NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, May 16th

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Major headlines out of the Wednesday and Thursday:

The Star-Studded All-Star Weekend
Chris Buescher & RFK Issued L1 Penalty
Kyle Larson's First Week in Indianapolis

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

The Star-Studded All-Star Weekend:

The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway is the third consecutive year the event is held at the historic 0.625-mile short track. Since the revival of the racetrack, there has been debate whether the annual Throwback Weekend, typically held at Darlington Raceway, should move to North Wilkesboro. Much of that discussion also centers around North Wilkesboro’s place on future schedules, if it will get a points race. For this year though, it is host to the All-Star Race, with the winner walking away with no points, but a one-million-dollar prize.

This year’s All-Star Race Format introduces several new elements:

1. The main event is extended to 250 laps.
2. A “promoter’s caution” can be thrown at the discretion of Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith between laps 100 and 220 to bunch up the field and add drama.
3. A Manufacturer Showdown will pit Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota against each other based on combined finishing positions.
4. The Pit Crew Challenge, now including Open teams, awards $100,000 to the fastest stop during qualifying.

The race weekend includes practice and qualifying on Friday, heat races on Saturday to determine the starting grid, and the All-Star Open and main event on Sunday. The Open allows non-qualified drivers to race their way into the All-Star Race, with the top two finishers and a fan vote winner advancing.

Kyle Larson, fresh off a dominant win at Kansas and a history of All-Star success, is the odds-on favorite. Joey Logano, the defending All-Star winner, is also a strong contender, alongside Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Christopher Bell. Bubba Wallace, a fan favorite and past All-Star runner-up, is expected to either race in or win the fan vote.

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

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Chris Buescher & RFK Issued L1 Penalty:

Chris Buescher and RFK Racing have been hit with a significant L1-level penalty by NASCAR following post-race inspection of Buescher’s No. 17 Ford after the race at Kansas Speedway. The infraction involved a violation of NASCAR rules regarding the front bumper cover, specifically exceeding the allowable area for reinforcement with bonded non-metallic materials.

As a result, NASCAR penalized both Buescher and the team 60 driver and owner points, along with five playoff points. Crew chief Scott Graves was suspended for two races, including the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, and the team was fined $75,000. Doug Randolph will serve as interim crew chief during Graves’ suspension. Buescher has dropped from 12th to 24th in the standings, going from 33 points above the playoff cutline to 27 points below it.

RFK Racing acknowledged the penalty and stated they are reviewing the situation to determine whether to appeal. NASCAR officials, including Cup Series managing director Brad Moran, emphasized that while teams are allowed to reinforce the bumper area, RFK exceeded the permitted boundaries, prompting the L1 classification rather than a harsher L2 penalty.

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

Kyle Larson's First Week in Indianapolis:

Kyle Larson’s ambitious attempt at completing the Memorial Day “Double” — racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day — is well underway.

Fresh off a win at Kansas Speedway, Larson competed in a sprint car race in Kokomo before diving into practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Across the first three days of practice, Larson logged over 200 laps, steadily improving his comfort and pace. His best lap so far placed him mid-pack among the 34 drivers vying for 33 starting spots. Despite a near-miss with a spinning car on Thursday, Larson emerged unscathed and continued to show consistency and adaptability.

Larson’s Indy 500 effort is part of a two-year collaboration between Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren. While he impressed in his 2024 debut — earning Rookie of the Year honors — weather delays prevented him from starting the Coca-Cola 600, prompting NASCAR to revise its playoff eligibility rules. Now, if Larson misses the start of the 600 for non-medical reasons, he must request a waiver and would forfeit all accrued playoff points, a significant penalty given his current series-leading 23 points.

To avoid a repeat of last year’s scheduling conflict, Hendrick Motorsports has prioritized NASCAR. Larson will skip Saturday’s All-Star heat races and Friday’s practice at North Wilkesboro, with Justin Allgaier filling in. If Larson qualifies for the Fast Six in Indy 500 qualifying on Sunday, he will forgo a shot at the pole to ensure he makes it to the All-Star Race. Despite the logistical challenges, Larson remains upbeat, saying he hopes to be in that “predicament” because it would mean his Indy car is fast.

Larson’s calm demeanor and relentless drive have impressed both NASCAR and IndyCar insiders. He’s been praised for his adaptability, work ethic, and ability to compartmentalize the demands of two elite racing disciplines. With support from Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren, and backup plans in place — including Tony Kanaan as a potential relief driver — Larson is poised to make history if all goes to plan.

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

Miscellaneous:

Amazon’s NASCAR Coverage Nearly Sold Out: Amazon Prime Video is reporting near sell-out status for its NASCAR advertising inventory ahead of its debut broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600. The platform will air five races and is introducing a new two-box commercial format, similar to its NFL coverage. The strong advertiser interest reflects growing momentum for NASCAR’s digital broadcast presence.

Jimmie Johnson’s 700th Start Tribute: Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will celebrate his 700th career start at the Coca-Cola 600 with a special Carvana-sponsored throwback paint scheme. The design pays tribute to his iconic No. 48 car and includes patriotic elements. Johnson, who debuted in the Cup Series at Charlotte in 2001, will also honor fallen Marine 1st Lt. Matthew Robert Davis as part of NASCAR’s “600 Miles of Remembrance.”

Josh Berry & Wood Brothers’ Throwback Scheme: Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team will honor their 1996 All-Star Race victory with a retro paint scheme for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. The design mirrors the one Michael Waltrip used when he won the Winston Select, a major moment in the team’s 75-year history. Berry, already locked into the main event thanks to a win at Las Vegas, expressed excitement about participating in the full weekend, including the Pit Crew Challenge and heat races.

RFK Racing Fan Day & Major Announcement: RFK Racing will host its annual Fan Day on May 23 at its Concord, NC headquarters ahead of the Coca-Cola 600. The event will feature autograph sessions with drivers Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Preece, guided shop tours, interactive sponsor displays, and a live painting by motorsports artist Bill Patterson. A major team announcement is scheduled for noon. Proceeds from merchandise sales will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Rick Ware Racing will also participate with its own fan engagement area.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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