NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, April 7th

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

Denny Hamlin Goes Two in a Row
Brandon Jones Upsets Cup Favorites
Drivers Comment on Throwback Weekend
NASCAR Officials Sit Down with Xfinity Garage

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Denny Hamlin Goes Two in a Row:

The NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway was marked by intense competition and strategic maneuvers. William Byron dominated the early stages of the race, leading the first 243 laps and winning both stages. His performance set a new record for the most laps led from the start at Darlington, surpassing Bill Elliott's previous mark. Despite Byron's strong showing, the race took a dramatic turn during the final green-flag pit cycle. Tyler Reddick, who pitted earlier than Byron, took the lead, while Byron struggled in traffic and fell back.

As the race neared its conclusion, Ryan Blaney, who had pitted later than the other leaders, began to close the gap on Reddick with fresher tires. Blaney eventually took the lead with just four laps remaining, but a caution for Kyle Larson's crash set up an overtime finish. During the final pit stop, Denny Hamlin's crew executed a flawless stop, allowing him to take the lead. Hamlin then capitalized on the restart, securing his second consecutive victory and his 56th career win, moving him to 11th on the all-time wins list.

Byron finished second, increasing his points lead to 49 over Hamlin. Christopher Bell finished third, marking his fifth top-three finish in the first eight races. Blaney, despite his strong run, ended up fifth after losing positions during the final pit stop. Kyle Larson, who had high hopes for the race, crashed twice and finished 37th.

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Brandon Jones Upsets Cup Favorites:

Brandon Jones secured his sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Darlington Raceway in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200, breaking a 98-race winless streak. Jones led 24 laps, including the final 12, and finished ahead of Chase Elliott by 1.105 seconds. This win marked Jones' second victory at Darlington and provided a significant boost to his confidence and momentum.

The race featured intense competition among several Cup Series regulars, including Elliott, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain. Justin Allgaier led the most laps (56) and won Stage 2 but finished third after a pit stop error. Chastain, who had multiple on-track incidents, finished fourth, while rookie Carson Kvapil rounded out the top five.

Harrison Burton won Stage 1 and finished 13th, benefiting from strategic tire management. The race saw six cautions and 14 lead changes among nine drivers. Notable incidents included contact between Chastain and Christopher Bell, which damaged Bell's car and led to a 25th-place finish. Bell expressed his frustration after the race, stating that Chastain did not leave him enough room and that the move was unnecessary. Bell warned that if Chastain pulled a similar move during the Cup race, it would be a bigger issue. Chastain acknowledged his fault, admitting that he should have left Bell more space.

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Drivers Comment on Throwback Weekend:

The annual Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway, established in 2015, has sparked a debate among drivers and fans about its continued relevance. While the event aims to honor NASCAR's history through retro paint schemes and nostalgic tributes, opinions are divided on whether it has lost its charm.

Chase Elliott, believes the event has run its course, stating that it lost its luster about four or five years ago. He humorously noted that if the tradition continues, they might end up throwing back to his own career in 2018. Elliott's sentiment is echoed by other drivers like William Byron, who suggested that the event might benefit from being held less frequently or at different tracks to avoid repetition.

Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski highlighted the challenges posed by sponsor requirements, which often limit the ability to create throwback schemes. Hamlin pointed out that while the Xfinity Series can more freely participate due to fewer sponsor constraints, the Cup Series faces difficulties in aligning sponsor interests with the throwback theme.

Despite these challenges, some drivers, including Joey Logano and Kyle Busch, argue that Throwback Weekend is essential for honoring the sport's pioneers and engaging fans. Logano emphasized the importance of remembering retired drivers and their contributions, while Busch noted that the event is primarily for the fans' enjoyment, even if some drivers find it overblown.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe also expressed their support for the event, with Blaney appreciating the personal connections to his father's racing career and Briscoe enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere at Darlington. Both drivers believe that the event still holds significance for fans and the racing community.

Overall, while Throwback Weekend faces logistical and sponsorship challenges, it remains a beloved tradition for many, celebrating NASCAR's rich history and providing a unique experience for fans and drivers alike.

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NASCAR Officials Sit Down with Xfinity Garage:

Following the chaotic NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway, which ended with Sammy Smith intentionally wrecking race leader Taylor Gray, NASCAR officials held a mandatory early-morning meeting with all Xfinity Series drivers at Darlington Raceway. The meeting aimed to address the aggressive driving and lack of sportsmanship displayed at Martinsville, where over 100 caution-flag laps were recorded.

Austin Hill, who won the Martinsville race amidst the chaos, described the tone of the meeting as firm but constructive. NASCAR emphasized the importance of clean and respectful racing, warning drivers that if necessary, they would intervene with penalties such as black flags and suspensions. Hill and veteran driver Justin Allgaier were encouraged to take on leadership roles to guide younger drivers and promote better racing conduct.

Sammy Smith, who faced significant backlash for his actions, expressed regret and apologized to his team, sponsors, and Gray's team. He acknowledged his mistake and hoped to regain respect within the racing community. NASCAR officials made it clear that they do not want to be in the position of making in-race calls but will do so if drivers fail to self-regulate.

The meeting underscored the need for ongoing discussions and self-reflection among drivers to prevent future incidents and maintain the integrity of the sport. Fans and industry leaders supported NASCAR's firm stance, appreciating the effort to uphold professional standards and sportsmanship in racing. The Xfinity Series drivers were reminded of their responsibility to race respectfully and avoid putting NASCAR in the position of making contentious calls during races.

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Miscellaneous:

Dale Jr. & Lamar Jackson Dispute: In a legal dispute, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has opposed Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s attempt to trademark a stylized version of the number 8. Jackson argues that Earnhardt Jr.'s trademark application conflicts with his own trademarks which cover various goods. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has decided to drop his trademark application for the newer version of the number 8 used by JR Motorsports since 2019. Instead, he will retain the rights to the original stylized number 8 that he raced with during his time at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI).

Justing Bonsignore Sponsorship: Justin Bonsignore, a four-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, has secured a partnership with KBM Commercial Properties and Highway Self Storage for the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 12th. Bonsignore will drive the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Tyler Ankrum Sponsorship: Tyler Ankrum and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing have renewed their partnership with Ullico for the 2025 season. Ullico will sponsor Ankrum's No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST at Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway. This marks the third year of collaboration between Ullico and Ankrum.

Layne Riggs Sponsorship: Layne Riggs and Front Row Motorsports have partnered with Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) for five NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events, starting at Rockingham Speedway on April 18th. BKB, the oldest professional bare-knuckle boxing company, will also serve as a full-season associate sponsor.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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