NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, June 2nd

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Major headlines out of the weekend:

Ryan Blaney Reigns Supreme in Music City
Rajah Caruth Takes Truck Victory; Justin Allgaier Takes Xfinity
Kyle Larson Reflects on 'The Double'

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Ryan Blaney Reigns Supreme in Music City:

Ryan Blaney delivered a commanding performance to win the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, marking his first victory of the season and 14th of his career. After a turbulent start to the year that included five DNFs in the first 13 races, Blaney mounted a strong rebound, leading 139 of 300 laps. His win also completed a playoff sweep for Team Penske, with all three of its drivers now locked into the postseason.

Blaney’s victory came after a strategic race that saw him take the lead on a restart with 118 laps to go, lose it during green-flag pit stops, and then regain it with 32 laps remaining. He held off a hard-charging Carson Hocevar, who matched his career-best finish in second place. Denny Hamlin, making his 700th career Cup start, finished third despite battling extreme heat and equipment issues that left him without cooling or hydration systems.

The race was relatively clean in its final stage, ending with a 102-lap green-flag run. Earlier chaos in Stage 2 included multiple cautions. Chase Briscoe started on the pole for the second consecutive week but faded to 17th. William Byron, Joey Logano, and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five behind Blaney, Hocevar, and Hamlin.

The Nashville event, held before a sold-out crowd, marked the halfway point of the regular season and set the 32-car field for NASCAR’s new in-season tournament. With nine different winners so far, the playoff picture remains competitive, and attention now turns to the upcoming race at Michigan International Speedway.

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

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Rajah Caruth Takes Truck Victory; Justin Allgaier Takes Xfinity:

In the Truck Series' Rackley Roofing 200, Rajah Caruth captured his second career win and first of the season in a thrilling finish. Starting 10th, Caruth led a race-high 61 of 150 laps, seizing the lead during pit stops after Stage 2. Despite intense pressure from Corey Heim and Layne Riggs in the final 47-lap green-flag run, Caruth held firm, expertly defending his position through lapped traffic and strategic lane choices. Heim, who led 58 laps and won Stage 2, finished second, while Riggs, who won Stage 1 and led 30 laps, settled for third after two costly pit road issues. Daniel Hemric and rookie Corey Day rounded out the top five, with Day earning his first career top-five finish. The win locked Caruth into the playoffs and marked a significant rebound for the Spire Motorsports driver, who had struggled earlier in the season.

In the Xfinity Series' Tennessee Lottery 250, Justin Allgaier dominated, leading 101 of 188 laps and sweeping both stages en route to his third win of the season and second at Nashville. After losing the lead briefly to Sheldon Creed and Connor Zilisch during the final stage, Allgaier reclaimed it with a bold three-wide move on a restart with 48 laps to go. He then held off Zilisch, who finished second for the second consecutive week. Sam Mayer, Creed, and Ross Chastain completed the top five. Allgaier’s win extended his points lead and marked a redemptive moment after a late-race strategy misstep cost him a win at Charlotte the previous week.

Post-race, Daniel Dye was disqualified from a ninth-place finish due to failing rear height inspection, promoting Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith into the top 10. Zilisch’s car was also found with two unsecured lug nuts, resulting in a penalty for his crew chief.

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

Kyle Larson Reflects on 'The Double':

Kyle Larson’s ambitious pursuit of ‘The Double’—competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day—has come to a likely end, at least for the foreseeable future. After two consecutive years of logistical challenges and race-ending crashes in both events this year, Larson has acknowledged the immense difficulty of the feat and the toll it takes on preparation, performance, and scheduling.

“Because everything has just got to go perfect,” Larson said. “Even something like [a crash or delay], that’s not even weather-related, would probably limit me, or anybody, attempting the double. You just don’t have much time.” He added, “Logistically, it’s just really, really tough. I think the Indy 500 starts plenty early and I think the 600 can’t start any later. It just makes it tough.”

