NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, March 17th

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media

Major headlines out of the weekend:

Josh Berry Upsets the Field in Las Vegas
NASCAR, 23XI, and FRM Lawsuit Updates
Trucks and Xfinity Race in Vegas
Formula 1 Opens its Season in Australia

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Josh Berry Upsets the Field in Las Vegas:

Josh Berry secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas, driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Berry's win marked the 101st victory for the Wood Brothers team and their first non-superspeedway win since 2017. Berry, who started seventh, overcame a loose wheel issue and a late-race battle with Daniel Suarez to take the lead with 16 laps remaining. Suarez finished second, followed by Ryan Preece in third, William Byron in fourth, and Ross Chastain in fifth.

Christopher Bell, aiming for his fourth consecutive win, faced multiple setbacks, including a penalty for pitting outside his box and a loose wheel issue, ultimately finishing 12th. Kyle Larson led the most laps but finished ninth after a series of strategic pit stops and cautions shuffled the running order. The race featured a record 32 lead changes and nine cautions, highlighting the intense competition and varying strategies employed by the teams.

Berry's victory was significant not only for his career but also for the Wood Brothers team, which celebrated its 75th season in NASCAR. The win locked Berry into the NASCAR playoffs and qualified him for the All-Star Race. Berry expressed gratitude for the support from Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and strategy in achieving the win.

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
Motorsports ‘Hot or Not’ – Saturday, March 15th

NASCAR, 23XI, and FRM Lawsuit Updates:

The ongoing legal battle between NASCAR and the teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) has intensified, with both sides filing briefs and counterclaims. The dispute centers around NASCAR's charter system, which guarantees teams entry into races and a share of revenue. 23XI and FRM argue that the system is unfair and monopolistic, preventing fair competition and leading to below-competitive market prices for their services.

In their latest response, 23XI and FRM criticized NASCAR's appeal of a preliminary injunction that allows them to compete as chartered teams during the lawsuit. They argue that the district court's decision was based on well-established precedent and that NASCAR's claims of errors are unfounded. The teams highlighted the potential irreparable harm they would face without charter status, citing driver contract opt-outs and sponsor hesitations.

NASCAR's countersuit, filed on March 5, accuses 23XI and FRM of forming an "illegal cartel" to extort better charter terms. The suit singles out Curtis Polk, co-owner of 23XI, for allegedly using NBA-style tactics in negotiations. NASCAR argues that the teams' demands would bankrupt the current model and undermine its governance structure.

The legal battle has sparked strong reactions from fans, with many criticizing NASCAR's leadership and expressing concerns about the potential collapse of the charter system. The case is set to continue with a hearing on May 9, and the outcome could significantly impact the future of NASCAR's economic landscape.

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

Trucks and Xfinity Race in Vegas:

Corey Heim emerged victorious in the Ecosave 200, marking his second win of the 2025 season and the 13th of his career. Despite a pit road speeding penalty early in the race, Heim's team executed a flawless pit stop under caution, propelling him to the lead. Heim led a race-high 42 laps and fended off Grant Enfinger, who finished second, and Tanner Gray, who secured third place. The race was notable for its two rain delays and a record 21 lead changes among 12 drivers. Tyler Ankrum won Stage 2 but faced challenges, including a collision with Kaden Honeycutt. Other top finishers included Ty Majeski, Layne Riggs, Stewart Friesen, Rajah Caruth, Chandler Smith, Matt Crafton, and Ankrum.

Justin Allgaier dominated The LiUNA! race, leading 102 of the 200 laps to secure his first win of the 2025 season and his 26th career victory. Allgaier's performance was marked by a strategic pass on Aric Almirola during green-flag pit stops, allowing him to maintain the lead despite Almirola's late-race challenge. Almirola finished second, followed by Jesse Love and Austin Hill, who both overcame mid-race setbacks to finish third and fourth, respectively. Sam Mayer rounded out the top five. The race featured a single caution for an early incident involving William Sawalich, who crashed on the first lap. The event also saw Ty Dillon substitute for an ill Josh Williams, who had been battling respiratory issues since the Circuit of The Americas race.

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

Formula 1 Opens its Season in Australia:

The 2025 Formula 1 season began with a dramatic Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. McLaren's Lando Norris won, holding off Max Verstappen in a race marked by unpredictable weather, crashes, and safety cars. Norris led most of the race, despite changing conditions, while teammate Oscar Piastri spun off late and finished ninth. Verstappen briefly led but had to pit for intermediate tires, finishing second, just 0.895 seconds behind Norris.

Mercedes had a strong showing with George Russell finishing third and rookie Kimi Antonelli impressively recovering from 16th on the grid to fourth after a penalty for an unsafe pit release was overturned. Alex Albon secured fifth place for Williams, marking a significant improvement for the team.

Ferrari's debut with Lewis Hamilton was challenging, as he finished 10th after struggling with the car's handling in the wet conditions and a late strategy gamble that didn't pay off. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished eighth.

Several rookies struggled, with Isack Hadjar crashing on the formation lap, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto also retiring, and Liam Lawson spinning out in the final sector. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were among the experienced drivers caught out by the slippery track.

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

Miscellaneous:

The 73rd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring saw Porsche Penske Motorsport secure a 1-2 finish, with Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor winning in the No. 7 Porsche 963. This victory follows their triumph at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Tandy's win at Sebring completes his "Triple Crown" of endurance racing, having also won at Le Mans and Daytona. The No. 6 Porsche, driven by Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, and Kévin Estre, finished second. In other classes, Inter Europol Competition won the LMP2 category, AO Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 R won in GTD Pro, and Winward Racing's Mercedes-AMG GT3 secured victory in the GTD class.

Progressive Insurance is in talks to sponsor Joe Gibbs Racing, potentially filling the sponsorship gap left by FedEx and Mavis Tires & Brakes.

NASCAR star Denny Hamlin had a significant win in a Las Vegas casino ahead of the Pennzoil 400 race, where he finished second.

NASCAR is expected to return to Montreal in 2026, with the Xfinity and Truck Series racing at the Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit, followed by the Cup Series in 2027.

The Apple Sports app has added NASCAR to its supported leagues, offering real-time race progress, standings, and betting odds.

Ty Gibbs experienced a dramatic crash in his first Sprint Car start during the High Limit Racing Series, while Corey Day won the series opener in Las Vegas, holding off Kyle Larson.

Patrick Dempsey, known for his role in "Grey's Anatomy," has returned to racing in the Porsche Endurance Cup, with a documentary titled "Destined To Drive" covering his comeback.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media