NASCAR Rant Report - Tuesday, February 25th

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Major headlines out of Monday:

Upcoming Changes to Rant Report
Reflecting on the Weekend at Atlanta
Clash Expected to Return to Bowman Gray

Upcoming Changes to Rant Report:

At Rant Report, our mission is to keep you informed, while saving you time. However, when there is little or no news to share, sending a newsletter to your inbox goes against that mission.

For this reason, there will be no more Tuesday or Thursday Rant Report.

Starting next week, any news that would have previously been covered on Tuesday or Thursday will be combined with the Wednesday and Friday newsletters, respectively. The Saturday Editorial and Sunday Race Day Preview will continue as normal.

On a side note, in a-typical race weeks, such as Saturday or rain-delayed races, the regular schedule of Rant Report will be adjusted to accommodate for the changes, while still bringing you all the information you need to stay informed on anything and everything NASCAR.

Reflecting on the Weekend at Atlanta:

Christopher Bell clinched the win in the Ambetter Health 400, securing his first victory of the season and a playoff berth. Bell started 32nd but managed to navigate through the field and take the lead in the final moments. He credited his offseason sprint car racing for keeping him sharp. "I definitely feel the best I have as a race car driver," Bell said. "It's a dream come true to be able to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in these Cup Series cars".

Carson Hocevar finished second but drew criticism for his aggressive driving style. He made several bold moves, including a controversial shove on Ryan Blaney that caused Blaney to spin. Blaney was vocal about his frustration, saying, "He’s just a moron. He just runs right in the back of us. He has zero idea of where to bump somebody". Hocevar acknowledged the need to refine his approach but emphasized his focus on winning races over making friends.

Kyle Larson finished third, marking his best result at Atlanta since it became a drafting track. Larson led at the white flag but was overtaken in the final moments. Reflecting on the race, Larson said, "It honestly feels great. It’d feel a lot better had we won, but really, to finish a race here and make it to the third stage feels good". He also commented on the challenges of superspeedway racing, stating, "Daytona and Talladega suck. Like, they suck"

The race ended under caution, which sparked debates about NASCAR's inconsistent handling of final lap incidents. Denny Hamlin praised the harder tires Goodyear brought to Atlanta but questioned if similar changes could improve racing at Daytona and Talladega. He also questioned the inconsistency in caution flag decisions that have been a recurring issue, calling for more consistent officiating in future races.

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

Clash Expected to Return to Bowman Gray:

Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR’s longest-running weekly track, is the early favorite to host the season-opening Clash exhibition race again in 2026. This follows the success of the 2025 Cook Out Clash, which saw a sellout crowd of over 15,000 passionate fans. Despite considering other venues, including international locations like São Paolo, Brazil, NASCAR appears inclined to keep the Clash at Bowman Gray to honor its roots and reward smaller communities that show strong support.

The decision to potentially keep the Clash at Bowman Gray aligns with NASCAR's dual mission of expanding to new markets while revisiting historic venues. This year’s Clash marked the return of the Cup Series to Bowman Gray for the first time since 1971. The venue, known as “The Madhouse,” provided an intense racing atmosphere that both fans and drivers appreciated.

NASCAR is also exploring the possibility of holding a separate international exhibition invitation race, allowing the Clash to remain at Bowman Gray while still pursuing global opportunities. The 2025 season will see NASCAR's first premier series points race outside the U.S. since 1958, with an event in Mexico City.

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

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

Check out our Source Materials Page for today’s 21 sources.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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