While Larson remains passionate about the Indy 500, he’s made it clear that any future attempt would likely come after his full-time NASCAR career. “That’s not me shutting down the 500 again,” he explained. “Someday, maybe when I’m done with Cup racing, I would definitely love to do the 500 again, and devote all of my time to it.”

The racing world has been divided in response. NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson praised Larson’s effort, calling it a boost for motorsports and urging him to keep trying. “When people do The Double, it matters,” Johnson said. “Sure, he wishes he had different results, but I really hope it doesn’t dissuade him from racing in those again.” On the other hand, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and analyst Larry McReynolds expressed skepticism, suggesting the logistical and physical demands make future attempts unwise.

Despite the setbacks, Larson’s popularity remains strong. He currently leads NASCAR in merchandise sales and continues to be a top contender on the track, with multiple wins in the 2025 season. His willingness to take on bold challenges like The Double has only added to his reputation as one of the sport’s most versatile and daring drivers.

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

Miscellaneous:

Seeding Begins for In-Season Tournament: NASCAR is introducing its first-ever in-season tournament, a 32-driver, single-elimination bracket with a $1 million prize. The top 32 drivers in points after the Nashville race are eligible. Seeding will be determined by best finishes in the next three races (Michigan, Mexico City, Pocono). The tournament begins June 28 at Atlanta and continues through July at Chicago, Sonoma, Dover, and Indianapolis. All seeding races will air on Prime Video, while TNT and HBO Max will broadcast the tournament rounds.

Austin Cindric’s Future with Penske Secure: Despite the recent departure of his father, Tim Cindric, from Team Penske’s IndyCar leadership amid controversy, Austin Cindric’s NASCAR future remains secure. Team owner Roger Penske confirmed that Austin is under contract through 2026. Austin acknowledged the personal impact but said his role is unchanged.

A.J. Allmendinger to Stay in Cup with Kaulig Racing: Kaulig Racing confirmed that A.J. Allmendinger will return to the Cup Series in 2026, continuing to drive the No. 16 entry.

Horsepower Debate Gains Momentum: NASCAR is actively considering increasing horsepower from 670HP to 750HP, particularly for short tracks, in response to widespread driver feedback. NASCAR officials have confirmed discussions are ongoing with engine builders and manufacturers.

Reddick Welcomes Newborn; Hamlin on Baby Watch: Tyler Reddick and his wife Alexa celebrated the birth of their second son, Rookie George, on May 25. The couple’s first child, Beau, was born in 2020, and the Reddick family shared their joy with fans as they welcomed their newest addition. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin faced a race-day dilemma as his longtime partner, Jordan Fish, was due to give birth to their third child on the same day as the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville. Hamlin, who was set to make his 700th career Cup Series start, made it clear that family came first: “I can’t miss it. I’ve got to be there for her, and that’s the biggest priority.” Joe Gibbs Racing had Ryan Truex on standby in case Hamlin needed to leave mid-weekend. NASCAR confirmed that Hamlin would have been eligible for a waiver if he missed the race due to the birth.

Cleetus McFarland and Ram’s Potential NASCAR Entry: YouTube personality and part time ARCA driver Cleetus McFarland (Garrett Mitchell) is being considered as a potential driver and brand ambassador for a new NASCAR Truck Series team backed by Stellantis’ Ram brand. Ram is exploring a return to NASCAR, possibly as early as 2026, with McFarland as a key figure in their marketing and competition strategy.

Brad Keselowski Compares NASCAR to the IRS: RFK Racing has faced two significant penalties in recent weeks, impacting both Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece. Buescher’s team was penalized for illegal modifications to the front bumper at Kansas, resulting in a 60-point deduction and a crew chief suspension. An appeal partially restored 30 points. Preece lost 39 points due to a spoiler violation at Talladega. Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK, likened the NASCAR rulebook to the IRS tax code and acknowledged the need for internal restructuring to better manage compliance.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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