NASCAR Rant Report - Friday, May 2nd

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Major headlines out of Wednesday and Thursday:

Previewing the Texas Weekend
Connor Zilisch to Miss Texas Xfinity Race
Legacy v Rick Ware Lawsuit Updates

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Previewing the Texas Weekend:

The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for an exciting weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, featuring the Würth 400 race on Sunday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on FS1, with qualifying taking place on Saturday broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. This race marks the first of three consecutive points races on 1.5-mile tracks, followed by Kansas and Charlotte.

The weekend also features the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series races. The Xfinity Series race, Andy's Frozen Custard 300, will take place on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. ET, while the Truck Series race, SpeedyCash.com 250, is scheduled for Friday, May 2, at 8 p.m. ET. The events will be broadcast on The CW and FS1, respectively.

Additionally, several NASCAR drivers will compete in the Kubota High Limit Racing event at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on Thursday, including Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. This event will be streamed live on FloRacing.

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

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Connor Zilisch to Miss Texas Xfinity Race:

Connor Zilisch will miss the upcoming race at Texas Motor Speedway due to lower back injuries sustained in a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite being cleared by the infield care center, Zilisch's injuries have forced him to sit out this weekend's race.

Kyle Larson will step in to drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in Zilisch's absence. Zilisch will retain his playoff eligibility thanks to a medical waiver. The Xfinity Series will have a two-week break following the Texas race, giving Zilisch time to recover before the next event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24.

Zilisch expressed gratitude to Larson and his team for their support during his recovery. Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports, also voiced his support for Zilisch's decision to prioritize his health.

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

Legacy v Rick Ware Lawsuit Updates:

Legacy Motor Club’s legal dispute with Rick Ware Racing (RWR) over the sale of a NASCAR Cup Series charter had some minor developments this week. Legacy had claimed it purchased Charter No. 27 from RWR for $45 million, but RWR contends the agreement was for Charter No. 36, currently used by Cody Ware. Legacy sought a preliminary injunction to prevent RWR from selling or leasing the charter while the case is ongoing, but a North Carolina judge denied this request.

The confusion stems from the contract's wording, which Legacy argues was influenced by incorrect information from RWR. Legacy offered an additional $5 million to secure Charter No. 27, which is currently being leased to RFK Racing for Ryan Preece's car. RWR maintains that selling Charter No. 27 would leave them without a charter for next season, as they have an agreement to lease Charter No. 36 to RFK Racing.

The court's decision this week allows RWR to proceed with leasing or selling the charter if they choose to do so, despite Legacy's claims. Both parties continue to assert their positions, with RWR expressing satisfaction with the ruling and Legacy viewing it as part of their legal journey. The dispute highlights the complexities and high stakes involved in NASCAR charter agreements.

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

Miscellaneous:

Comcast Community Champion of the Year Nominations: Nominations for the 2025 Comcast Community Champion of the Year are now open. This award recognizes the philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR community. The winner will receive $60,000 for their affiliated charity, while two finalists will each receive $30,000 for their selected charities. The award highlights Comcast's commitment to supporting community initiatives and honoring those who make significant contributions.

Paul Lewis Passes Away: Paul Lewis, the only Tri-Cities driver recognized as an official winner of a NASCAR Cup Series race, passed away at the age of 92. Lewis won the 1966 Smoky Mountain 200 and had a notable career with 14 top-five finishes. He was also instrumental in starting Racers Reunion to honor the pioneers of the sport.

Katherine Legge's New Sponsor: British racecar driver Katherine Legge will race with a new sponsor, Desnuda Tequila, at Texas Motor Speedway. The sponsorship features a striking livery design and aligns with Legge's health-conscious lifestyle. This marks her third Xfinity Series race of the season with Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport.

MillerTech Battery Sponsorship at Pocono: MillerTech Energy has become the entitlement sponsor for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. The race, now named the MillerTech Battery 200, will be the longest Truck Series race ever held at Pocono. MillerTech is also sponsoring Noah Gragson in three NASCAR Cup Series races.

Team AmeriVet Ownership Expansion: Casey Caudill, founder of Prime Gate Holdings, has joined the ownership group of Team AmeriVet. Caudill brings entrepreneurial expertise and a passion for motorsports. Team AmeriVet is committed to supporting veterans through its 50 Vets a Week program, which aims to relieve veteran debt during the 2025 NASCAR season.

Christopher Bell's Arlington Visit: Christopher Bell, the defending Coca-Cola 600 winner, visited Arlington National Cemetery as part of Military Appreciation Month. Bell laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the Pentagon. This visit is part of the build-up to the Coca-Cola 600, which honors military service members.

Josh Berry's New Sponsor at Texas: Josh Berry will race with Würth as the primary sponsor on his No. 21 Ford Mustang at Texas Motor Speedway. The Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY will feature Berry's car in a bold new design. Berry aims to perform well on the challenging Texas track.

Talladega Wall Modification: Following a heavy crash involving Christopher Bell, NASCAR will modify a section of the inside wall at Talladega Superspeedway. The wall will be straightened to prevent similar incidents in the future. This change aims to enhance safety for drivers.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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