NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, April 21st

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

NASCAR's Rockingham Return After 12+ Years
Venturini Sells to Nitro Motorsports
Footage of NASCAR's New EV

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

NASCAR's Rockingham Return After 12+ Years:

NASCAR's return to Rockingham Speedway after a 12-year hiatus was marked by a series of exciting races and notable events. The weekend featured the Craftsman Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, both of which brought significant attention and enthusiasm to the historic track.

Truck Series Highlights: Tyler Ankrum won the Black’s Tire 200, snapping a 130-race winless streak with a strategic fuel-mileage victory. Ankrum's win was his first since 2019 and earned him a $50,000 bonus as part of the Triple Truck Challenge. Jake Garcia, who claimed his first career pole, led 43 laps and finished second, while Daniel Hemric, Rajah Caruth, and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five. The race was marked by two red flags, one for Ty Majeski's crash and another for a multi-truck incident involving Stewart Friesen, Matt Mills, and Tanner Gray. Corey Heim led the most laps but had to pit for fuel late in the race, allowing Ankrum to take the lead and ultimately win.

Xfinity Series Highlights: The North Carolina Education Lottery 250 saw Sammy Smith declared the winner after Jesse Love's car failed post-race inspection due to a rear suspension violation. Smith also won the final Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus of the season. Parker Retzlaff finished second, Harrison Burton third, Brennan Poole fourth, and Taylor Gray fifth. The race featured 14 cautions, including two red flags for major crashes. Ryan Sieg led a career-high 77 laps but was involved in a late-race crash. Nick Sanchez and Dean Thompson won the first and second stages, respectively. Kasey Kahne made his return to NASCAR, finishing 14th after being involved in an early incident with Katherine Legge and William Sawalich.

The return to Rockingham was seen as a success, with positive feedback from drivers, teams, and fans. The event was well-attended, with the Xfinity race selling out. The successful weekend has sparked discussions about the potential for Rockingham to host future NASCAR Cup Series events. The track's revival has been supported by significant investments and efforts to improve its facilities, making it a promising venue for NASCAR's continued presence.

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

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Venturini Sells to Nitro Motorsports:

Venturini Motorsports, a prominent and historic team in the ARCA Menards Series, announced its sale to Nitro Motorsports, effective October 15, 2025. The sale marks the end of an era for Venturini Motorsports, which has been a significant presence in stock car racing since the 1950s and has operated an ARCA team since 1982. The team, known for its strong partnership with Toyota and its driver development program, has helped launch the careers of several NASCAR stars, including Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Alex Bowman.

Billy Venturini, the current owner, will remain as general manager for one year to ensure a smooth transition. Nitro Motorsports, led by Nick Tucker, has a background in various racing disciplines, including the Trans Am Series, Toyota GR Cup North America, and ARCA. The acquisition will make Nitro Motorsports the most vertically integrated driver development program globally, starting from go-karting and progressing through various racing series.

Billy Venturini expressed his gratitude to his family, team, and partners, acknowledging the demanding nature of his role and his decision to prioritize other aspects of his life. He emphasized that Nick Tucker shares his passion and intensity for racing and driver development, making him the ideal successor.

The sale was announced at Rockingham Speedway, a fitting location given Venturini Motorsports' history of success at the track. The team has achieved 107 ARCA wins and multiple championships, including recent titles with drivers like Jesse Love and Sean Hingorani. Toyota will continue its partnership with Nitro Motorsports, ensuring the legacy of Venturini Motorsports lives on.

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

Footage of NASCAR's New EV:

NASCAR's new electric vehicle (EV) prototype has garnered significant attention and sparked discussions about the future of electric racing within the sport. The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype, developed in collaboration with Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, and NASCAR engineers, represents a groundbreaking step towards potential electrification in NASCAR. The vehicle was first unveiled at the Chicago Street Course last year and recently featured in a crossover advertisement with the ABB Formula E Gen3 EVO car, showcasing the engineering innovations in both racing series.

David Ragan, the main development driver for NASCAR's EV project, emphasized that while the Cup Series will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, the exploration of high-performance electric racing is underway. The ABB NASCAR Electrification Innovation Partnership aims to create strategic opportunities for electrification in the sport, including race vehicles, infrastructure, and energy education. Ragan highlighted NASCAR's history of technological evolution and suggested that an electric NASCAR series could complement the existing motorsports umbrella, attracting new fans, manufacturers, and partners.

NASCAR's senior vice president and chief racing development officer, John Probst, and head of sustainability, Riley Nelson, both expressed pride in the EV prototype's development and its role in promoting sustainability. Nelson emphasized the importance of reducing NASCAR's carbon footprint and the need for the entire industry to adopt sustainable practices.

The EV prototype has been well-received by fans, with many expressing excitement about its potential. The vehicle's handling and performance have been positively compared to traditional stock cars, with Ragan noting its impressive traction, braking capabilities, and adjustability. While an all-electric NASCAR series remains a prospect for the mid- to long-term future, the current focus is on exploring hybrid systems and other forms of electrification to align with global motorsports trends.

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

Miscellaneous:

Xfinity Series Viewership: The first nine Xfinity Series races of 2025 averaged over 1 million viewers, the highest since 2017. The SciAps 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway attracted 1,001,000 viewers, peaking towards the checkered flag as Kyle Larson led 276 of 300 laps to victory. This represents a 25% increase compared to the equivalent race weekend last season at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson's Iowa Visit: Kyle Larson spent his off-weekend racing at Knoxville Raceway and visiting Iowa Speedway. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, won his 31st Cup race at Bristol and will race in the World of Outlaws Premier Chevy Dealers Clash at Knoxville Raceway. Larson also plans to attempt the "Double" by running both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 25. He praised Iowa Speedway's design and improvements, noting its similarities to Richmond Raceway but with unique features.

Carson Hocevar's Truck Series Starts: Carson Hocevar will drive multiple races for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Hocevar will make his first start in the No. 7 at Texas Motor Speedway, followed by races at Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, and Pocono Raceway. Hocevar, currently in his second full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, last competed in the Truck Series in 2023, winning four races and making the Championship 4 for Niece Motorsports.

Justin Carroll's Expanded Schedule: Justin Carroll announced plans to add at least four more races to his 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. Carroll will compete at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway, in addition to previously scheduled races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. He is also considering races at Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono Raceway, and Darlington Raceway. Carroll's team has attempted five of the six races this season, making the show in three with a best finish of 18th at Martinsville.

Derek White's Return: Derek White confirmed his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 22 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway. White, from Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada, has competed in six Truck Series events, with a career-best finish of 21st. His trucks will be prepared by MBM Motorsports.

NASCAR Classics Library Expansion: The NASCAR Classics library has added 41 Craftsman Truck Series races, categorized under Closest Finishes, Legendary Tracks, Milestone Races, and Championship Battles. Notable races include the Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout at Richmond Raceway in 1995, the Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 150 at Flemington Speedway in 1995, the Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 at Rockingham Speedway in 2012, and the 1998 Sam’s Town 250 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Drive for Diversity Program Renamed: NASCAR has renamed its Drive for Diversity program to the Driver Development program. The initiative, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, aims to elevate drivers and pit crew members from diverse backgrounds. Rev Racing, the team associated with the program, now serves as the competition arm of the NASCAR Driver Development Program.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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