami Speedway to widen its pit road, citing safety concerns for pit crew members. Logano's comments follow a pit road incident involving Josh Berry and Kyle Larson. Despite Homestead not being among the narrowest pit roads in the Cup Series, Logano emphasized the potential dangers and suggested making pit road 10 feet wider to improve safety.

IndyCar and NASCAR Programming Clash: Fans were frustrated by the scheduling overlap between the IndyCar race at Thermal and the NASCAR Cup race at Homestead. FOX Sports explained that the clash was unavoidable due to time zone differences and programming constraints. Despite the overlap, there will be no further direct conflicts between IndyCar and NASCAR races for the rest of the 2025 season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hosts Red Bull Soapbox Race: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will host the Red Bull Soapbox Race on Discovery Channel, premiering April 29. The event features teams building non-motorized contraptions and racing them down obstacle-filled tracks. Earnhardt Jr. expressed excitement about the challenge and the opportunity to witness the creative and chaotic races.

Kyle and Brexton Busch Compete Head-to-Head: Kyle Busch and his 9-year-old son Brexton raced head-to-head for the first time at Millbridge Speedway. Kyle finished third while Brexton earned an impressive sixth-place result. Kyle expressed pride in his son's performance and looks forward to future competitions.

Beard Motorsports Returns to Cup Series: Beard Motorsports, along with driver Anthony Alfredo, will return to the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega for the Jack Link's 500. The team, founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., aims to improve on their previous sixth-place finish at Talladega. Alfredo and the team are determined to achieve better results this time around.

Dollar Tree Sells Family Dollar: Dollar Tree is selling Family Dollar for $1 billion, a fraction of its purchase price from a decade ago. The sale to private equity groups Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management is pending regulatory approval. It is not known at this time the impact to the current Legacy Motor Club sponsorship agreement.

SafetyCulture Sponsors Shane Van Gisbergen: SafetyCulture will sponsor Shane Van Gisbergen in eight NASCAR Cup Series races. Van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercar Champion, expressed excitement about continuing his partnership with SafetyCulture and competing in the Cup Series.

Canter Power Systems Sponsors Casey Mears: Canter Power Systems will sponsor Casey Mears at the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville. Mears, who is nearing his 500th Cup Series start, expressed appreciation for the support and looks forward to a productive weekend.

Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola Chase Milestones at Martinsville: Justin Allgaier aims to win his third consecutive race at Martinsville Speedway, following victories at Las Vegas and Homestead. He will compete for another Dash 4 Cash bonus. Aric Almirola, who swept both Martinsville races last year, will also be a strong contender.

Hendrick Motorsports Reveals Throwback Schemes for Darlington: Hendrick Motorsports has unveiled throwback liveries for the upcoming Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Kyle Larson's car will honor Terry Labonte's final win in the 2003 Southern 500, Chase Elliott's scheme will feature UniFirst colors, William Byron's car will pay tribute to Jeff Gordon's last ride in 2015, and Alex Bowman's car will reflect Jimmie Johnson's 2012 Southern 500 victory.

Christopher Bell Honors Mentor Rick Ferkel: Christopher Bell will celebrate Throwback Weekend at Darlington by honoring his mentor Rick Ferkel with special car designs. Bell credits Ferkel for his introduction to sprint car racing and will feature Ferkel's name and iconic number "0" on his cars.

William Byron's Darlington Throwback Scheme: William Byron's throwback scheme for Darlington will honor Jeff Gordon's final ride in the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Greg Biffle Named Honorary Pace Car Driver: Greg Biffle will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Biffle, a former NASCAR star, will lead the field to green during the event, which is part of Darlington's 75th Anniversary celebration.

Southern Elevator Sponsors Ryan Ellis: Southern Elevator will sponsor Ryan Ellis in three NASCAR Xfinity Series races, including a throwback scheme at Darlington. Ellis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honor his racing roots with a paint scheme reminiscent of his childhood racing days.

Ryan Vargas to Compete in NASCAR Canada Series: Ryan Vargas will run a majority of the NASCAR Canada Series schedule with DJ Kennington Racing. Vargas, who previously competed in the NASCAR Euro Series, aims to secure additional partners to run full-time. He expressed enthusiasm about expanding his racing portfolio and competing on Canadian tracks.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media