NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, June 23rd

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

Chase Briscoe Saves His Way to Victory Lane
Connor Zilisch Claims First Oval Win
Layne Riggs Takes First Truck Win of 2025
Dodge to Enter Cup Series by 2027

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Chase Briscoe Saves His Way to Victory Lane:

Chase Briscoe captured a dramatic victory at Pocono Raceway in the Great American Getaway 400, marking his first win with Joe Gibbs Racing and securing a spot in the 2025 playoffs. The win came through a masterclass in fuel conservation, as Briscoe managed to stretch his fuel over the final 34 laps to hold off teammate and Pocono legend Denny Hamlin.

Behind the JGR duo, Ryan Blaney overcame a pit road penalty and a malfunctioning cool suit to finish third. Chris Buescher and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five, both continuing strong playoff pushes. John Hunter Nemechek impressed with a sixth-place finish, while Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Cindric completed the top ten.

The race was marred by brake failures that ended the days of Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, and Michael McDowell, all of whom suffered hard crashes due to exploding brake rotors. Wallace’s DNF was especially costly, shrinking his playoff cushion to just 29 points.

Briscoe’s win was not only a personal milestone but also a significant moment for JGR, giving the team its 18th Cup win at Pocono and placing three of its four drivers into the playoff field. The victory also marked a turning point for Briscoe’s crew chief James Small, who had endured a winless stretch since 2023.

With nine races remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture continues to tighten. Briscoe’s triumph adds another name to the growing list of 2025 winners, leaving fewer spots available for drivers hoping to point their way in. The series now heads to Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway for a Saturday night showdown that kicks off NASCAR’s new in-season tournament format.

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

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Connor Zilisch Claims First Oval Win:

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch captured his first career oval victory in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 250. The win marked his third overall in the series and second of the 2025 season, but it came with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. serving as his interim crew chief. Earnhardt stepped in for Mardy Lindley, who was serving a suspension, becoming one of the few individuals in NASCAR history to win as a driver, owner, and crew chief.

Zilisch led 34 of the 100 laps, making the pass for the lead on his best friend and rival Jesse Love with five laps remaining. The race was chaotic, featuring a record 10 cautions and multiple lead changes. Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 38 laps, was a dominant force early but was shuffled back after a late-race incident involving Justin Allgaier. That opened the door for Love to take the lead, only to be overtaken by Zilisch in the closing laps.

Zilisch praised Earnhardt’s guidance and the support of the organization, noting how meaningful it was to win with his mentor on the box.

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

Layne Riggs Takes First Truck Win of 2025:

Layne Riggs captured his first Craftsman Truck Series win of the 2025 season—and third of his career—at Pocono Raceway in the MillerTech Battery 200. Starting from the pole for the first time in his career, Riggs led 25 of the 80 laps, including the final 20, to secure the victory and clinch a spot in the playoffs for Front Row Motorsports.

The race was largely dominated by Corey Heim, who led 48 laps and won Stage 2, setting a new single-season record with 12 stage wins. However, Heim’s race ended when he suffered a flat tire just before the final restart. Riggs capitalized on the opportunity, pulling away from the field and finishing 3.64 seconds ahead of Tanner Gray. Kaden Honeycutt, Brandon Jones, and Daniel Hemric rounded out the top five.

With only four races remaining in the regular season, Riggs becomes the seventh different winner, leaving just three playoff spots open. The Truck Series now heads to Lime Rock Park for its debut at the Connecticut road course.

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

Dodge to Enter Cup Series by 2027:

Dodge has hinted at plans to re-enter the Cup Series by 2027, following a reintroduction to the Truck Series in 2026 under the Ram brand. This announcement comes from Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, formerly the CEO of Dodge under Stellantis, who in interviews emphasized that entering the Truck Series is relatively straightforward, the Cup Series presents a more complex challenge. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about accelerating the timeline, aiming for a Daytona 500 appearance in 2027.

While official team partnerships and driver lineups remain unconfirmed, YouTube personality and amateur racer Cleetus McFarland has been linked to the Truck Series effort as a potential driver and brand ambassador. His massive online following and recent ARCA performances have made him a compelling figure for Ram’s marketing strategy, especially in appealing to younger fans.

If successful, Dodge’s return would mark the first new manufacturer entry into the Cup Series since Toyota in 2004. While many details remain under wraps, the motorsports world is watching closely as Dodge gears up for what could be a historic comeback.

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

Miscellaneous:

Ross Chastain Celebrates Coca-Cola 600 Win at the Pentagon: Ross Chastain visited the Pentagon to celebrate his Coca-Cola 600 victory, honoring military service members alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Chastain performed his signature watermelon smash and brought the race trophy, highlighting NASCAR’s patriotic ties and the significance of Memorial Day Weekend.

NASCAR Eyes Five-Year Deal at Bowman Gray Stadium: Winston-Salem city officials are negotiating a five-year agreement with NASCAR to host one national series race annually at Bowman Gray Stadium. The city approved funding for a new scoreboard, contingent on NASCAR’s commitment. NASCAR acquired the stadium’s operations in 2024.

Will Brown to Race Chicago Street Course with Kaulig Racing: Australian Supercars champion Will Brown will return to the NASCAR Cup Series at the Chicago Street Race on July 6, driving the No. 13 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Sponsored by MobileX and Walmart, this marks his second Cup start and highlights a growing partnership aimed at blending motorsports with modern lifestyle branding.

Spotter Tab Boyd Fired After Controversial Post: Hyak Motorsports has dismissed veteran NASCAR spotter Tab Boyd, who had worked with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., following a controversial social media post criticizing Mexico during NASCAR’s international race. Boyd deleted his account after backlash. Though removed from Cup Series duties, he remains listed in Xfinity and Truck Series roles. This follows a separate incident where Carson Hocevar was fined $50,000 for similar remarks.

ThorSport Racing Swaps Crew Chiefs for Playoff Push: ThorSport Racing has reassigned crew chiefs ahead of the Truck Series playoffs. Rich Lushes and his crew moved to the No. 66 team with Luke Baldwin, while Doug George and his team joined Ben Rhodes’ No. 99 crew, aiming to boost performance in the final stretch of the season.

Chevrolet Named Official Vehicle of Lime Rock Park: Chevrolet has been named the official vehicle partner of Lime Rock Park, starting with the upcoming NASCAR Truck and ARCA Series weekend. The partnership includes pace trucks, support vehicles, and fan engagement activations, enhancing both race operations and the fan experience.

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

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