NASCAR Rant Report - Monday, March 3rd

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

Major headlines out of the weekend:

Christopher Bell Claims His Second Win of 2025
Connor Zilisch’s Mixed Weekend at COTA
IndyCar’s Season Kicks Off in St. Pete

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the weekend.

Christopher Bell Claims His Second Win of 2025:

Christopher Bell secured his second consecutive Cup Series victory of 2025 by winning the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Bell's triumph came after a thrilling battle with Kyle Busch, who led a race-high 42 laps but ultimately finished fifth. Bell passed Busch with five laps remaining and held off William Byron and Tyler Reddick to claim the win. This victory follows Bell's win at Atlanta Motor Speedway the previous week, making him the first driver since 2018 to win two of the first three races of the season and the first driver since 2023 to win back-to-back races.

The race featured a new, shorter 2.3-mile layout at COTA, which increased the lap count from 68 to 95. The event was marked by several incidents, including a first-lap spin involving Chase Elliott and a collision between Daniel Suarez and Connor Zilisch. Contact between Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon resulted in a late race yellow after Dillon was stuck in the gravel trap. There was an additional incident between Austin Cindric and Ty Dillon that will likely be reviewed in the coming days for potential suspension, as it appeared that Cindric spun Dillon intentionally.

Bell's win was characterized by strategic pit stops and that late-race caution that bunched up the field. Busch's earlier pit stop strategy gave him a significant lead, but the caution allowed Bell, with fresher tires, to close the gap and eventually overtake him. Byron and Reddick also capitalized on the situation, finishing second and third, respectively in some amazing racing to end the day.

Bell's crew chief, Adam Stevens, emphasized the team's confidence in their ability to compete for wins at various tracks, including the upcoming races at Phoenix and Las Vegas. Bell's performance at COTA solidifies his position as a strong contender for the 2025 season.

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
NASCAR Officiating Needs To Meet New Expectations

Connor Zilisch’s Mixed Weekend at COTA:

Connor Zilisch had a mixed weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The 18-year-old made his NASCAR Cup Series debut, starting 14th. Despite an early collision with Denny Hamlin that damaged his car, Zilisch impressively climbed into the top 15. However, his race ended prematurely on Lap 50 when he collided with his spinning teammate, Daniel Suárez, and crashed into a tire barrier. Despite the setback, Zilisch remained positive, expressing his excitement about racing against veterans and learning from the experience.

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of the Americas the day before, Connor Zilisch showcased his exceptional talent and resilience. Starting from the pole, Zilisch quickly built a significant lead. However, his race took a challenging turn when he was penalized for pitting on a closed pit road due to an ill-timed caution. This penalty sent him to the back of the field, but Zilisch remained composed and methodically worked his way back through the pack.

Zilisch managed to hold off a late charge from William Byron, who finished second, to secure his second career Xfinity Series win and his first of the season. Sam Mayer finished third, followed by Austin Hill in fourth and Christian Eckes in fifth.

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

IndyCar’s Season Kicks Off in St. Pete:

The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season kicked off with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, marking the beginning of a new era with a new series president, a new U.S. broadcast partner in FOX, and the introduction of a charter system. The race saw reigning champion Alex Palou secure his 12th career victory, starting from eighth on the grid and showcasing strategic brilliance and speed. Palou's Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Scott Dixon, finished second despite racing without radio communication for most of the event, while Josef Newgarden of Team Penske rounded out the podium in third place.

The race was characterized by strategic tire choices, with many drivers opting for a three-stop strategy due to the rapid wear of the alternate, green-walled soft tires. Palou, Dixon, and Newgarden were among those who started on the alternate tires but quickly switched to the primary tires after an early caution. Pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin led the most laps but ultimately finished fourth after getting caught in traffic.

The event was not without its challenges. Will Power's race ended on the first lap due to a crash involving Nolan Siegel and Louis Foster. Some notable performances included Kyle Kirkwood finishing fifth for Andretti Global, and Marcus Ericsson securing sixth place, signaling a potential return to form after a disappointing previous season. The race also saw the debut of PREMA Racing, with drivers Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman finishing 19th and 20th, respectively.

The next race in the series is scheduled for March 23 at The Thermal Club in California, where teams and drivers will continue to battle for the championship.

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

Miscellaneous:

During the Cup Series race at COTA, Kyle Larson's race took a significant hit when his right front tire came off after a pit stop. As a result, Larson was handed a two-lap penalty and further penalties are expected later in the week, including potential suspensions for two of Larson's crew members.

NASCAR officials displayed hydration packs from the Nos. 34 and 51 teams at COTA, revealing that lead weights had been added to the packs and various cord covers during the Daytona 500 inspection. This violation led to crew chief ejections and a loss of 10 driver and owner points for both teams. The intention was to increase the car’s weight through the inspection process and exchange the ballast before racing, but the infraction was caught during pre-race inspection.

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

This newsletter is constructed by AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

Check out our Source Materials Page for today’s 115 sources.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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