NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, April 16th

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Major headlines out of the Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on the Bristol Weekend
Larson Critiques Xfinity Field

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Bristol Weekend:

Sunday’s Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was dominated by Kyle Larson, who led 411 of the 500 laps to secure his second consecutive win at the track. Practice sessions showed high tire wear similar to last Spring’s Bristol race, but race day conditions saw minimal tire degradation, allowing drivers to push their cars harder than anticipated.

Denny Hamlin, who was aiming for his third consecutive win, finished second, followed by Ty Gibbs in third and Chase Briscoe in fourth. The race saw limited cautions and lead changes, contributing to a relatively uneventful event compared to Bristol races of the past.

The Food City 500 averages 2.054 million viewers on FS1, a significant drop from last year’s Cup Series event, which aired on FOX and garnered 3.81 million viewers. Despite the aforementioned drop, the Food City 500 still outperformed competing motorsports events, such as the IndyCar race on FOX, which drew 552,000 viewers.

Driver Quotes:

Kyle Larson: "Just a flawless race once again here at Bristol for the 5 team. Really, really good car. That was a lot of fun, you know? However many laps of green we ran there was a lot of fun and I was pretty comfortable with things. Then, Denny came on really strong there before the pit cycle. Then it just kind of kept the pressure on from there. So, I knew I had to make some good moves in traffic."

Denny Hamlin: "The best car and the best driver won tonight. I was pushing hard, but Kyle was just too strong. We had a good run, and we'll take this momentum forward."

Ryan Blaney: "We tried to gamble on a late-race caution, but it didn't pan out. Still, we managed to fight back and get a solid top-five finish. It's been a good couple of weeks for us."

Christopher Bell: "Sunday at Bristol was nothing flashy for us, but we brought home a solid eighth-place finish. Even on our off days, we can manage a top-10 result, which is encouraging."

Ross Chastain: "Starting from 35th and finishing inside the top-10 was a great result for us. It was a tough race, but we managed to stay on the lead lap and make up a lot of ground. I'm proud of the team's effort."

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
NASCAR Sponsorship Flashback

Larson Critiques Xfinity Field:

Kyle Larson's recent comments about his motivation for racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series have sparked considerable discussion. Larson, who dominated both the Xfinity and Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway, stated that he aims to "embarrass" the Xfinity field and NASCAR itself. He believes that the current restrictions on Cup drivers participating in lower series races have led to a lack of proper benchmarks for young drivers. By competing and often leading races by significant margins, Larson hopes to show these drivers the true level of performance required to succeed in the Cup Series.

Larson's perspective is that racing against Cup drivers helps young Xfinity drivers improve and better prepare for their future in the Cup Series. He reminisced about his own experiences racing against established Cup drivers like Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, which he credits for his development as a driver. Larson explained, "I want to embarrass NASCAR a little bit because they just don't let Cup guys run anymore, and the kids probably think they're in a good spot, and they don't know where the bar is really at." He added, "I like to go run those Xfinity races and get 10-second leads to let them realize that they've got a lot of room to improve… When those young guys can compete with Cup guys, they're better suited for the Cup Series once they get there."

Larson's comments have reignited the debate on whether Cup drivers should be allowed more freedom to compete in lower series races, with some arguing that it benefits the sport by providing a clearer measure of talent and readiness, while others suggest that it keeps young talent from breaking through while Cup drivers take opportunity to win on Friday and Saturday away.

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

Miscellaneous:

NASCAR Seeks New Xfinity Sponsor: NASCAR has enlisted Klutch Sports Group, founded by Rich Paul, to find a new title sponsor for the Xfinity Series starting in 2026. The agency aims to secure a $15 million annual deal, comprising $10 million in rights fees and $5 million in marketing and promotional activities. This move follows a long history of sponsorships, including Xfinity since 2015, Nationwide Insurance, and Anheuser-Busch.

Potential Dodge Return to NASCAR: There are rumors that Dodge might return to NASCAR, potentially starting with the Truck Series in 2026 and a full Cup Series return by 2027 or 2028. A cryptic Instagram post hinted at GMS Racing's involvement, but no official confirmation has been made.

Suárez's Homecoming in Mexico City: Trackhouse Racing announced that Telcel-Infinitum will sponsor Daniel Suárez's No. 99 Chevrolet for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on June 15. This event marks the first points-paying Cup Series race outside the United States since 1958, and Suárez expressed his excitement about racing in his home country.

Gilliland's New Sponsorship: Front Row Motorsports has partnered with Rinnai America Corporation to sponsor Todd Gilliland's No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Atlanta Motor Speedway this summer. Rinnai will also be a full-season associate partner, featuring on Gilliland's car and uniform.

Rockingham Speedway Sells Out: Rockingham Speedway's return to NASCAR has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm, selling out grandstand tickets for the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Rockingham 125 ARCA Menards Series East race.

Salute to Service at Texas Motor Speedway: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is partnering with Texas Motor Speedway to provide complimentary tickets to active-duty military personnel and veterans at Fort Cavazos for the WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR Cup Series race on May 4. This initiative is part of the "Caniac Salute to Service" campaign.

New Members for NASCAR Foundation Board: The NASCAR Foundation has added four new members to its Board of Directors: Chelsea Saunders, Chris Glenn, Michelle Byron, and Eric Ravndal. These individuals bring diverse expertise from both NASCAR and Commerce Bank & Trust, enhancing the foundation's efforts.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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